MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 August 1917, Page 8

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

LATE LIEUT. R. TENNENT. St. Jolin's Presbyterian Church, .Greymouth, was filled with a very large congregation last evening, when the Rev. J. \V. Smyth, 8.A., conducted a memorial service to the late SecondLieut. Robert Tennent, son of Mr.-and Mrs. 1). Tennent, of Cowper Street. The attendance included meihbers of the Territorials, Hide Clubs, and Cadets under the command of Captain (kdclough. The service, which opened with the National Anthem, was a very impressive and solemn one. Dr Downos' "Litany for Soldiers" was one of the special choral items, whilst the "Dead March in. Saul - ' on the was played by Mr. AY. Holder after the Vesper hvmn.

The Lev. Mr. Smyth preached an ekiqueiit sermon on the Ascension, faking for his text the Sixth Chapter Hebrews. 20i.1i verse: "Whither the forerunner is for ns entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedic." Referring particularly to the late Lieut. Tennent, he said :

'''l his evening we are anxious to do honour to the memory of one who by (Jrace lias followed the Forerunner into hcuwulv places. Two months ago today Lieut. Tennent. known familiarly in this church as Boh Tennent, fell at the post of duty. We sorrow for him greatly. He was our own. lie was peculiarly the possession of this church. Baptised ami trained in the Sunday School lie never left the Sunday School. When he had acquired some knowledge of the Word of Cod he began at once the Christian task of teaching little children. He did not leave God out of his reckoning —lie was not of 'soul profane, of reason so blinded' : lie was a church member, confessing Christ as Lord in Christ's own appointed way. Happy the parents who can look back on such a youth going in and out of their home. When the call of duty to defend freedom hardly won c-nne, if was not hard to guess what such a youth would do. He would not shirk ; ho would not refuse the Cross. In fact, lie volunteered. When Lieut. Tennent went to the front, those who knew him best did not expect him back, except by a miracle, for they knew he would be in Ihe forefront of the hottest battle, fighting recklessly. Apparently litis is just what befell. "I was a student when Gladstone died. At the memorial service in Belfast'the minister spoke of the concrete case of one who feared God. .Much more may we glory in the case of a simple and sincere soul, not as Gladstone versed and practised in the tortuous ways of the politician. May every company of the church have men like Lob Tennent growing up in iter midst. Then she shall not, be asham-

ed in the gate. "The case of Lieut. Tennent helps us to realise what this war is costing n We are losing our ships. our trade, our weal ill in many forms. These might in time be replaced, but the true wealth of the nation cannot he replaced. A Roman matrui, when asked to produce her jewels produced her cleanliving boys. They were truly of priceless worth. When 1 spoke t.n one or two al>'.uit Lob Tennent these last two day's they repeated 'clean living.' He was apparently of' clean lips, of clean hands, 'clean of body; never ashamed to look his father or mother or even a more intimate friend in the face. Frank, manly, true, with a mind of his own .and courage to profess it, he lived in fown and camp by the Grace of God. He was definitely Christian; Christ in him and he in Christ. "To some it is given to serve long years; to'others one supreme moment comes'when they do more in a moment than others do'in years. Only a boy of 21. yet Bob Tennent stands for time and eternitv in the company of the very noblest of'the British race. In his own way h? could say with another 1,,■!-,,;<• soul: "1 have finished my course: I have kepi my faith. Henceforth i'or me there is the Crown of life.'

"He is not dead the chPd of our affection. . . . Tn Christ's House are manv abiding places. H ; s parents have hist tin 1 same number of children they had a year ago. Whoever and whatever else may lose one is certainly safe af Home. "Seivanl of God. well done."