THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 8

THE CHURCHES.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. . \ • At St. Jolm's Presbyterian Church last ovemnK, the Rev. J. F. Macßae, of Toorak, Melbourne, preached a very practical sermon , a . lar E e congregation on the subject of Tin lies and Persons." The preacher framed his. address on the text, Seeing that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner .of persons' ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness'" According to Scripture, ■ lie said, the things of this world had to go. Christ's testimony ivas to the effect that all things would pass away. According to certam scientific doctrines, there were physical processes at work which would eventually cause the natural fabric to be broken, up,- and the earth, it was said, would finally plunge into the cauldron of the sun. What would remain? he asked. He would ask them to reflect that man was to be judged by two different methods. He might go into a certain city and inquire of a passor-by tho identity of a certain person whom he indicated. He would be told of the man's birthplace, • his l education, his work, perhaps the amount of. money he had amassed. These things were the outer covering of the man. The information thus given him did not reveal to him' tho man's personality, his soul character. These things were, so to speak, his. life clothes, which he removed at night. ~ They;- were. not the man himself. As it was by the removal of the outer covering of a riiari that one saw him as ho physically was; so it was on!}possible to estimate the...character of his soul by removing his outer personality "as it were. The Apostle had urged that the chief object should be the care of the soul. This was not. a selfish obicct, for those who made this their principle in life did not exclude the service of' God. 1 A man who had not learnt to discipline his own character could not bo expccted to passes 3 the influenco to discipline others. They could not indicate any place in-this country, or any country, where personal charactcr was not the real force. They were not, howover, to despise the things that wore to pass away, for. it was by the right use of theso things that character built. up. The tragedy of a man's life was'-when the things that were to pass away gripped him and dragged him down. i . ' ! .

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE. >. i At St. Paul's pro-Cathedral yesterday t morning, tho Rev. T. 11., Sprott continued > his course of sermons on Sunday observance, , dealing-with the teaching of the Fourtli ; Commandment regarding rest. Mr. Sprott ■ referred to the harm done by continuing •' work to the point of exhaustion, and quoted ) statements _by Dr. Caldeoott,: Professor of < Mental Philosophy/ at King's College, LonI don, as to recent scientific experiments showing tho bad physical; mental, , and .moral effects of fatigue on human beings. The requirements of the Commandment regarding rest were, therefore, not only applicable to the ancient Jews, but to mankind generally'in - UNITARIAN FREE CHURCH. ' : The anniversary services-of the Unitarian Free Church (Dr. Tudor Jones) were held yesterday, and in spite of the inclement weather' the hall was full in tho evening. Dr. Jones started a series of addresses on • the " Great Religions of the World." Tlip minister reviewed tho past year—a year of great prosperity from overy point of view. The movement was now on a solid foundation, and it was hoped- to erect a new church in the course of the year. Dr. Jones thanked tlie-audienco for thoir co-operation and faithfulness, and stated ihat he iiopikl to accomplish greater thiiigs during the coming year. The induction of tho Rev. A.;M. Johnson as vicar o; St. Mark's Wellington, will ial;o place on April 26. - A memorial tablet has been placed on the south w4.1l of the choir in St. . Mark's Church to, the memory of Major J. ,G. Butts, of the Itoyal Irish Regiment, who died at Wellington on December 5, 1891. The' Rev. John Macßae has attained high ' popularity as- a .preacher at St.. John's Church- during the last few Sundays, and before lie returns to Melbourne an opportunity will be given of hearing .him in tho role of a public lecturer.' The Kent Terrace Presbyterian 'Church Literary Association have secured his services. at their opening meeting, which is to be held in the Pirio Street Schoolroom this evening at 8 o'clock. Tho'subject of the lecture is "Six .weeks under the rule of tho Turk." As more than passing interest attaches to the future of that part of the earth over which the Sultan has sway, it may be anticipated that a largo audienco .will assemble to -listen to the reverend gontlcman's impressions. Admission is free,, but there., will be. n collection in aid of tho Association's funds.