UNSEEN HELPERS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 10

UNSEEN HELPERS.

ANNUAL SAVAGE CLUB SERVICE. SERMON BY REV. 1). GARDNER MILLER. The annual churcli service of the Christchurch Savage Club was held at the Trinity Congregational Churcli last evening. The church was well filled.

Great Chief H. McD. Vincent, president of the club, read the lesson. Savage Rex Harrison sang two solos, "Abide With Me'' and "Nearer, My God. to Thee."

Savage the Rev. D. Gardner Milter, speaking on "Unseen Helpers,'' said: "You make the biggest mistake of your life when you say that 'Nobody cares.' You may think you stand alone, but you never do. Always there are helpers, and if we do not avail ourselves of their sympathy and help it is because we are so taken up with our own concerns, so sullen and bitter, that we become impervious to their presence. We must be careful not to live in a small world; a worid bounded by our own interests. Even the material world around us. the actual earth on which we live, is far too small a stage for man (o play his part. There is nothing more fatal to the growth of character than to be constantly keeping your eyes on the pavement. True, you may see the stars mirrored in the gutter, but why use a muddy looking-filass when you can lift your head ancl see the stars mirrored in the heavens? The world is not empty—there is life and purpose and energy, and. I believe, understanding, everywhere. I honestly believe that the world was created for man. Man is not an alien in the world. He is in a very real sense its owner, and slowly but surely he is learning to control it.

The Helping: Christ. "It is enough to make the angels weep to see any man brooding and introspective, and crying out that nobody cares', and that it would not matter if he were found dead,*' continued Savage Miller. "This is a friendly world, in spite of all its dreadful anomalies. No man need be co:npanionlcss; you can never be defeated unless you lose heart. Open the eyes of youi - understanding, and you will realise the presence of the unseen helpers who are so eager to help you. And who arc they? The first and foremost is Jesus Christ Himself. The unseen Christ is the helper of every man who will cease slouching, and take the trouble to look up. Christ is not dead. He killed death long Nobody dies, in the sense of life being extinguished. The work of Jesus Christ was not even interrupted by death. What He was to men when He lived in the physical plane, He is. and more, to men now as Ho touches and enters their lives by the way of the spirit. He was always the friend of man, 'a friend of publicans and sinners.' He still is. There is no need for anv man to despair. He knows and He cares. I say emphatically that all the resources of the living Christ are at the disposal of all of us. "There are other unseen helpers, said the preacher. "Those who have gone before—our beloved dead who ever live—will still help us if wc will keep ourselves sensitive to the spiritual. Thev arc spectators of the great game of life. They have played their part and have pone on to higher things. They are still interested in us. I believe they still pray for us. The communion of saints is a very real and precious experience. But they cannot help us unless and until we turn the inward car to catch the still small voice. Our beloved dead ever livcth. The ties of affection are not severed. Do not hurt our unseen helpers by being morose. What should be our attitude to the living Christ and our living dead and to life itself as we have to live it? We should strip, or as the ancient writer has it, 'lay aside the clinging robe that hinders our running.' No athlete would dream of running a race in a dressing gown. Let us be drastically honest with ourselves and strip off the subterfuges and the meannesses and the secret sins and the inflated ego—and play the game."

SIXTH KORERO OP CLUB. A NAUTICAL NIGHT. Another splendid programme was submitted to members of the Savage Club on Saturday evening, when the sixth korero of the season was held. The evening look the form of a "nautical night," and the small playlet, entitled "Sea Fever," proved to be enjoyable in every way. The chief savage for the evening was Savage V. C. White-Parsons, who was installed by Savage W. J. LeCren. The chairman, in his address from the dias, gave some interesting happenings of the law in foreign lands. Savage C. H. Kersley, in humorous vein, gave a ten minutes' talk on the differences between the British and the American navies. Two enjoyable tenor songs, entitled "Passing By" and "The Spirit Flower," were sung by Savage G. W. Russell, whilst a recitation, "The Bolivar" (Kipling) was expressively given by Savage H. McD. Vincent.

Under the conductorship of Savage Harold Beck, the orchestra played some numbers in an artistic manner. These were "Middy March," "Suite of Nautical Songs," and "Ballet Egyptiana." The accompaniments were played by Savage Allan Wellbrock in his usual artistic manner.

The second half of the programme was a nautical sketch entitled "Sea Fever," written by Savage Alan W. Brown. There was plenty of humour in this playiet, and the members enjoyed it heartily. A series of shanties, sung by Savage J. E. Mason, were enlivened by a rollicking set of sailors who sang the choruses with spirit. Those taking part were Savages C. W. Collins, A. W. Brown, J. E. Mason, C. Milne, G. W. Russell, R. A. Malcolm, R. 8001, and A. Turner. An effective stage setting was supplied and arranged by Savage D. Crozier. The sketch was produced by Great Chief Savage H. McD. Vincent.