Anniversary Services.

Hastings Standard, Issue 506, 20 December 1897, Page 2

Anniversary Services.

IN THE WESLEYAN CHURCH

Anniversay services were held in the Hastings Wesleyan Church yesterday, and were well attended. The church was neatly decoiated, and presented a very pretty -appearance. Children to the number of about 150 were arranged on either side of the pulpit, and sang the special anniversary hymns with great spirit. The Rev. Mr Marten took his text from the book of the Prophet Zachariah, Bth chapter, sth verse—" The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing," and preached an eloquent and appropriate address. He painted a word picture of the happiness enjoyed by children in Heaven, and maintained that such happiness could to a degree be enjoyed on earth by children who were taught to love their Creator. He ridiculed the idea that Christianity tended to make one stiff and formal, and said that the greatest happiness on earth was the privilege of meeting the cares of life in prayer. A great responsibility rested with parents as to the way tbey brought their children up. Some were content to let their offsprings drift with the tide, and it could not be wondered at if their lives reflected disgrace upon them. The rev. gentleman concluded an admirable address by impressing upon the children the necessity of embracing Christianity whilst young, for "as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined."