NEW CHURCH AT ST. KILDA

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 24 September 1906, Page 8

NEW CHURCH AT ST. KILDA

The opemng services at the new church built by the Methodists at St. Kilda were held yesterday. There, was a capital attendance a.t each service, and the congregations expressed great satisfaction at the appearance and the comfortableness of the building, which, by the way, was designed by Mr J. L. Salmond, and has been well bnilt.

The Rot. 0. E. Eaton conducted the early morning service, nearly eighty members attending. At the eleven o'clock service the Kev. C. H. Laws officiated. The congregation filled tbe seats, and the Borbugh Council ■were officially represented. During the service Master Ernest Beyett, on behalf of the Junior Christian Endeavor Society, presented the minister with a Bible wiiich had been purchased by the earnings of the children. A volume of hymns was also presented by the infant classes of the Sunday school. The singing was led by a strong choir, under the conductor-ship of Mr T. F. Adam, who also presided at the organ. A quartet of violins lent assistance. 0 The preacher said in the course of his sermon: "It is in no spiri* of self-seeking or selfirratification that we are here this morning, and there is no thought of denomif national aggrandisement in our hearts. We have set out to do God service, and if there has been any pleasure of success resting on onr work then we give God the glory. I bring you the good wishes of your fellowMethodists in this City, and I assure you that your strength and "growth will be their joy. Baptise your work, and depend on the Spirit for help, be at one amongst youretlves, and have sympathy and care for your work and the fallen that may be amon" you, and then the future will bo great and good for you. We should take our Lord's own Name for His Church; we should never come inside this place without saying 'This is my Father's house.' This place which I we dedicate to Him to-day must be to us not simply the church, not merely the representative of our own denomination, but the Father's house that is the home to the

people who worship here. All that is TBveetest in that sweetest -word that ever wated on English lips is true of the House oil God. Home—there is no sweeter word, and there is no sweeter or.dearer place than our Fathers root tree. Now, I invite you to bring this home-feeling into your church. Think of it as a homo to the' soul, and associate with it the freedom and the tender familiarity and the confident joy of your home life."

There was another large congregation in :he afternoon, when the service was con-

ducted by the Rev. T. Trestrail, in lieu of the Rev. R. Mackie, who was prevented from being present through a family bereavement. During the service Mr H. E. Barth presented five prizes to the members of the Junior Endeavor Class for Scripture lessons.

The church was crowded in the evening, when the Rev. D. J. Murray occupied the pulpit.