METHODIST ANNIVERSARY

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 25 September 1933, Page 7

METHODIST ANNIVERSARY

SERVICES AT HAWERA.

ATTENDANCE OF MASONIC LODGES.

The fifty'-seventh anniversary of the foundation of Methodism in Hawera was celebrated yesterday at the Hawera Church by large attendances at the services. Appropriate sermons were preached by Rev. Basil Met-son, minister of the church, and in the evening the interest was accentuated by the attendance of a large liumbei of brethren of the Masonic Craft. Wor. Bro. G. J. Bayley, Master of Lodge Hawera, reading the lesson, Corinthians I. chapter 13. The subject of the sermon in me morning was “Remembrance.” Mr Metson, in the course of "his address, dealt interestingly with recollections of the early days in the church. In a welcome to the Masonic brethren, Mr Metson said it was eminently fittinor that they should be present, I ecause 50 years ago, one of the foundation stones of the old church was laid by them and 28 years ago, the north stone was also laid in the present church. These facts proved the close connection between the Masonic Lodge and the Church. He expressed great pleasure to see so many present. He thanked them for the appreciation of the spirit of fellowship and of mutual help and trust.

In the evening he preached on tin subject “Christianity and Life,” taking as his text St. Mark I, 37. “The common people heard him gladly” and l Timothy IV, B', “Religion is of service in all.” Christianity, said Mr Metson, was the universal religion and Jesus Christ was not, localised, but He put, as it were, two brotherly arms round the world. Christ wished to help everyone in time of need and was the same to all classes of people who were in the whirl of this busy life. Mr Metson .stressed the fact that Christianitv was for the common people and would not be “worth a .snap of the fingers if it did not deal with the cares of the world. It would he a delusion and a, sham.’’ The greatest triumphs were achieved among the common people, ordinary men o - mg inspired to endeavour ho rid the world of evil. Just in the same nay Christ chose the humble fishermen to help him and to cany on His work. They gave, a message of sincerity and of truth m their lives and were >ndaunted by the persecution that rageo round them. Now there were five, hundred million people who asked help ol the Man of Galilee.. Christianity was not a success unless it entered into the busy mart and the life of the people generally. The preacher specially referred to the wonderful. work done by Christianity foi the children who at one time were neglected and whose state had been completely altered bv its power. He referred also to the remarkable work done for children last century by men and women who were moved by the power of Christianity. The- position ol women, too, had been vastly improved by the power of Christianity until today woman was placed on a level plant with men and, as another result, tut influence of home life had been vastly increased.

He stressed the fact that Christianity did exercise an influence for goon on the world and should enter into business transactions, the old statement that “one cannot be honest and live” being “as old as Satan and at false.” There were some who diu “not go .straight," but that was, as it were, the mark of humanity ni the Church and the immeasurable gains to be got in life were the proof oi God’s influence.” The Christian, lie added, should be thorough going an© reliable in all things. He said in conclusion, that if Christianity were eliminated, the world would be full of .selfishness and “we should see life at its worst. That is one reason why it is good to celebrate the anniversary oi this part of Christian Church. We should give thanks because of the many good men and women who have beer sent to the world to put to the test the teachings of Jesus Christ, while we of the present day enter into their great heritage. We must strive at ways to be worthy of those great traditions and to deal with the problem, l that confront us in these difficult da vs.”

The service was fully choral, open with tlie “Int/i'oit” and the Lord’s prater, a. choral setting. The choir, under Mr H. C. A. Fox, sang the : nthem t“Stm of My Soul” and the great chorus from the “Elijah,” “Thanks be to God.”

Mr F. Restieaux, presided at the organ and played the very difficult accompaniments in nice taste, his work being a great help to the choir. H< alyo played a numbj r of 'excellent voluntaries, before and after the se: vice. The hymns, specially appropriate to the occasion, were “0 God On 1 Help,” “We Love the Place,” “Our Blest Redeemer,” “Lead, Kindly Light,” and “0 King of Kings.”