PEACE AND TOLERANCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19814, 30 December 1929, Page 10

PEACE AND TOLERANCE.

SERMON BY REV. JAMES BURNS

The preacher at, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church yesterday was the Rev. James Burns, of London, who, it, will be remembered, conducted the anniversary services in St. Paul's Church last October. Mr Burns has a wirlo refutation as a preacher, lecturer, and author, and, up to a year ago, was one of the foremost Presbyterian ministers io London, occupying the pulpit of the Stoke Newington Presbyterian Church. Ha has ministered at Knox Church, Duuedin, for the past nine mouth*, and is now paying his farewell viait to Christchurch before leaving for Home. Mr Burns took for his text yesterday morning the 16th chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. The chapter in question, which consists in the main, of a list of proper names, served to provide the preacher with a baais for a sermon on peace and tolerance. This list, in reality, was a tally of Bt. Paul *i friends, and he evidently had fneud« of all nationalities. The chapter was a tribute to his friends, and characterised the great Apostle'* warmth of h»art. That, the world to day would be a better place, if individuals and nations were more friendly towaria each other, wag the tenor of Mr Burns'* argument. It was so difficult to treat, people of other races aa if they were ono'§ own kith and kin. The British were snobbish towards foreigners, and it was necessary that this attitude be changed. In the Cburcb of Christ, itself the spirit, of fraternity was lacking, and it, seemed difficult to regard people as Christians who did not extend the hand of friend ship to other denomination*. Even in the Prvss a spirit was evident whirl] th* example of thn Great War should have eradicated. The world of the futur«% to be sanp nnd happy, must lir> a world in whi<*h brotherhood predominates. It was necessary to pra<'ti»r thin in one's pergonal relationships, and to ondeavour to se«»k to be a friend, rather than sefk friendship. The giving counted, and not the taking, for it, <«„„ certain that pity and lov«» were triumphant in the heart of God and he who gave, and did not »*k, would mir-ly be rewarded. •' Mr Burns's text last ev-ning wa . taken from the Gospel according T, bt. Luke, chapter 7, verse 44 '•*„,* woman?' He pointed out that the greatest need of a dinner was the love and compassion of God. a