MEMORIAL SERVICE AT METHODIST CHURCH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 31 July 1911, Page 5

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT METHODIST CHURCH.

In spite of the wet night, there was a large congregation at Wesley Church, when the Rev. F. W. Boys preached a memorial sermon for the late Mr T. E. Taylor. Taking for his text 11. Samuel 3-38, the preacher said: Every temperance worker and every heart eager for social righteousness labors to-night under a sense of personal loss. A king man has passed away. How little do the trappings of society matter. Plain T. E. Taylor, mourned no less for being neither baronet or earl. He began life in obscurity, but his home was one of piety. Plain, unlettered man though his father was, he had a great soul, and was a loyal Christian. From him his son derived his zeal for temperance. Thirty-two years ago T. E. Taylor was teacher in the Sydenham Wesley Sunday School, a member of this congregation being the superintendent. Those infants had a good time, for, as in other things, their teacher was original and successful. About this time he passed through that stage, which most thoughtful men travel who desire to find God for themselves. He had his period of scepticism, there was the time of doubt and darkness, until there shone beautiful and clear in his soul that light which lightheth everyman that cometh into the world. From that time forth Christ was the ideal by which he shaped his life. This should help young men now fighting with doubt. As he won through so will you. His public work may be said to have begun with the famous "Sydenham closing case." In 1888 Leonard Isitt came to Sydenham. These two men united forces, and from that time the modern phase of temperance work in New Zealand began. Frank Isitt soon joined them, and these three men were as brothers. I heard him give one of his earliest political addresses in the Opera House, Christchurch. One was impressed with his vitality and fearlessness. In those days he was regarded as an iconoclast, a firebrand, and, worst of all, a Socialist. Those who had never heard him before were astonished at the reasonableness of his utterances when last in Hawera. Not that he was different. While an uncomprising political enemy, he had the power of drawing men to him by his honesty of purpose. Personal gain or advantage never weighed with him. To tell him he would lose votes never moved him. To him religion and politics were one. He was a man of prayer, and was not ashamed to be seento pray. This explains the beauty of his message to the Labor Party: "Recognise the religious element, and lift the movement to its highest plane." It is no cant to say that in his politics he felt he served God first and his constituents after. God was his leader. His marching song was "God leads, let us follow." "He hath sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat." Although he died poor, he has left •us a great legacy. God shows his contempt for money by the kind of people he allows to make a lot. Mr Taylor has left more than, money. He has helped us to see that politics may be an upward impulse, not a degrading, self-seeking affair. Witii the brain of a genius and the fearlessness of a lion he had a heart of tenderness for the weak and helpless. It was because the cur^o of intemperance presses so unfairly upon the weak that he' hated itj as he hated all injustice and oppression. We regret he did not live to see the accomplishment of tha'o for which he labored, viz., Dominion prohibition. He has fallen while yet in his prime; a call comes to the young men of the people to step into the ranks and join in the onward march of unselfish service which he began— We are marching to the Kingdom of our God; We are marching, aye, and falling as we march; We are dying with the distance in our eyes But what reck we —we are marching, And the future will be better If the present be but wise. At the close of the sermon the congregation rose, while the orchestra played the Dead March. The following letter was read during the sermon: — "Christchurch, Jan. 14, 1909. "Mr Will Hutchens, Hawera, Dear sir, —In reply to your favor of the llinst. I think that it is a very pressing duty so far as Christian men and women are concerned that they should seek to stamp upon all our legislation and our public institutions the spirit of brotherhood winch is the foundation of the gospel of -Christ. I believe the last 50 years have been remarkable in comparison with any other period for growth of this opinion. J.ne Christian__4pirit is rapidly revolutionising the attitude of all civilised governments towards men and the future is not likely to be less fruitful. If the church were as active as it should be so far as all social and ethical matters are concerned I am sure that it would win and retain allegiance of a much larger body of men than it^suceeeds in doing at the present ti,me. —Yours very truly, T. E. Taylor."