THANKFUL SPIRIT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 71, 21 February 1940, Page 11

THANKFUL SPIRIT

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY, PIONEERS REMEMBERED. Per Press Association. ‘ WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. Fitting commemoration of the Centennial of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was made at the General Assembly, to-day, when a resolution expressing thanksgiving and rededication was carried. “The Assembly recalls the faith and fortitude of pioneer ministers,, ciders, and members of this Church who left their ancient home, braved the perils of the deep, and settled in a, far-off primitive country. Men and women of culture, initiative and endurance, with courage they began to build new homes in this beautiful but, untamed land, and straightaway sought to worship God as their custom was. To them it is due that the foundations of the New Zealand Church are well and truly laid,” declared the resolution. “Further, this Assembly remembers all those who, through these hundred years, have served the Church with vision and devotion. They ministered in tho Gospel to gold seeker and settler iii the remotest districts, helped to publish tho Gospel to the Maori race, strove to make the life of a new nation more Christian, established schools and colleges, and, while still nobly facing great tasks in their own country, sent forth men and women to servo the Word of God ill the young native Churches of heathen lands. With pride in this record, yet with contrite acknowledgment that it is stained with human weakness and sin, the members of this Assembly unite in giving all tho glory to, God, Whose hand lias ever led our Church, Who hath borne patiently with our imperfections, and Who of His great mercy hath graciously used us in His service. Solemnly conscious of our high calling as we enter a new century in our history, wo would re-consecrate ourselves and the Church we represent to Him Who is our only King and Head.

“Trusting in His grace, we resolve to witness in an honest and steadfast heart to the faith committed to us by striving to minister diligently to our fellow-countrymen, to bring our national life under the control of Him Who is the Lord of all life, and to help Christian brethren in other countries. In the fellowship of the One Holy Catholic Church, we commit ourselves, who first see each new dawn, to our due part, in causing the light of the dayspring from on high to slime among all nations, affirming bokll.y in jliese dark days of war that there is none other Name under Heaven whereby men must be saved than the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Wherefore, seeing we arc compassed about with so great a cloud of. witnesses, we would run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfectcr of our Faith, unto Whom, with God the Father and the Holy Ghost we ascribe all honour and glory, world without end.” MODERATOR’S TRIBUTE.

Addressing the Assembly, last night, the Moderator (Rt. Rev. J. Lawson Robinson), after reviewing the early history ol the Church in New Zealand, observed: “If religion holds a preeminent place in our life, the credit is due, not so much to any spiritual attainment of our own, but to the fact that our fathers trusted Cod, and served and worshipped Him. This present generation is perhaps a little inclined to forget that the security they enjoy socially, politically and economically is ail inheritance from the past. As citizens of this Dominion, we owe more than we can pay to the strength and industry and character of those who have gone before us. Other men laboured and we are-entered into their labo urs.

“1 think we gain something in experience as we look back on tiiat early band of pioneers. AVe have seen their progress in Christian grace. We have ivitnessed the manifold temptations they sustained, the trials they endured, the afflictions that tried their spirits. We have seen how in travail and danger and discouragement, in weakness and despondency they were helped and sustained by the mighty hand of God. We gain inspiration, too. What we are to-day as a Church has grown out of what has been. We look back to those small beginnings and we take courage. However difficult may be the work of the Christian ministry to-day, however disappointing the results of our labours, we can at any rate derive inspiration from the fact that the God Who prospered our fathers, and Who gave them strcngtji to endure and overcome, is our God, too. And we gain in steadfastness, for we are reminded of the things that made them strong. It was in the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ they girded their loins. They ran with patience the race that was set before them, and they endured as seeing Him Who is invisible. God’s reservoirs of grace were ever being tapped to give them strength, and those reservoirs are overflowing still for our refreshment and renewal. We should never forget that He Who was the object of their faith, in Whom they found counsel and guidance, courage and sustaining power, is exactly the same to us to-day, the same undiminished, unaltered, steadfast object of trust and power.”