SERVICE OF MEMORIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 239, 6 September 1940, Page 9

SERVICE OF MEMORIES.

TEMPERANCE UNION. During a one-day convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Unions in t'ne Manawatu district, held on AVednesday, a service of memories was conducted to honour the memory of those members who had passed away since the last annual convention. The service was led by Airs T. R. llodder. It began with the singing of the hymn “For All the Saints AVho From Their Labours Rest,” followed by a Kittle reading. Rev. 22, 1-6, and 14: “And there shall be no night there; and they need no caudle, neither light, of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever.” “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” The names of those who had passed on during the year, September, 1939, to September, 1940. were then read out. They were: Airs Gordon, senr., Airs G. H. Elliott, Aliss Marian Overton. Mrs Olds, Airs AV. Ritchie (all of Palmerston North). Mrs Hay and Airs Loney (Pahiat.ua). Airs P. AV Goldsmith and Airs J. Tv. Allen (Levin;, Airs Tunnicliffe (Feilding), and A'lrs Huntley (Foxton).

Airs Hodder said that those who had the privilege of knowing and working with such saints as were some of those who had been mentioned could not escape a certain amount of responsibility for the blessing and inspiration which had come from their lives. It was much the same as that coming from reading a good book, or hearing a good sermon. They had, or should have had, more patience and hope from seeing their endurance, and their faithful witness to the truths that had sustained them through their long pilgrimage. Mrs Ritcliic, with whom they had had most to do—she had taken a very active part in the meetings for so many years—was an outstanding example ot one who had experienced the joy of her Lord, always cheerful and uncomplaining, always ready with her help, in tensely interested in anything to do with the temperance cause. Alemliers of the Palmerston North branch should he more faithful and enthusiastic from her association with them. ATost of those mentioned bad lived very long and useful lives, well on to the nineties, the youngest being Miss Overton, who was called away early in life. They had run their course, and had kept the faith, and had now joined the great cloud of witnesses beyond the tomb. Airs Hodder led in prayer, expressing thanks to the Father for their lives, for tho inspiration and help that had come from them; for the fact that death was not any more than passing from one room to another to those who had served God faithfully in their daily lives; also for the fact that they had now entered into a fuller life of service, and asking that those who were left might be better followers of Jesus Christ from having known them, and might he stronger in faith and love, and more devoted in service.

The convention correspondent (Airs Nichol, of Levin) was asked to send letters of sympathy to the relatives.