FAREWELL SERVICES

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 111, 7 April 1930, Page 2

FAREWELL SERVICES

ST. PAUL’S METHODIST CHURCH. DEPARTURE~OF MINISTER. Crowded congregations greeted Rev. J. Ernest Parsons yesterday when he closed his ministry prior to a visit to the Old Land. Mr Parsons was appointed to St. Paul’s in April, 1927, and in the first three years has witnessed a most encouraging progress in all departments of the Church, and circuit. The very large congregations yesterday, following on the enthusiastic gathering during the week, were an assurance to him of his church’s affection and of their desire that he should continue with them on his return from the Old Country. * At .the morning service Mr Parsons gave the children an interesting talk on the ‘‘Wing of a Flying Fish,” which he had cut from a fish on a previous voyage. The flying fish’s wing was its way of, escape from its enemies. He told the children of wings they had that enabled them to escape the enemies of the soul. The sermon was based on the words, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His Benefits.” Amongst the greatest blessings we had, said the preacher, was memory, which, allowed us to live in the past as well as in the present. Such recollection was often our salvation from a black and defeated pessimism. To bb able to recall God’s great blessings was one of the greatest benefits of all. The points made in the sermon were that we “forget not” our natural benefits, our social benefits and our religious benefits. In tho evening the church presented a, most inspiring sight and a service of remarkable spiritual power culminated in a record attendance at the Communion service. . During the service Messrs Stanley Laurenson anhd Leonard Birch were publicly received as fully accredited local preachers and commended to the prayers of the people. Both assisted in the early part of the service. Mrs R. Wild very effectively rendered the solo, “If You Could See Christ Standing Here Tonight.” The text was “What then shall I do with Jesus Who is called the Christ” (Matt. 27-22). Pilate did not realise the gravity of his question, said the speaker. He was too near to Jesus both in time and circumstance to realise that the peasant prisoner was the Eternal Son of the Eternal God. If he could have seen th?vt his prisoner, in the course of a bridf three years’ ministry in a tiring country no larger than a province of New Zealand, had so laid His hand on the heart of the world that 1900 years later His followers would be numbered by the million and His name held in higher reverence than ever before, he would not have asked that hesitating question. Today, we knew who Jesus was. Every class of thinker considered Jesus. From highest to lowest in the social scale men refused to hear a word against Him. Some could say He was undoubtedly supreme among men. Others would say He appeared to he more than man. Millions were ready to testify that he was undoubtedly more than man; that he was God and Saviour. With such evidence before us the insistent question was: “What ■should we do with Him? We could pretend that we would have nothing to do with Him. Pilate so pretended and allowed Jesus to be crucified. We could say we would consider His claims later on. The danger of such a course was emphasised; spiritual powers, as physical, wilted and failed if they were not used. . , What did Jesus ask us to do with Him? He asked our love. “Simon,” he said, “lovest thou Me?” Three times he so enquired of Simon. And to-day he still so questioned. A strong appeal to yield to the love of Jesus, to consecrate life to His wonderful, empowering service brought to a close a sermon that was lit with striking stories and illustrations, and which visibly affected many in the congregation. . Mr and Mrs Parsons and their daughter left Palmerston North today by the Napier express and will sail for England via Australia to-morrow, per the. Tahiti.

In the afternoon a Sunday School rally was held when the schoolrqpm was crowded with children and parents. Mr G. H. Stiles, superintendent, presided and wished Mr and Mrs Parsons and Dorothy bon voyage on behalf of the school. Mr Parsons had always been a friend of the school and nobody had done more for them than their minister, whose visits were eagerly always anticipated. An address on the “Chart, the Compass and the Captain” was given by Mr Parsons, who also assured the children that they would hear from him. while he was away. A Bible class rally and tea was held later when the Bible class teachers, Mrs East and Mrs Will, and Messrs McLeavey, Lowden and East wished their minister and his wife and daughter a happy trip and a safe return. Mr Parsons responded and emphasised the value of Church associations such as theirs for the wise use of life.