THE CHURCHES.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1272, 29 December 1903, Page 6

THE CHURCHES.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND. The services at the Church of Holy Trinity on Christmas Day commenced with a celebration of tbe Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m., tbe Vicar being celebrant, and at' whicb there was a large number of communicants. Matins were said by Mr A. Hughes at 11 a.m., and at 7 p.m. choral evensong was rendered. Tbe proper psalms for the day were 19, 45, 85, 89, 110, 132, the proper lessons being Isaiab, ix to v. 8, Luke ii to v. 15, and Titus iii, 4 to 9. At Mandeville there was a celebration of tbe Holy Communion at 11 a.m., and although many of the congregation had gone away for holidays, yet there was a fair number of communicants. Christmas hymns were sung, and the servico was most heartily appreciated by the church people, who had for tbe first timo a Christinas service in their own church. Tbe church had been very prettily decorated, and the service will not soon be forgotten.

SOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The Christmas services held in the Roman Catholic Church, East Gore, at seven, halfpast eight and 11 o'clock, were availed of by large congregations. At the early masses the number who approached the Holy Table of the Lord was quite an edifying spectacle. Webbe's Mass in G was rendered most effec tively at the 11 o'clock msas by the church choir under the able conductorship of Mr George Brett, the church organist. The well-known " Adesto Fidelis " and the hymn " Noel" were also beautifully sung as ofl'ortory pieces. Father O'Donnell preached the Christmas sermon, dwelling on the feature of lowliness characteristic of the coming oi the Messiah and his kingdom ; for it was this humility our Saviour cams into the world to teach. Hencj He said on one occasion to [ his followers:—" Unless you become as little children you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven," and always in hit teaching and life the Saviour indicated its absolute necessity. This humility, as it is not an overweaning esteem of ourself, neither is it underestimate, which often means cowardice, and the worst form of pride. It is a true estimate of a man's utter wortblesiness in himself, and a true estimate of his immense power for virtue and goodness through the mercy, grace and help of Jesus Christ. Nature itself teaches that all things powerful and great commenced with small beginnings. What mote powerful than Ugh'.; yet watch how quietly the first footsteps of dawn make their appearance in tha early morn in the eastern sky. What more terrible than the storm; yet its beginnings are but the gentle whisperings of the zephyr. What more terrible in its effects than lightning ; yet it has done its work before one clap of thunder is heard. The tiny seeds must be first plactd in the earth and begin to decay before the trees or flowers begin to shoot, and then silently they grow until you have the giant tree or fullgrown flowers and blossoms; so it is with the coming of Christ and His Kingdom. The eternal word was made flesh and became man, which in itself is more wonderful than the fact that be was born for us as a little child. So is it, too, with us. To become spiritually great, we must become great in Christ, acknowledging our own nothingnefs and worthleßsness for good, and thereby render ourselves fit to enter into the glorious kingdom of Heaven.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. On Sunday evening the Rev. J. Hervey took for his text the words, " Year after Year," making these words bear on the principal events of the past year. During that time many of the best and highest in the land had left their work to be carried on by younger men. These younger men had different ideas to those held by their predecessors. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope, Lord Salisbury, Herbert Spencer, Qaintoa Hogg, and others had done their utmost to further the cause of good in tlio world, but as each passed away their places had been filled at once, which showed that no matter how great the work there were always men ready and willing to do it. Great discoveries in the natural world had led scientists to reconsider some of their fixed beliefs in the forces of Nature. New forces had been discovered at work which till this year had never been thought of. In the political world also events had taken place for which none had been prepared. The war cloud in the East, the Anglo-French arbitration agreement, the Macedonian revolt, the effects of the lioer war, and the position of Egypt were all dealt with by the speaker in striking manner. During tho service suitable hymns were sung, Messrs W. Wright and E. J Cunningham leading the singing and playing the organ respectively.'

GORE METHODIST CHURCH. Special choral services were conducted in the Town Hall by the local Methodist church on Sunday evening, the Uev. H. L. Blamires officiating. The attendance was good, despite the holidays. During the service the choir tastefully rendered three anthems, under the conductorship of Mr Mayo. Miss Begg rendered the sacred solo •' The Star of Bethlehem," and Mr E. 11. Bowler contributed " Nazereth," the organ acooinpaniment being played by Miss Ethel Dewar and Mr Cunningham respectively. Mr Blamires preached an impressive sermon from St. Matthew, cluperii.,2oth verse -. " They aro dead that Bought the yourg child's life." During the course of his remarks the preacher stated that there were even in these days those who thought that the gospel oi||JesufJChrist could be destroyed—- " They sought the youn? cnild's life,"—but Jesus at present reigned in more hearts than ever, and he was the centre of adoration to more nations to-day than ever b?fore, whilst those who set themselves against Hiia had departed entirely from history. Worlds and powers had failed to destroy the gospel, and had died. Christ's Kingdom had gone on increasing, and now nearly all nations were recipients of His redeeming grace. Brute force had utlerly failed to destroy the church, which had never been so full of vigor as in times of opposition and persecution, and one reason why the church was not so strong as could be wished today was that there were no opposition forces against her presence in these times to rouse all Christians and make them thorough disciples and workers of Jesus Christ. It could be said that Christ had overcome the world by not seeking for its favor, by leaving it and giving His lifo for it. Different religious conceptions had sought to destroy the young child's He, but always with the same effect, and they had destroyed themselves in the attempt. It was not for the speaker to ridicule the different religions of the world—every religion contained some foundation of truth and some good. All of them bore testimony to the universal desire of the heart la knew something of the future life. But these religions perished—while there was good in them they bad no Savior, and they were now, each and all, stagnant or decayed. These religions were not adaptable, as Christ's, to all kinds of men, to all nationalities, and all ranks and conditions of society. The works of Macaulay, Darwin, Sir Andrew Clark, and Sir Bartle Frere all bore testimony to the beneficial c-llects experienced since the introduction tf Christ's religion in different conditions of mankind, and especially in the South Sea Wands. What had become of those who had sought to destroy the kernal of Chrisiiinity '.' The > youny child bad cast its glance along the line | and gone on its triumphant way. Th'y could not deny that He was the greatest teacher and moralist ever known. The greatest men of every age ever known were followers of God. They should not entertain antagonistic philosophies who would take away their ' religion and give them nothing in return. I They were justified in refusing to listen to such. Christ's was the only creed that could clr.im to be the remiily of every evil and ' woe the world had ever known, and there was I no other Savior than Christ. The hope of the world centred in bim. The only barrier to peace and unity was the sellkhne-s of the heart, and Jesu3 Christ only could deal with

this, and plant in it* place the principle! of His religion.

FRESBYTEUIAN CHURCH. , The morning services were of a thaoksglv- Y ing character, tbe Kev. Mr Gray taking hit text from Psalm 103, v. 2, " Blest tbe Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all His benefits." With the dirge of the dying year in our ears, it was well that the last note should be one of thanksgiving. We had much to bleu God for. We were 100 apt to remember our sorrows and troubles and forget God's goodness to us. But if we would weigh our benefits or sorrows against our troubles we would find how the benefits would preponderate. David proceeded in this psalm to arrange God's benefits so that they could bo sung by any soul that was stirred as his was, and the first benefit he mentions, because the greatest, wai forgiveness of iniquities, which meant tha setting right of what was wrong in tbe soul—tho forth-giving or Bending far away of iniquities. Then there was the bealing of diseases ; as Jesus when He healed tbe man sick of tbe palsy said, " Thy sins b« forgiven thee," so David also sees that the sending away of sin is also the healiug of disease. Then there was the redemption of tbe aoul. The end of sin was destruction, but God bad redeemed his soul. Ho was crowned with loving-kindness and lender mercies. And surely looking back upon the past year we also had reason to take up this song of Djvid and make these words our own and say, " Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all Ui3 benefits. 1 '

In the evening Mr Gray took his text from Joel '2, 2>: I will restore to ynu the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmorworro, my gieat army which I s°nt among you. The preacher described the »tate of the land when the prophet Joel spoko the words of the text, who had given a graphic description of its " mournful and desolate state. Then tho prophet directs the people toGjlas their deliverer and calls them to fasting and repentauce. In tho second chapter God sptaks in j an.wer to their prayers and repentanoe, and W promises blessinß present and future. These w things are types of the spiritual world, and this was a luting subject for the close of the year. The Restorer uf years. Who bad not to mourn over years that were gona, golden opportunities that weie lost. Wh ■> did not look buck upon the past and feel that if he had his life to live again he would livo very differently. We thought of the days of childhood when we were innocent a ,,d almost ignorant of sin. Hut these days were none now, and sin had blighted our lives. The locusts might be compared to the licst steps in sin, the association with evil companions, the deviation from the paths of innocence. Then came the cank nvorm of the cares and ambitions of life eiuing out the spiritual life, and the caterpillar of evil passions and lusts which nipped tho (.mod seed earlier sown in the heart. There wis much in all our past lives that we would fain undo. Here then was a precious promise of God to all who mourned, "I will restore to you the years." There was tiiuo yet for repentance. Once moro let them sow the sod and plant the vine, and though the gleaning nrght be scanty yet the Holy One would toucn into green life tho years thai tiie locust had eaten. 80 now, with the memory of Christmas behind us and all that Christ had done, we should inscribe this name upon the cross, " The .Restorer of the years."