DOMINION DAY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13233, 29 September 1908, Page 7

DOMINION DAY.

A PULPIT REFERENCE

In the course of his Church Mission Fund sermon at Fendalton Church on .Sunday morning, tho Rev. W. W. Seu.gv.ick, vicar of St. Luke's, mods reference to tho sub-leader in Saturday's isiuo of "The Press" on "Tho I/csson of Dominion Day."

Taking for his text -the words, "Tho Son of Alan canw not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew xx., 28), tho preacher showed how in Now Zealand the chief object of the people was how to bettor themselves and to got on. in the world, which were, no doubt, Laudable things in themselves. But there was i:o corresponding <ksire to improve character. This absence of moral aspirations was, ho continued, stressed in tho article in Saturday's "Press." an article that he wished could !)o read throughout tho Dominion, in fact througnout tho Empire. He quoted the remarks of Lord Meath given in the article and also cited with approval tho statement that "the vital essence of a nation's growth in moral worth is tho character of tho individuals that compose it." With the betterment of humanity, Mt Sedgwick continued, ho was in profound ■sympiithy, and he felt that the sweating system, which obtained at Home, was a disgrace to the Empire aond' to Christianity. But he had no sympathy with tho Socialists at the street corner; for he held that their policy was the outcome of narrow selfishness. The Socialist did not really care for his brother, hut for what he himself could get. God! worked on one great principle—a principle that nan through both tho Old ami the New Testament—the principle of reaching.humanity through humanity In the Old Testament this was done By electing one nation as a choaen nation with tho vietv of reaching other nations; the same principle worked through the Church. There were those who said that the Church was plnyed out, 'hut it vras doing positive Avork in its institutes, ite homes and its missions. It was doing a greatnegative work — an aspect that many forgot—in staying the drift towards materialism and eecularism. Further, tho Church, as Christ's substitute, was carrying on liis work in trying to reach poor humanity. The preacher quoted from the- encyclical of the bishops at the roce-n/t Lambeth Conference to tho effect that "the Church was ordained , for the service of mankind." The spirit of service, h© continued, vrae awake, as wo.a shown by the activity in mission work and by the recognition of tho Church of its social responsibilities. Concluding his remarks, Mr Sodgwick especially appealed for assistance to the Church Mission Furd, which, in addition' to helping the poorer districts, gave assistance in training ordination candidates.' Of the many reasons advanced to explain, why young nifcn were not coming forward for the ministry, he considered that the principal one was that a largo number of yoiwig men were not sufficiently well off to bear the expense, of tho necessary training. It was very important that they should provide their own' ministers and not have to go Homo for them, and there was no doubt that since a portion of the fund , had beftn used in the direction indicated, young men had been coming forward; in greater numhere than previously. The pupils of tho Waitnate District School assembled in the school grounds on Friday around the flag pole. Dr. Barclay addressed tho chi!dTen, and explained the.significance of the change of tifclo from colony to dominion. Tho Union Jack was hoisted, and the children saluted the flag. Mrs Barclay then presonted the Dominion medals. Tho post and telegraph office closed at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and flags wore flown from tho Borough and County Council Cbainbetre and from several business places, but the shops remained open. Dominion Day was observed by the flannier School children yesterday. In the township flags were flown on Saturday m honour of tho anniversary. _ The school children at West Oxrord celebrated Dominion Day by saluting .the flag; a short address was delivered by tho master, end the children satng 'The Flag of Britain." After the distribution of tho Dominion medals the children wore dismissed for the day.