UNVEILING OF TABLET

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20987, 16 October 1933, Page 10

UNVEILING OF TABLET

♦ AVONSIDE CHURCH MEMORIAL TO MR HARRY BAKER A brass tabid, set on the southern wall of Holy Trinity Church, Avonside, and erected to the memory of Mr Harry Baker, by his widow and family, was unveiled yesterday morning by Dean Julius. For many years Mr Baker was a warden o£ the church. The service, which was ot a memorial nature, was conducted by the vicar, the Rev. W. J. Hands, and appropriate music was sung. The Dean paid a high tribute to the work of Mr Baker for the church, and to his many sterling qualities as a man. In the character of a man one found God's most perfect instrument. Archbishop Temple had said that preaching was not so effectual a means to grace as a sacramental life and character, said Dean Julius, in his sermon. The powers so ably employed by the English church throughout the years were a witness to the bringing of persons to the love of Christ. God's revelations were through men and women. An English writer in "The Times" had once said that he had heard a sermon during which an individual's praises were sung. He had added that one went to church to praise God and not man, but, said the speaker, one should always remember that it was through man that good works v. ere done, and that revelations were given. Honesty of purpose and a sense of real values did not belong to the material world. Too often it had been thought that a saint was possessed of mystical powers. It .would be much healthier for everyone if that idea was changed. Any man or woman of wide horizon and possessed of an endeavour to live up to high principles was a saint. "It is good that we should have these memorials in our churches—memorials to men and women we have all known," said the Dean. "They are persons who have served the purposes of God in our own generation. "Mr Baker," the speaker said, "spent a few years of his life in Timaru and, through his connexion with St. Mary's Church, was in very close touch with me when I was there. Timaru is a large parish, with an annual income of from £4OOO to £SOOO, therefore the parishioners' warden has no easy task. Not long after Mr Baker came to Timaru a churchwarden left the district and no member of the vestry had been trained in the work or felt he was qualified to carry it out. At my request my old friend came to my assistance and did his work capably and unostentatiously. I soon learned to appreciate his genuine suintlincss of character." The greatest medium for the work of the Holy Spirit was a consecrated personality, and this had been typical of the man whose memory was being honoured, added the Dean. The tablet, bears the following inscription:- -To the glory of God. and in memory of Harry Baker, a churchwarden of this parish for many years. Died, October 12, 1929, aged 05 years. Great is (he peace that they have who love Thy law."