A GIRLS' CONVENTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 776, 28 March 1910, Page 3

A GIRLS' CONVENTION.

PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE CLASSES. At the Saturday morning session of tho Presbyterian Young' Women's Bible Class Union Convention, several papers were read and keenly discussed. Miss Chappell gave a paper on the best way to persuade outside girls to form the classes, and Mrs. Falconer read a paper on organisation as it ■ affects members going to new districts. Miss Ross, of Hastings, gave, a paper on co-operation,, and Miss 'J'reniain, of Auckland, another on the way Bible classes can help tho Sunday Schools. Mr. H. \\. \i ersley read a paper on systematic I giving. In the afternoon about 150 members attended the convention picnic, held at Day's Bay, where a most enjoyable afternoon was spent. Yesterday afternoon about three hundred girls were present at a meeting of. the United Bible Classes, held in St. John's Church, when excellent evangelistic addresses were delivered by Sister Mabel, deaconess of St. John s Church, and by Dr. Elizabeth Macdonald. .... , .' . Two hundred of the members were entertained at tea, which was served in St. John's Schoolroom, and there sacred- songs were sung by Miss Rash, and two little Maori girls from the Turakiua Girls' School. SERMON.■■BY DR. GIBB. • In tho evening the members of the Young Women's Bible 1 Classes nearly filled tho gallery, which was. set apart for them at St. John's ■Church, where Dr. Gibb held a special service. Ho took as his text the words addressed b'v Christ to Mary.of Magdala after, the Resurrection, "Woman; why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" It "'as to a woman that the first wor.ds of the 1 risen Lord were addressed. The preacher made three points:—First of all the Apostles and.friends of Christ Mary felt the deepest love and sorrow for the Master.. .This was shown, by ■ a study, of several incidents in the passage. Second, in Mary's love for.the Lord there was a- convincing testimony to the satisfaction of a life that .'ests itself solely in Christ. Third, the services rendered by such a life.- as Mary's to the Lord Jesus, and to the Kingdom of [ God. Referring to .the work done by the Young Women's Bible Class on behalf of the. Church, Dr. Gibb; spoke in terms of warm appreciation of those services. Ho specified a number of their aggressive activities, and.expressed a.hope that these.would be maintained and added to, but he would entreat, them ever to bear in mind that the supreme services a. woman could-render the cause of Christ iii this world was to lovo Christ, as Mary of Magdalen loved Him. To lovo Him so was tho highest ideal_ they could form for their lives, and in proportion as they attained to it would they help to realise-tho Master's desire to bring the whole world into fellowship with tho Father through faith .in' Himself. It was not to Peter, not to John, it was to Mary He first made Himself' known after tho Resurrection. Did not that tell them that beyond dl other service that they could render to Him .Christ valued love? Did it not tell them that lovo must have ' preeminence— it was an; eternal grace? And this pre-omiiienco of character fnd servicormight-bo theirs'. Each one of them might possess it. -It required-no great intellectual gifts. Mary of Magdala was certainly not characterised by a high mentality. Probably she was not a woman of' a ■ forceful! personality: Compare her. with tho busy, bustling Martha and sho,might seern-quiet and ineffective."-- Compare her with Martha-s sister, Mary of Bethany,' and her 'pow;ers-bf reflective-thought might seem small, and yet of.tho Apostolic company .'she was the! first-, to behold the risen Lord. Her beatitude might bo, theirs. 'It was a case of love answering love. What the Lord He would be to them also if they only would. It needed but that they should love Him as Mary loved. They .could'-if ••they would, but .would they?■' Let all their life from that night also .-.answer that question with a grand amen.'