PULPIT VOICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 207, 2 September 1929, Page 5

PULPIT VOICES.

WAIPU PRESBYTERIANS. AFTER SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS. CHURCH ANNIVERSARY-. An interesting gathering of descen

dants of the hardy Scots who settled at Waipu took place yesterday, when the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Presbyterian Church there was celebrated. The Rev. Angus McDonald conducted both services. In the morning he preached from the text: "I Remember the Days of Old." Mr. McDonald, who was a former minister of the Church, recalled the exodus of Scots to the "Sutherland Clearance" in 1817, when thousands of families were turned out of the Scottish glens to make room for grouse and deer. Mr. McDonald said they were driven from their homes, packed together in untrustworthy sea. boats, sent across the Atlantic and dumped into America. The menfolk went into the forests of the new, land, cut timber, made vessels, provisioned them and then set sail for far-off lands, following the sailor son of the Rev. Norman McLeod. He was the man who spied out the promised land. The Waipu Church had the honour of being the first and only real Gaelic one in New Zealand. The whole service was in Gaelic, and, said Mr. McDonald, "there is no more expressive language than Gaelic, the language of the heart." Mr. McDonald paid a high tribute to the Rev. Norman McLeod, who, he said, was like Joshua, chosen of God for His work. He was a supreme man. He was both judge and jury, and under his tuition in those days of old. nothing was done without consulting God. The old Psalms were sung every night by the early settlers at Waipu to Highland tunes, the like of which were not now to be found in the books. The Bible was not a dusty book on the shelf but a real important part of the household. The Sabbath Day was the Lord's Day, and the man who worked thereon was considered worse than a heathen. The 100 th Psalm was sung in Gaelic, and Mr.-McDonald prayed in that language. His discourse was interspersed with utterances in the same language. THE MAN CHRIST JESUS. STUDY IN PERSONALITY.

Preaching at the Green Lane Congregational -Church yesterday, the Rev. George Jackson took as his text the incident that told of the visit of a group of Greeks to one of the Master's followers and their ' request, "Sir, we would sec Jesus." Mr. Jackson urged the need for those who were associated Avith the Church to try to appreciate the challenging significance of the personality of Jesus. Dr. James Motfatt, in publishing a little book called "Every Man's Life of Jesus," had rendered an outstanding service to this generation. The Gospel of Jesus was rot only expressed in His teaching; it was embodied in His life. The acceptance of any doctrine about Him must be reached through appreciation of what He was. Whatever conclusion one reached about the traditional theology of the Christian faith,- the impact of the personality of Jesus upon every man and woman who sought to discover the real meaning of life was searching and powerful. The preacher made an appeal for a clearer recognition of the penetrating moral and social implications of the Master's conception of God as better than the best human father, and as an available source of strength and guidance in daily life. The choir rendered the anthem, "Lift Up Your Heads, 0 Ye Gates," and a special address to the children was given. LATE REV. W. READY. MEMORIAL UNVEILED. Tributes were paid to the memory of the late Rev. William Heady at Pitt Street Methodist Church yesterday, when a brass tablet was unveiled by his son, Mr. H. Ready. The Rev. William Ready was born in London and was minister at Pitt Street Church from 1009 to 1913. He was in charge of the Methodist city circuit for 10 years. His death occurred in 1927 when doing home missionary work at Palmcrston North.

One of the oldest members of the congregation at Pitt Street, Mr. J. W. Shackelford, paid a high tribute to tie faithful work of Mr. Ready. He said Mr. Ready was a man of no ordinary type. There was no other man like him in the ministry in New Zealand. He never faltered in Ms duty, and always saw a thing through to the end. "I do not think there ever was a man who showed greater sympathy," said the speaker. The present minister of Pitt Street, Rev. W. Walker, referred to the suitability of the epitaph to Mr. Ready which appeared on the tablet, "Faithful unto Death," which was particularly appropriate. Mr. Ready lost his mother very early, and from when he was six years of age he lived on the streets of London, often sleeping in the open. At the age of 13 Mr. Ready did not know one letter of the alphabet. Then he was taken under the care of a missionary, and placed in Bristol Orphanage. Later he was apprenticed to a trade, but entered as a candidate for the ministry in ISS4, coming to New Zealand three years later. He was at Christchurch for three years and then was placed in charge of the central mission at Diuiedin, where he did perhaps his finest work in tills country. Mr. Ready was at that time 30 years old. In 1912 Mr. Ready was elected president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference. During the war three sons of Mr. Ready enlisted, and lie also offered his own services as a chaplain on a hospital ship. For the IS months prior to his death, Mr. heady did supply work. His whole life was an evidence of what a man could accomplish by indomitable spirit and adopting a daring attitude to life.

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL. CHRISTTAIN IDEALS. Canon W. Fancourt preached liis first sermon yesterday at St. Mary's Cathedral since his induction as vicar. There were large congregations at both services, and the sermons were listened to with grcsit attention. An able speaker, Canon Fancourt lias a quiet, convincing manner that impressed his hearers. In the . morning "True Religion" was the subject dealt with, and at night the canon spoke on, "What it is to be a Christian." He said man was rapidly exerting mastery over nature. In a few years it would be possible to leave New Zealand for Australia by aeroplane, i>.ml arrive there after spending a night in the air. While every day there was evidence of man's mastery over nature, he had not yet mastered himself. Christianity, which had to follow as closely as possible the life of Christ, demanded self-control. A spirit of egotism was spoiling much Church work, and it should be remembered that any true Christian ought to be willing to do work for the Church without expecting credit for it. Humility, unselfishness, and the effort to give to others as much happiness and health as possible were ideals which he claimed were well worth following. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES. "Christ Jesus" was the subject of the lesson-sermon in First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Auckland, yesterday. The. text was from Colos-sians ii. U-'J, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: . . . for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Among the citations was the following from the Bible: "Jesus said unto them, If God were your father, ye would love me; for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came ■ I of myself, but he sent me." Jo'im S: 42; also the following passage from the Christian Science textbook, by Mary Eddy Baker: "The advent of Jeeus of Nazareth marked the first century of the Christian era, but the Christ is without beginning of years or end of days. Throughout all generations both -before and after the Christian era,, the Christ, as the spiritual idea —the reflection of God —has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth." GAMBLING. At the Church of Christ, West Street, Pastor Campbell said that gambling i might be defined as "Parting with money in return for which is obtained one chance in many of receiving a larger sum, from the pockets of others to whom no real value or service is given, and which larger sum is distinctly hoped for. Gambling at its best," he said, "wears a cloak of respectability; but it arises essentially from 'the love of money which is a root of all kinds of evil.'" It has no possible unlif ting influence; it may lead into the company of the worst of mankind; it has a downward drag which has led many into pauperism, bankruptcy, embezzlement (involving losses to others), and suicide. 'Jimmy White,' the gambling millionaire, took liis own life a few years ago, leaving a' written confession, at the close of Which he wrote: 'I have been, guilty of the folly of gambling, and the price has to be paid.' Everyone is responsible for his influence on others. The power of God in Christian life tends ever upward. The company of Christian people, 'and contact through biography with Christian heroes, may lead to the very highest pattern of human character; gambling and gamblers never will. Gambling and Christianity cannot keep company, or if they do, it can only be on the lowest level of Christian life and testimony, for gambling is a deadly weight which must effectively prevent a Christian from rising into higher experiences of a closer walk with God."

TABERNACLE ANNIVERSARY. The seventy-fourth anniversary of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle was celebrated yesterday by special services, which were largely attended. The Rev. Joseph Kemp preached both morning and evening. The final celebration in connection with the anniversary of the Sunday School will be held next Wednesday night. There will be a scholars' tea meeting, which will be followed by a presentation of prizes. MISSION TO SAILORS. At the service held by the British Sailors' Mission last evening in the hall adjoining the Sailors' Home, there was a good attendance, including a large number of the crew of the Norwegian motor ship Svoider., It was fortunate that one of the workers of the Mission was able to address them in their own language. At the close of the service the men sang a Norwegian hymn.