CHRISTMAS DAY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21356, 26 December 1934, Page 10

CHRISTMAS DAY

SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON SERMON BY BISHOI' WESTWATSON A plea that the people might return to a right understanding of Christmas, that they might regard its spirit as (he enduring spirit of a reality and not the spirit of a dream, was made by the Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Campbell West-Watson, in a sermon in the Cathedral yesterday morning. The bishop was preaching from words written in .Matt. 21: 5: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee. After wishing his congregation happiness and joy in the Christmas celebrations. Bishop West-Watson said the festival called to mind thoughts about the One born at Bethlehem to be the ruler of peace. He had been privileged to see the son of the King of Great Britain welcomed by the populace on his recent visit to Melbourne. It had been a warm welcome, a great welcome, and he was sure that the King's son would be similarly received when he arrived in Christchurch. He recalled an utterance by General Smuts to the effect that Britain's King had a unique position in the regard of his subjects and other nations because of his humility and great-hearted-ness. But, he said, Jesus Christ had been a king, and when He had come to His people, they had not received Him.

"When this man, the Prince of Peace, showed Himself, He attracted all to Him. But when the people saw that what He taught was the fabric of His plan, and not merely the trimming, they would have none of it. And so they crucified Him. They wanted someone who would dip other people's garments in blood and lead them on to victory. What would have happened," the bishop asked, "if they had accepted Him'.' They would have become the missionaries of peace and goodwill. But they knew better and they followed their own path." Significance of World Events Looking round the world, one could not help being impressed by the number of nations which had made a new start since the war. There were those countries which were now being ruled by dictators. One could not deny that the dictators had done great things—they had done constructive things when so many reformers did destructive things—and the people welcomed them. Yet the path to power and the maintenance of power had struck horror into the hearts of those looking on. One could not help wondering what it all meant. Were the people getting nearer the role of Christ, or were they drifting further away? Was Christmas coming nearer as the hope of the world, I or was it crossing the border to the I dream lands?

What changes there would have to be in the hearts of the nations if they accepted Christmas in its true spirit, one hardly dared to think. There would have to be tremendous sacrifices in position and wealth; there would have to be disarmament and changes in economic affairs. It would all, indeed, be a tremendous risk, but it was worth taking. The Christian Church was Christ's evidence that what He taught was not an ideal but a glorious possibility.

Position of tbe Church And then there was the position of the Church. It was hard to see the way forward nowadays, but if the people had a desire to help one another things would go further. The Church was a wonderful international organisation. Its people here in the Pacific were a part of it. They should get together more than they did: should, somehow, see more of one another. They should feel that they were a part of a chain and that the strength of the chain was love and trust. Finall}', there was the admission of the spirit of Christmas fnto the family circle. There, people were not prevented by customs and practice from welcoming Christ. "Today," said the bishop, "our joy is surely in the knowledge that Christ is here and in asking Him to go with us into the New Year."

THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL MIDNIGHT MASS An overflow congregation attended the midnight Mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Christmas Eve. Not only were the body of the cathedral and the side altars filled, but the galleries also, and more than 1000 persons received Holy Communion. The ceremony was beautiful and impressive. As the midnight chimes were pealing forth, the procession moved from the bishop's house towards the main door of the cathedral. Sixty altar boys, torchbearers, and acolytes, followed by the clergy and assistants at the Mass with the Bishop in full pontifical vestments, formed the procession. The Bishop was assisted by the Rev. Father Timoney, administrator, with the Rev. T. George, S.M.. and the Rev. J. Hendren, S.M., deacons to the throne, the Rev. William Heavey (Wellington), (sub-deacon), and the Rev. G. O'Meeghan. deacon of the Mass. Mr J. Galvin, Holy Crlss College, was master of ceremonies. The bishop read the epistle and the gospel of the first Christmas Mass, and delivered a short discourse of the significance of Christmas. He took as his text the message of the angels on the first Christmas morning: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of goodwill." He conveyed festive greetings to the clergy, religious and laity of the diocese, and prayed that God would send His choicest blessings on them. He extended his wishes to all his fellowcitizens who were courageously facing these difficult times with remarkable Christian charity and fortitude.

Bishop Brodie's Address A large congregation assembled last night at the Cathedral, when the Roman Catholic Bishop of Chi'istchurch, the Rt. Rev. Dr. M. J. Brodie, conducted the special Christmas service. The altars were fittingly decorated, and the singing of the choir accorded impressively with the significance of the occasion. The sermon was preceded by the Bishop's returning thanks to various helpers in the parish, to the Marist Brothers for their services to Catholic education, and to the Sisters of the Mission, who had organised a garden fete which in the short space of six weeks had brought to the Rev. Mother Prioress the sum of £ 1260. In addition the school committee, the choir, the altar society, the sacristan and his staff, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Ladies of Charity, and the Legion of Mary received his grateful mention, For himself the Bishop owed his thanks to all those who had helped in renovating his own rooms and the presbytery during his absence in Melbourne. In beginning his sermon the Bishop spoke of the vivid contrast between the lowliness which marked the appearance of the Saviour in this world, and the glory of Heaven which he had temporarily resigned. In the Mass at midnight his congregation would doubtless have remarked an apparent contradiction in terms. They would find there on the one hand the Child in swaddling clothes, and on the other the •Saviour who would rule and redeem. Yet this contradiction was to be resolved by study, for the Son of God had made a great sacrifice for humanity when He descended from Heaven and was born to poverty and suffering. His purpose was to inspire in his people a desire not for the things of this world, but for the kingdom of God. The apostles had giveri a further proof of this mission when they went forth rejoicing, conceiving it as their greatest privilege that they should strive and suffer for their Master's sake. Therefore they had been constant and faithful in preaching of their Divine Redeemer.

Great Mystery of Bethlehem Thus at the festival of Christmas Holy Church desired that the faithful should centre their thoughts on the great mystery of Bethlehem. The Bishop invited his congreation to consider an example that had come beneath his own notice. A child had been born to a newly widowed woman whose family was already large. Her poverty was extreme," it might be said the child had little chance even of surviving. Yet when the Bishop made his appeal so much help was forthcoming from thoughtful and enthusiastic parishoners that it had actually been necessary to stop the constant stream of gifts. In contrast with that they were to remember St. Joseph, who in his anxiety had asked at the door of the inn and received the answer: "No room." There was no room for the greatest mother in the world, and for the greatest babe that had ever been born.

Was it any wonder that the scripture said "a little child shall lead them?" His hands were extended to make an apoeal to human hearts. Each Christmas night brought the message, always beautifully fresh and impressive, that all men should love God by desirine to sacrifice material thinfs rather than offend the Saviour. That was the ultimate blessing of a generous life.

The Papa 1 Blessing was read, and in conclusion the benediction was given bv the Bishon, who was assisted by Father W. Heavey. of Wellington and Father J. Hcndrcn, S.M. ST. MICHAEL'S A COMHRFI'I- CEREMONY On Christmas Eve the old historic church of Canterbury, St. Michael'.;, looked extremely gay, all the sombre hangings of the solemn season of Advent having been taken down and replaced by the white and gold array of Christmas. There were flowers and candles in abundance, and the beautiful banners, which are a special pride of St. Michael's, standing ready for their use in the procession, added colour to the sanctuary.

After choir and congregation had assembled, the parish priest, the Rev. Canon Perry, with thurifer and erucifer and torch bearers, and vested in a festival cope, proceeded to the Crib at the west end of the church to bless it for the prayerful use of the faithful. Afterwards when they had arrived at the sancutary, solemn evensong began. The grouping at the altar of ttfe service, the offering of incense, and the sweetness of the boys' voices at the "Magnificat" made this central feature of the evensong at the Christmas festival an act of worship to be remembered.

At the end of evensong there followed a procession from the altar round the church, singing "Adeste Fideles." When it had arrived back at the altar the vicar concluded the service with the blessing. On Christmas morning there were many communicants at the early services, and at the children s eucharist. The chief service of the morning was a sung eucharist, with a procession. The vicar, before beginning his short address, wished his parishioners and the visitors present a happy Christmas and congratulated the workers of the parish on their achievements during the last year. He referred particularly to the members of the vestry, Mr Lawrence Rickard and the choir, Mr Horace Henderson and the servers Mrs Gurnsey and the Ladies' Sewing Guild, Mrs Wait and the Mothers' Union, Sister Julius and Sister Agnes' Guild, Mr Cuming and St. Osmund's society, Miss Kiver, and the day school and Mr Bert. Lambert and the Boys' Club. The vicar added that the year had been a happy one, and he hoped that those present had made progress in all those things for whicn the Holy Church of .God stood. Those who were going on holiday be would welcome back to this church life next year with gladness. The offerings of the day were given to the St Saviour's Orphanages. The aitai was decorated by Mr Henderson, the font by Miss Cardale and the pulpit by Miss Miller.

THE IMPOVERISHMENT OF CHRIST SERMON BY THE REV. CLARENCE EATON "Our Lord was impoverished by His birth: is that human?" asked the Rev. Clarence Eaton, who conducted the Christmas service at the Durham Street Methodist Church yesterday morning. "Men and other creatures," he continued, "leap by being born from nothingness into consciousness; they are enriched. If

Christ had been merely one of the best of men. He too would have been enriched. Instead of this we find He was impoverished. One cannot therefore take the Unitarian view." The speaker stressed the necessity of going back beyond the manger if a full understanding of what Christ's self-emptying in His assumption of human form meant was to be attained. His riches had been great: He was rich in His person in that He shared the fullness of the Godhead; and He was rich in His estate. In the book of Revelation John was puzzled to discover imagery capable of describing Heaven.

It was to be remembered that when He came to earth He did not strip Himself of His divinity or holiness or goodness. But He did strip Himself of His power, until the One who shared omnipotence could say "the Son can do nothing of Himself." One of the many forms of wealth was love and friendship, and in these Christ became poor, consenting to be despised, leaving the love and adoration of the heavenly hosts and coming down to a tiny fragment of life, there to be cabined, cribbed, and confined. The speaker recalled the sentence, "Ye know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ." The definition of grace was self-originating love, implying a feeling expressed by the highest towards the lowest. "We have seen the divine riches and the divine impoverishment; let us now look at the divine purpose," continued Mr Eaton. "The divine purpose was that by His poverty we might be made rich. It perhaps sounds unlikely that wealth should come out of this poverty, yet all that is really valuable in human life is derived from it. We have been enriched in knowledge and in power, and have become 'more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.' "The manner of His coming was an indication of its purpose. Consider His Impoverishment, His tribulation, His suffering—what was it's purpose, unless to open the Kingdom of Heaven 1o those who believe?"

OTHER CHURCHES At. (ho Holy Trinity Church, Avonside, Midnight Communion was celebrated on Christmas Eve at 11.30 p.m., Holy Communion at 6.30 a.m. and 8 a.m., and Holy Eucharist at 9.30 a.m. on Christmas Day. At Matins at 11 a.m., the sermon was preached by the Rev. W. J. Hands. The Rev. A. K. Warren was the preacher at St. Mary's Church, Merivale. yesterday morning. Holy Communion was celebrated at 6 a.m., 7 а.m., 8 a.m., and 10.30 a.m. The Rev. W. Hayward celebrated I-lojy Communion at SI. Augustine's Church, Cashmere, at 7 a-.m., and Archbiship Julius at 8 a.m. At Matins and Holy Communion, celebrated at 11 a.m., the offerings received were devoted to the work of St. Saviour's Orphanage. Evensong, with carols, was celebrated on Christmas Eve at St. Luke's, and yesterday Holy Communion was celebrated at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 9 a.m. There were Matins at 10.40, Choral Eucharist at 11 a.m., and Evensong and Carols at 7 p.m. Christmas Day services were held at; St. James's Church, Riccarton, at б.45 a.m., 8 a.m., and 11 a.m.

SALVATION AIIMY Bands ot the Salvation Army were out at an early hour yesterday morning, and played carols in most parts of the city. Major Tong stated that the response to their collectors, although some Als less than that. o£ last year, was veiv generous, as yesterday there were many other bands and carolsingers on the streets. In the evening a Christmas service was held at the Citadel, the preacher being Major Tong. The speaker, who took as his subject the words, "There is no room for Him at the inn," based his address on some biblical stories, particularly that of the arrival of Joseph at Bethlehem and the discovery that the only place for him and his wife was a manger. Among the other narratives of which Major Tong spoke was that of the rich young man whom Christ asked to sell all that he had and follow Him, but who went away sorrowful because he had other things to possess his heart.