KNOX CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 9462, 6 August 1894, Page 3

KNOX CHURCH.

[By J. G. S. GBANf.] The occupant of this pulpit for this month, is the Rev. Mr Gibson, of West Melbourne. He is both youthful and prepossessing in aspect. He has a clear, bold, and dramatic articulation, He is, also, affluent in devotional phraseolqgy. The text of his sermon was John ix., 4 : I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day s the night cometh, when no man can work. The exordium of his oration was on the real blessing of work. The discourse would have gladdened the heart of Carlyle. Real, honest work Is not a curse, but a veritable boon toman. He launched forth into a splpndid denunciation of the night amusements of this frivolous age. Our forefathers wrought twelve hours a day, and obtained at night rest, health, and strength. Their descendants work only eight hours—chiefly in 'superintending machinery—and yet they are neitlrer so happy, so strong, nor so lone-living. Idleness is a real curso; labpr TS both a necessity and a duty, tt inspires glad: nessof heart and elasticity of spirits. Sentimental busvbodies, grasshoppers, and butterflies

received a signal condemnation. Everyone has a specjalty of gift, which be is sacredly bound to find out and develop. This peculiar talent may be instinctively learned. Its prosecution confers solid happiness—indeed, this is the secret of happiness. A real laboring man, plying his vocation in the day and in due sonson, never asks the imbecile question "Is life worth living ?" Labor—not wealth or pleasure—i» desirable in itself. Hut we cannot always be working. What then '.' A change .if labor is the best relaxation. The want of occupation is not rest; A mind urnd- vacant i» :> mind distrest. We turn night into day by our spurious amusements, and return to.restless couches, troubled dreams, and hence our languid frames and constitutions prematurely old. Indeed, our modern pleasures are more e>diausfchig than our labors. The. preacher urged the need of a wise economy of our time in this butterfly existence of colonial life. On the whole this is the best sermon ever deliverel in this edifice. At the close a professional nightingale regaled the congregation with music. This was in keeping with a public advertisement announcing that an elder of the congregation was to preside at a lecture on ' The Theatre and the Church!' Shade of Knox ! are we coming to this—turning the church into a concert hall! At the close of some of the hymns the congregation sang " As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be," and after a pause, to open their mouths sufficiently wide, they screamed forth Amen! It put me in mind of Cromwell in the Cathedral of Ely. When the parson came forward and uttered these words the General raised his sword, tore up his surplice, and said: " Leave off your fooling and come down !" Society moves in a circle, and so there is really no progress. That which has been shall be, and there is nothing new under the sun. We arc just retrogressing as fast as wo had progressed since the Reformation. We have no solid food for the people. Therefore we must regale them with scenic and musical exhibitions. At this rate of things we shall lose our freedom as well as religion, and blame the dupes of imposture, superstition, and anarchy.