CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 217, 13 September 1932, Page 5

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

ST. BARNABAS', MT. EDEN.

SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP,

TRAGEDY OF INDIFFERENCE

The eighty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of St. Barnabas' Church, Mount Eden, was observed on Sunday, and the preacher at the evening service was Archbishop Averill. There was a crowded congregation. His Grace said the service was of. peculiar interest, for, in the greater part of the existing building, people had assembled for worship for 85 years. Since the beginning of that period, there had been a remarkable growth of knowledge, and many people at present would perhaps seem to their forefathers to worship a different God. "This is as it should be," said the Archbishop. ' ''Such is the silent march, and development of man's mental and spiritual capacity that the past can never wholly satisfy him. Sincerity of worship depends entirely on thoughts of God which satiety our inmost reason and conscience. Our whole mental attitude toward God has changed for the better; God has not changed. Eighty-five years ago, probably our forefathers conceived of God as dwelling apart from the suffering and turmoil of life. To-day we think of Him as in it, bringing order out of chaos. "Our forefathers probably regarded the revelations of natural science as being antagonistic to the understanding of God. To-day, we regard any real discovery _ of science as one method of God revealing Himself. Science has become infinitely more reverent and open-minded, religion more sane. "In spite of what I have said, we are faced with the world's great tragedy, the ignorance and neglect of, and the indifference and wilful blindness to God. And yet progress is the very law of God. Another danger is the common idea that God ie so good-natured that He can safely be ignored. It is a popular, but foolish, philosophy that all , will come right at the end. We do not drift into eternal life. There is a very real need for the more thoughtful members of the community to show by their devotion that they have a sense of Gods majesty and justice." The service was led by the vicar, the Rev. F. G. Harvie, and the lesson, was read by a former vicar, Canon E. J. McFarland. Services held during the day were attended by large congregations. Archdeacon G. Mac Murray spoke on the history of the church in the morning, Mr. Harvie and the Rev. E. Bamford, a former vicar, also taking part. The preacher at an afternoon service for the younger people was the Rev. K. J.' McFarland, vicar of St. George's. Kiagsland.