METHODIST CHURCH JUBILEE.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 2914, 1 September 1925, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH JUBILEE.

WELL-ATTENDED SERVICES,

o,n Sunday jubilee services in connexion with the Leeston Methodist Church were conducted by the Rev A. C. Lawry, of Tamaru, who was superintendent of the Leeston circuit from 1894 to 1896. At both services there were large congregations, including many former residents of the district, some of whom ca,me from .as far distant as Oxford. Suitable hymns were chosen and the choir gave anthems at both services. The soloist was Miss Gladys Brooks, of Brookside, whose singing delighted the congregation? In the morning Miss Brooks sang "How lovely are Thy dwellings," and her evening solo was '' Consider the lilies. " . Mr Lawry expressed his tha.nks for the honour the Church officials had done him in asking him to conduct the jubilee services. He had come to the circuit 31 years ago as its minister and retained very pleasant memories of his stay in the district. Of the 17 ministers who had been stationed at Leestou since the Church was established in 1875, nine had gone to their eternal rest. The Rev C. H. Standage, who came to the district in 1885, was now a supernumerary at Timaru. The Rev T. Gr. Brooke, who acted as supply for [ the Rev J. Armitage in 1881, had recently retired from the arduous duties lof home mission secretary and was living in Auckland. The Rev C. Griffen (1897) and the Rev T. A. Joughin (1909-13) were also living in Auckland. The Rev W. Grigg was at Blenheim, and Rev AY. Laycoek had just retired from circuit work. The Bible from which the lessens would be read that day was the first pulpit Bible used in the old church. Although his first visit to Leeston as a preacher was made in 1880, has term as minister of the circuit began in 1894, when he arrived in Leeston with Mrs Lawry aud their three children. A son who had been bor.u the following year was married in March last. Prom a book in his p0.;,.c, '. :i ". iv Lawry gave an interesting list of marriages solemnised during his ministry in the district. Although many of the old faces were missing from amcyig the congregation that day, he rejoiced in the fact that many of the children and grandchildren of the staunch members of the church in the early days were carrying on the work.

Mr Lawry's morning text was taken from Matt. 13-33: "The Kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three meausres of meal till the whole was leavened." The leaven of Christianity had upon huma,uity the same eifect as leaven had upon the meal, said the preacher. Its effects could be made to permeate the life of the individual, the home life and the life of the community. For half a century the leaven of the Gospel had been distributed through the agency of the Methodist "Church at Leeston, and many of the workers had left behind them an imperishable influence and a golden example. One of the finest evidences of the leavening of humanity to be found to-day was given in the report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, wherein it was stated that the Scriptures were being issued in 572 different languages and dialects, and that ten million copies of the Scriptures had been distributed last year. He earnestly prayed that the half century they were entering upon would see still greater achievements, that there would be continued striving until the whole mass was leavened, until all caught the glorious glow of Christianity, and the forces of righteousness outran those of I evil..

In the evening Mr Lawry took his text from Psalm 77-11: "I will remember, '' Science taught us that in our subconscious mind all memories were infallibly stored. No event was ever completely forgotten. Often during delirium the subconscious mind would reveal its store in a most remarkable way. Memory could be said to print in fast colours which nothing could efface; the net was so small that nothing could ever completely slip through. But while the human being could not completely forget the events of the past there was One who could and who would forget if His forgiveness were sought. '' Not only do we remember, but other ; people remember,'' said the preacher. iHe urged them to so live that their memories would become storehouses of rich and poble experiences of unselfish deeds and of self-sacrifice. One of the greatest joys of the life to come would

be the recollection of service rendered for Christ in this life. NEXT SUNDAY. Jubilee services will be held again next Sunday, when the preachers will be the Rev W. A. Hay, of Christehurch, and Mr W. Hutchens, of Wanganui. Mr Hutchens, who is a fine singer, will be the soloist.