PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LII, Issue 4580, 17 March 1931, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

HARVEST THAXKSGIVING SERVICE'S. There wen* large congregations ill both services nt the local Presbyterian Church on Sunday on the occasion of harvest thanksgiving'. Displayed in front of the pulpit were a collection of l'ruit, vegetables and magnificent dahlias, etc. The display and decorations were favourably commented upon by the minister (Rev. .J. A. Preston), who thanked the givers. The hymns .and anthem by the choir (under the eonduetorship of Air R. T. Retry) were appropriate to the occasion. All' Barron and Miss Davey rendered solos nt the morning and evening services respectively. Apart from gifts of fruit, vegetables, etc., special thanks-offerings were made bv the congregation. Tin* services were conducted by the Rev. J. A. Preston. In the morning he took for his text : “How much owest thou unto my Lord” (Luke xvi-f>). The subject was “obligations.” The parable of the unjust steward, said the preacher, has for its chief lesson fidelity to trust. Obligations rested upon ns in respect to every branch of life. The ground of our obligations were the gifts of f!od, a Saviour, pence of mind, and the society of the good. Tf, he said, we summed up the life of Jesus in one word, perhaps the lies! would he character. TTe referred to the re sponsibilities these blessings entailed and urged his hearers to live up to their privleges. In the evenng his subject was “The Four Fields,” from the text of the Sower and the Seed. It was a peculiar pulpit from which 'Christ spake this parable, probably a fishing' boat, said the preacher. There arc many strange places and peculiar situations which furnish the followers of Christ with suit - iddc pulpit and titling text. The various fields upon which the seed is sown was amply illustrated. The seed, lie said, is being sown daily in the teachings of the school, by the lessons of experience, by the influence of joy and sorrow, by the hooks we read and by our conversation with our fellow men. Pride, selfishness. self-indulgence, had passions, etc., represent the various unproductive grounds. In the good Held tlit* s.hml germinates .-mil grows and hears an abundant harvest. Wo cannot, however, lie said, all hear Hie same fruit, or an equal amount, as one star dift'orolh in glory from another star, so it is with Cod's people. “Friends, your own conscience will tell you to which of the four fields you belong. Remember that the Good Lord would have you all to he ns the good ground and you can be if you will. Shall your Bible, your Church, he like dumb oracles to you? Are you going, when your fruitless lives are over, to stand before Cod emptyhanded? Kallicr let us pray “Make me a clean heart, O Cod, and renew a right spirit within me.' ”