PULPIT REFERENCES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14073, 19 June 1911, Page 9

PULPIT REFERENCES.

IBcfercnce was mado in several of ttTchurcbes yesterday to the Corona- *"** ST. ANDREW'S. ,i . -triking sermon was preached by ..* Bcv J. Mackenzie at tit. Andrew's Sarcb yesterday morning. Taking for tthe nation'whose God is the Lord; " . * d the people whom He hath chosen ' IT, His own inheritance, Mi Alnt&Ja said that on Thursday next ; S°Geo4 V., together with Queen «£ would bo crowned at \Vcst- •■■ Ser aid throughout the Great S Empire the people would join E the fervent orayer "Ged Save the " Sin?''lt was well for us that at , J3f" a time we should pause ior a SScnt and ask ourselves what was tho Shis significance of the ancient cereSay?'vith its wealth of historic assogtion and spiritual significance?. One Sed that to many it would be simply IbrUliaat pageant, to others a pleasant holiday, and to others a meaningless fw Our desire was that it should £ to the citizens of the great Empire rtimo of self-examination, an oppor- • tanity for considering the things that 3? fundamental, the pillar upon w hich our Knioiro rested. When wo . Kked back to the days of the Kings oflsrael we saw that tho entrance of the King upon his sacred office was re"ardsd as an ovent of deep and spiritual fifeanec both to King and people. The covenant was renewed with Jehovah, tho God of Israel. It was recoanised that the nation's help was in God the Lord. The Coronation was ft religious service, and one of the ' truths'enrohasised by this fact was that at tbo basis of our national history, ; our national institutions, lay a profound ' belief in the „ power and wisdom and purpose of God. As ; o people wo did not wear our ; - faith ' nnon our sleeves, wo did not embroider it upon our robes of ' "effice, wo sought to translate it into action to embody it in life and con- < duct. It was at times when groat ptib- '' ' lie duties had to bo performed, when great national crises had to bo faced. ■• when great constitutional problems had - to be confronted, that tho deep religious clement in the life of our Empire became apnarent. After describing the had (Tovernment of the Georges, Mr 'Mackcnzio went on to say how Queen .Victoria had brought the Crown back .into popular esteem. Queen Victoria bad sot an example and established a itandard from which ho believed it would bo impossible for the futuro rulers of our Empire to deviate. It had become, bo believed,- forever impossible that a King like tho late Leopold of •of Belgium should rule over tho British Empire.' Wo had become accustomed to reverence and respect our Kings and Queons. If ever it became impossible for uato render that respect and reverence then he felt satisfied that: the days of the monarchy would bo ended. ; We believed that King George .would carry on tho good traditions esdaWfsicd by Queen ...Victoria, ■and:' .King Edward. All his pub- -. lie ..utterances had breathed a high si >': wase of responsibility to God and of ;?■ " '.public duty. Tho second outstanding I" X feature of Queen Victoria's reign was ',' - Vhor" unfailing respect for the Constitu- ; \ i :tion, During her reign the British Emf jnro grow from infancy to maturity. ; ; ■•The great oversea Dominions took shape ■>[ ; 'Mid. were organised along generous If '.' 'Knts of self -government. The more -,- h one thought of our Empire the more ". '. "oae was disposed to regard it assomo- ■• : 'ithing miraculous. For tho first time in ■;-, i human history an empiro had been :- founded not upon force but upon mutual "" : trust and affection.