THE CHURCHES’ PART

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17946, 13 November 1918, Page 7

THE CHURCHES’ PART

OPEX-AIR SERVICES. It had at first been intended that when news was received of Germany’s acceptance of thp Allies’ armistice proposals, a continuous service should bo held in the Anglican Cathedral- However, the influenza epidemic and Dr Chesson’s edict prohibiting public gathering indoors, made it necessary for a considerable modification of this proposah and therefore when the glad news was received yesterday the Cathedral authorities decided to hold an outdoor service- This was held at 9.30 a.m., outside the Cathedral, and was entirely of an impromptu character. Several well-known hymns were sung, and at the -first service a short prayer was offered by his Lordsliip the Bishop of Christchurch. A number of representatives of various Churches were present. At noon a slightly more elaborate service was held, but it was almost entirely a choral ouo, the Rev F. N. Taylor, of St Luke’s Church, again conducting. After the National Anthem and a hymn had been sutie, Bishop Julius announced- that no addresses would be given, as the noise, which was being made by the passing concourse of mo-tor-cars and their heavily laden freight of hilarious patriots made such a thing impossible. His . Lordship then led those present in the Lord’s Prayer, after which a short prayer was offered by Major Newby, divisional officer of the Salvation Army. After a, number of hymns had been heartily sung by the assemblage, which bad by this time grown considerably, Bishop Julius requested his hearers to bow their heads in a silent prayeT “to do homage to the dear hoys who have won this day for us and to thank God for the courage and the devotion of the boy's who have accepted service.” He beseeched the Almighty to remember and to receive those who had entered into their eternal peace. The service war, brought to a close by the singing of tho logy'ihe Cathedral bells rang joyous pen Is, and played hymn tunes. At 10.30 the Salvation Army held a short servico of song. A number of short speeches were also made by representatives from tho Christchurch and various local corps. A thanksgiving service, which was to have been held in the Anglican Cathedral in the evening, took place instead in tho grounds of Bishopscourt. Processions of choirs from St Luke’s, St Michael’s, St John’s and other parishes were a special feature of this gathering, - and they served to attract a very 7 large attendance. The service consisted almost entirely of hymns, but a short address was given during the evening by Bishop Julius. The Rev F. X. Taylor again conducted the singing.

Owing to Dr Chesson’s order no services were held in the Homan Catholic Cathedral or in any of tho Catholic churches yesterday. Peace will bo celebrated there at tho services on Sunday next. THE EVENING SERVICESAt seven a Nonconformist service was held on the river bank near the City Council Chambers. The Salvation Army band, under Bandmaster HWalker, rendered music throughout, the service, which was conducted by the Rev Percy Knight, assisted by the Rev J. Paterson. The service opened with the National Anthem, which was followed by a short prayer by M a l or Newby. After the Doxology and the 23rd Psalm had been said, the Hev E. Blamires offered up a prayer tnan.cmg God for the great victory that had just been achieved by the Allies over the doctrine that might was right. The Rev j. J. North, in a short speech, said that that day had probably been the greatest in history- ft was a day when all differences of sex, religion and Tank were levelled anc > t- ,y were brothers. Their hearts had proved very malleable under God s hammer. “You often hear the phrase, the Rev North said* 11 that R ? good to bo true/ ” hut they knew by to-day’s great ’ event tlmt nothing .was too good to be _• V liat all pessimists regarded * * ‘ _ impossibility had come to P 7 '**- They all sincerely hoped that the peace would .he a durable one and that it would not be a patchwork affair like the peace of Amiens. A repeti -ion the latter event was luckily unpossi.e because, unlike Napo-leon, the presenttyrant had been humbled for ever and no Wo in tho world w«» b !S for him to lio his head in. Inegr thunder-clouds which had Ini world for fiftv years had now been dispersed, and the future was glorious beyond all words and thoughts. ' ~ living 0 n the birthday of » or_ em£)kasiseH, And

few years will be of overpowering influence. God’s reign has been vindicatf°r the war just finished has been God s war. Four years ago the Kaiser held the cards, and on a materialistic computation the world was euchred, but the great forces of truth, equity, mercy and, justice were ours, and they have aided us to the great triumph.” Continuing, th© speaker ■said that, the Allies would have failed in their great task if they allowed Germany to remain after the conclusion ol peace with a soul that was rankled and with a desire for vengeance at some future time. “We want no vengeance,” he declared. “ w© are not Red Indians.” In conclusion, the speaker said that lie hoped that great social wrongs would be earnestly attended-to, and the get-rich-quick ideals of the few would be eradicated in the days that were to come. Short prayers were then offered by the Rev J. Beckett and the Rev Samuel Lawry, and the service was brought to a conclusion with tho National Anthem.