CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 139, 13 June 1908, Page 5

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

I _: ; <£► ! DEDICATION SERVICE. A» very impressive service was held at the Church of Nativity this morning, when the Butt, Memorial Chancel and the Thomas Carter Memorial Organ were dedicated by Bishop Juhus of Christchurch. The service opened with the processional HY.mn No. 396, and the petition of parishioners was read by the Diocesan Registrar, Mr Rogers, who also read the form of dedication. The Bishop r.ead the dedication prayer, and made the usual announcement of consecration.. The Bishop delivered a short address', taking for his text " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give the praise, for Thy loving mercy and for Thy truth's sake" (Psalm cxv., 1). The Bishop pointed out that the act of consecration was merely a symbol, by which something in seen materials was dedicated to the service of Almighty God to remind us of unseen things. By way of illustration, he said that a man's body was much the outward sign of the spirit within him. Ritual was form, and uo matter how impressive or how glorious, was utterly worthless unless the real spirit of religion Avas behind it. But no religion could possibly be purely spiritual; it must be associated with ■ material things, and it was a great mistake to attempt to separate the two. The material was of value only for the spiritxial conception which lay behind it. The chancel and the organ were symbols of a great and faithful love, and were dedicated to the service of God Almighty. They were^ also symbols of the .spiritual devotion of the peoplo of Blenheim, and he prayed that they would go on increasing in Godly fear and love. After the dedication service. Holy Communion wa«* administered. The service was closed by the Bishop pronouncing the Benediction, and the singing of the recessional Hymn 379. The Yen. Archdeacon Grace and the Revs. Howell, Smith and Woolstein also assisted at the service. .