PAROCHIAL CONVENTION

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 June 1931, Page 7

PAROCHIAL CONVENTION

ST. MARY’S CHURCH. HA WEB A SERVICES CONTINUED. The largest congregation of the convention assembled at St. Alary’s church, Hawera, on Friday even inland heard the address of' the Rev. H. W, James. His remarks were exceedingly instructive and informative concerning questions of vital interest to the ppopie. “Goa, me Holy Catholic church” was his subject, which, he said, “followed on the confession of the Christian that he believes in the Holv Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life” a's a means of revelation of God. Air. James quoted the text “The church, which is His body,’ s from Ephesians, 1 : 23, stressing 'the words of the Achbishop of York that “the fruit of Christ's ministry, was not a bpdv of teaching, but a little society with an unshakeable conviction that in Him, God had taken action and had redeemed the world and 1 that it was the Resurrection which changed the dispirited disciples into the founders of the church militant and triumphant.” The preacher stressed also the fact that the church, as most people conceived it, with its “hateful cleavages and slow machinery, and its capacity for taking the wrong side in moral issues” was not what was described by St. Paul in his Epistle, “The church, said St. Paul, is the fulness or completion of Hint who all in all is being fulfilled, a community which is nothing else than the life of God, a society founded by Christ to proclaim and carry on His redeeming work, by His life, teaching, death and resurrection and bv the consequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit,” said Mr. James. Iri conclusion the preacher said the church was the one sacramental institution of all times, instituted by God. trustee of the birth death, resurrection and eternal love of Jesus Christ the Lord. Books which Air. James asked his hearero to read included “The Religion of the Church (Gore), “Essays Critical and Catholic” (Barry) and “Christian Unity” (Headlam).

At the conclusion of the service a reception was held. Appreciation of the work done was happily expressed by the vicar. Rev. J. R. Young. During the evening songs were sung by Mrs. T. Sunderland, Miss Olga Hancock, Mrs. Gannaway and Messrs. T. Herbert and A. E. Morris, .accompaniments being played by Mrs. L. A. Tavlor and Mr. Herbert Webb. A light supper wag provided by the ladies.