At Church Parade

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 3141, 13 February 1900, Page 5

At Church Parade

Thirty members of We Bruce Rifles attended churoh parade at St. John's Church od Sunday evening, and the congregation packed the building to the doors, nearly 300 people being present* The corps mustered at the Drill Hall, and, headed by the Milton Brass Band in full force, marched to the church. The service was appropriate to the occasion, hymns, psalms and prayers being specially selected, while the . lectern was draped with the Union Jack. The Rev. J. O. Small officiated, and preached as follows from the first verse' of the 90th Psalm — "Lord thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another":— . " You know that for some months past the Subject that has attracted most attention amongst those who take an interest in' the politics and public affairs of the colonies has been the subject of federation. You know the efforts that have been made to draw ttffe Australasian colonies together into one dominipn } so that they would possess a strength and make themselves felt as part of the British Empire to an extent which otherwise they could nob do. They were following the example| of the colonies in North America from which the Dominion of Canada was evolved. The idea that underlies this federation movement is the great Imperial idea of the day— of welding together into one the Empire of which We are proud to be citizens. Something has taken : place during the last few months that has brought forward that federation movement to an extent that nothing else could have done. That has been the recognition on the parb of every portion ot the Empire, however remote, of their duty to do something to prove to their Mother Country the feeling existing towards it by sending their strength and means to fight the Empire's battles. From one end of the world to the other the consequences would be felt of drawing more closely together, and it would prove an object lesson to the world at large. This country has taken its part — our men have gone, means have been given, and others are taking steps to do yet more, and this has willingly been undertaken. They had been helping to realise . the poet's dream when we should Bee ' the federation of the world,' * when the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt in universal law.' But we are members of a greater nation, of a greater Power than the British Empire, and it is in conneetiQn with that fact that we are here to-night. We are taking part in a service to-night which is being held all oyer. the world :, in most parts of Australia, in Canada, in Africa, and throughout' (Great Britain.' .It is no party movenient ;' il is as members- of the Christian ■-■ Churchy '■ We are acknowledging that while it }s r rjght that statesmen should §nd ; , the spidiers and financiers to flq their part, there is something more to be dqne. . The Christian Charoh hae its part to' play, and therefore we as members of the Churoh ot Christ meet together to offer up our united prayers to God that He will direct aright the . efforts made- by them. The gathering is not intended to represent a day of humiliation ; we do hot come together in . that spirit, but to pray, not only for one another, but for those who are in danger, in suffering, and in periL It is 1 well :^nd right that we should, make BU£h a wq,r the subject o^ prayer, and at the p/eaent fiiagV it becomes us as Christian men and women to, offer up our prayers to. the G.od of b>ttjes. We have seen in tfee past #l»t*fe fcas «9fs w^-fox his encla., and. '^c b^ c.onse^ue4oes .have resulted in that direction. A. f wi>ft?'iß »o>* * Civil which g I'was fraught t by /fGodA wi*4 'ihe inpst far? • reaching •"•• consequences • for the: nation^

"resulted in the "emancipation of tens of thousands of slaves ; this : wafc; v the resuHmand not the cause. The United States took steps, following the example of the Mother Oou ntry, t£at^d|asßedLa similar' law year#tie^ord.^nen^«^ail, inJieigar&to: the Spanish American War, the result will no doubt be a benefit to the Cubans; but it is a rem&klAiftS^^ world* that because England^ showed, her sympathy with Amerioain' lihalj^t&asej'tt^isIpossible tifit-theseftWdTgreat powers may yet be the f grUt?e/t f^ofeors for^pfeace in the world. Some Jay tT4f'tHe (J p'reßen^ war has been brought about by greed, byjaalousy, and by envy, but it is not for us to say now or disouss it ; we ajrejiraeti together to pray that God will so dkect ,events sto5 to His^own ends that He may T& ¥ $otiio e^rl,iisn4h^ emancipation of a larger numb'er'bf unfortunate people and the forming of a dominion in ■ South Africa, in -wbioh slavery would cease; but the great point would be that missionaries would* be" able to enter places and countries where never before was the Word of God preached. And they were justified as Christian people in meeting together to make such a subject a matter of prayer. It has been the: custom in the past to meet together, that we may ask God Himself to direct our arms, strengthen«our soldiers, and give -our- 'generals wisdom. .This is our subject tor whioh we ask God's blessing, and therefore we meet together and acknowledge, that .:.' He is our refuge and strength frtitn one generation to another. 3 As an offertory, ' Miss Grant sang "The Last Muster." •!■ On the invitation of the vicar, the congregation remained after the service and sang " The National Anthem," the: volunteers as usual standing at the salute during the singing. .■■;.-■• ■ .