COURTENAY-PLACE CHURCH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1909, Page 2

COURTENAY-PLACE CHURCH.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE. The twenty-first anniversary of this church was celebrated last evening by a tea and public meeting, at which there was a good attendance. The tables were uicely decorated, and the schoolroom was full. The public meeting was •held in the church. The Rev. A. N. Aspland presided, and the Rev. A. Hodge, from Masterton, opened the proceedings with prayer. The Eev. J. R. Glasson preached a very impressive sermon, based on Paul's letter to the Corinthians, first epistle, 12th chapter and 12th verse. Mr. Glasson urged that we ought not only to allow but to encourage the utmost freedom of thought on religious and doctrinal questions, not deprecating, but cordially welcoming whatever diversty might result from such frleedom. We ought to condemn prejudice "against new ideas and against writings said to contain these, and men reputed to hold theories," as a hindrance to religious progress. He held that more and more were we coming to see that if religious experience was free as in the nature of things it must be if it was real, thought about it must also be free, if it was to be free. With the decline and setting of bigotry and intolerance would rise a grand catholicity broad and beautiful as that of the Afaster Himself. Instead of antagonistic sects warring against each other, we should have, out of various and diverse communions, one harmonious and united church ; not one in discipline, form, or externnl working, but one in spirit, one in re."l and practical acknowledgment of the Lord and His ivork — a church all the more beautiful and peaceful because of the endless divorsity among its component parts. Mr. A. M. Lewis, who has held the office of secretary for bo many years, being on a trip to England, Mr. G. B. Gregory was appointed to the position. The annual report of the church (already published) was read and regarded as most satisfactory. The treasurer stated that the Sunday collections had increased, and that the debt on the manse now amounted to only £225.