THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1247, 2 October 1911, Page 9

THE CHURCHES.

KENT TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. Yesterday marked tho twenty-fith anniversary of the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church. The services were conducted by tho Rev. Graham n. Balfour, of First Church, Duncdin. Mr. Balfour occupied tho pulpit at both the morning and evening services, and' also delivered an address to tho young in tho afternoon. In tho evening* ovary seat was taken, chairs being placed at tho end of every seat. Some people seated themselves on tho steps and stairways, and a large number of people could not bo admitted. As a preface to his sermon in the morning, the 1 preacher had something to say to tho children. "Ho made tho stars also," Gen. I, 18, was his text, and his remarks wcro interesting to old and young alike. Tho choir rendered an anthem, tho solo portion of which was given by Miss O.M'Donald. "Tho Church of God" was the subject dealt with by tho preacher, who took for his text two verses Acts XX, 2S, and Ephesians V, 25. According to the Old Testament tho origin of the word Church meamt "ealkd out of God," and of tho New Testament "Holy Communion of Christ's people." Tho Church of to-day represented tho Christ. The Life of God was in it. It was deathless, impregnable. Right down through tho ages it had been tho greatest sanctifying and purifying agency. Tho Church was not perfect and never" would be, but to it we owed a great debt. It had been our nursing-mother, as it were, the source of sweet fellowship, inspiration and guidance, and, in addition, the great builder-np. Some people only despised and criticised, they might as woll despise their own mother. It was to tho Christian Church that we owed so many of the blowings that wo to-day cinjovcd. Tho preacher urged tho younger people to throw in their lot with the Church, and so make it stronger and more effective. In the afternoon an able and effective I address was delivered, primarily to the j children, but a goodly number of parents wcro also present. Mr. Balfour dec.i.t with the subject of the Good Shepherd, explaining the pastoral allusions in reference to Palestine. The telling of a number of stories and anecdotes made the ■ afternoon pass all too quickly for the "bairns." . . , , , , Tho evening's service 'was . devoted to "Tho Christian Movement in Korea, when a strong address was delivered. Although politically Korea could never be a great .Power, still, in tho words. of a missionary, "it is becoming the spiritual power-house of the East/' The influence of this remarkable people was now being felt in India, in China, and in Japan. Last' year the Christian Church had a great campaign, their aim l>eing the winning of one million souls for Christ'. An authority ■ had estimated that fully this number were influenced. As a people they arc devout and they have accepted tho Christian faith in all it's purity. No worldly advantages were offered them. Thev are Bible students, they are personal workers, and lastly, they are selfsupporting. Last" year 91 per cent_of the workers wero supported by t'ho Koreans themselves, Thp speaker concluded his address by an earnest appeal to his hearers. "Is it not .Korea?" he said, 'who has sent a missionary to you." During tho service a solo was sung by Mr. W. Goudio. The choir also rendered an anthem, tlio soloists. being Miss Muriel Bennett and Mr W. Goudio. , ... An anniversary conversazione 13 to be hold to-morrow evening, commencing at 7.30 p.m. An attractive programme of vocal and instrumental items, etc., has been arranged, and an address will bo given by tho Rev. Graham H. Balfour. ST. MARK'S CHURCH. CONFIRMATION SERVICE AND ADDRESS BY BISHOP SPROTT., St. Mark's. Church was. crowded inevery part yesterday afternoon, when the rito of confirmation was administered by tho Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) to seventy-three candidates, 01 whom thiity-two wore men and boys; The service, was of the simplest character, but quietly . dignified and'earnestly solemn. T'ho bishop gave one address-only to -tho candidates. 110 took 1 as his' subje'ot "Power,", and showrtl;hq'lv' r fa'oiii'. the'-dhy-of St. Paul's conversion.,"bel'oKf the l G'ata' of Damascus, to tho last letter that ho wrote, though all his epistles, which the bislhop described as the most completely autobiographical lottcTS in the world, Christianity had been to him, if a loss of many other things, an accession of power to his own life. It was this power that waa tho special gift of confirmation. In tho evening tho bishop preache'd again, from Hebrews xii., 22. His theme was suggested by tho Festival of St. Michael and All Angel's, which had taken place (luring the week. Tho thought of tho existence el* angels and their ministry was not a thought that held a place in the serious werlting religion of Christian people to-day. The ordinary Christian, if he thought about the themo at all, regarded them as personifications of ' graces, rather thaai as bangs. The reasons for the change of thought were manifold. Belief in the supernatural generally was weakened, and most of all in those parts of the supernatural which are least rationally defensible. But that did not account for'all. There wcro manv who retained a belief in God who still ignored belief ill angels. But was it irrational? Everywhorj wo find life graded from plant life up to the life of man. But man is not perfect. Was it impossible for man to conceive a scale of life ascending abovo him as well as a descending scale, and that these beings have some relation to man? It is true that wo have drawn our conceptions of angelic life rather from poets, Milton especially, than from the Bible, and becauso wo havo outgrown theso conceptions we have banished the underlying truth. Scicnce has banished fairies, elves, and sprites, beings who were negation of law. But the reign- of law is dominant to-day, and thoro is room in the reign of law for intelligent life reaching above man. Another reason for the. low of thoir doctrine was th-art man feels it difficult to find a place for angels in his religion. God, as Christ reveal«l Him, is not far off, but in close relattionship with " man. To tho earlier Christian, who was less introspective than the modern Christian, outward elements were a greater influence. To-day there seems no need for them. But the ministry of angels had its place in the teaching of Christ. In Clirisfs day the Jewish theology of a transcendent. God, aloof and apart trom men, postulated a belief in angals. To this idea of Gcd, Christ offered a strong protest, but lie did not discord belief in these intermediaries. There aro human angels, earthly helpers who work out God's designs of love. Christ saw that thero were heavenly helpers, too. To believe in them was a help and an inspiration; to bolievo in them was to feel that man was not alone in his best thoughts and worship, that thus ho had helpers of higher' powers than his in the fulfilling of his best soil'. THE MEN'S BROTHERHOOD. Dr. Izard was the speaker at the usual Sunday afternoon gathering of tho Men's Brotherhood which was held in tho New Theatre, Manners Street. There was an excellent attendance. Tho Rev. E. 0. Blamires occupied tlio chair, after an absence on holiday leave for a period of two' weeks. lie was woll received by the congregation, being welcomed back again by an officer of tho Brotherhood who stated that although excellent progress had been made during tho . president's absence, yet tho members missed their leader and wero delighted to seo him back again quite refreshed to resumo his arduous duties. Madame Broome rendered a solo with splendid effect, for which the audience thoroughly demonstrated their appreciation. Dr. Imd's subject''was 011 "Eugenics." Tho doctor gave a most interesting lecture 'which was listened to with much interest. The speaker made his remarks very plain and reminded his hearers of the fact that tho wealth of a nation was it's men aud women, and that there was 110 wealth throughout, life. He also made mention of the declining birth-rate, which was a question which would havo io be faccd with a determination to solve tho terrible problem. Love of pleasure and selfishness must not dictate to love of duty, were his closing remarks. Mr. E. Arnold proposed a hearty vole of thanks to the speaker which was carried enthusiastirally. Sir Robert Stout, Chief .Tustice, will bo the speaker next Sunday.