NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 19 May 1915, Page 8

NORMANBY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. There were good attendances at the services iu connection with the 36tL anniversary of this church on Sunday. In the morning a Communion service was held, and the Rev. J. W. Butler preached an eloquent sermon, taking for his, text Luke, 24th verse. Special hymns-were s>ung by the children. In the evening the Rev Mr Butler again conducted the service, and took for his text thelßth -verse of the 16+,h chapter of St. Matthew. He traced the early history of the church, and spoke of the Presbyterian Church as dating from the year 615 A.D., when Columba and 1? fellow soldiers proclaimed the Gospel on the Island of lona. Tho doctrines preached by Columba were in substance those held by the church to-day. The reformat:on under John Knox had purified tho life of Scotland, and the liberties and freedom that were enjoyed to' day can be traced to those strenuous times. He spoke of +he determination of the early Presbyterians of Normanby, who at their first committee meeting hoVl on November "7, 1878, resolved to build a church, and at the end of twelve months that-building was cemnleted and entirely free froin debt Mr Bntie7" mentioned thf. nnmps of the originnl committee—Rev.. James Torrev. Mfwr-s Gideon, Inkstpr, J. M^okay, Felix Hunger. G. Gordon, D. Morrison, Farquar Finlayson, Thomas and James Rohson. Th^ first building is in use to-day, though" it has been mr>*-ed to «, more suitable position.

The. annivers-T-v services wi7l be continupd to-rl«iv f\r vednesdav) when a t^a meeting will T>e l^ld in th« Tow^ Hall, pfter which the Hnwera choir will render t>>« "<iT,tata "Ruth." It is hoped there will be a large attendance.