THE CHURCHES.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 284, 9 December 1907, Page 6

THE CHURCHES.

The Rev. 0. 0. Harper in his discourse at All Saints' Church last night, lamented the fact as disclosed in the newspaper reports'of various race meetings of the all-round increase in the amount of money put through the totalisator as compared with the figures in connection with the same meetings last year. He vigorously denounced the growing gambling tendencies of the people and especially of professing christens. The commercial aspect of the question was toushed upon and the assertion made that muoh of the money put on the totalisator was thereby diverted from the payment of people's just debts and tradesmen were frequently victimised in consequence. The atteetion of All Saints' congregation was yesterday directed to leaflets circulated throughout the church setting forth the ideas and purposes of the Church of England General Mission which it is proposed to hold throughout New Zealand in about two years' time, and for which the Rev. C. C. Harper is secretary and Mr W. P. Jacob,; of Kiwitea, treasurer. The prayerful and financial assistance of the conjgrggatioa was asked for as the surest ■w»y of helping to make the mission a fact.

St. Patrick's R.O. Church was •crowded at all the services yester--day-r-7,.8, 9 and 11 a.m., and 7 p.m., :and a special lecture to the Children of Mary at 4 p. m. As a result of

the mission of ,the.Redenißtpj;i|t preacher, the Itev.' Father Lownam,

begun on Wednesday, there were throngs of communicants. The Children of Mary received communion at the 8 o'clock mass in their robes and veils, assembling at the hall and proceeding to the ohurch singing appropriate hymns. The members of the Sacred Heart confraternity were also in strong force, and hymns were sung with magnetic effect. The Rev. Father Oostello spoke highly of the mission and the inissioner, and announced that special services would continue until Tuesday. The Forty Hours' Adoration was begun after the 11 o'clock Mass and the church was consequently visited by many throughout the day. Father Oostello announced yesterday that a special collection would be taken up at St. Patrick's on Sundav next in aid of the hospital , and in so doing expressed resentment of some reflections which ho said had been made, and pointed out the great part taken in charities by the Roman Catholic Church and the'vast number of charitable institutions which it habitually maintains. He asked his congregation to Keep the hospital collection of next Sunday in mind.

The preacher at St. Andrew's "was the Rev. I. Jolly, M.A. The text in the evening was taken from Acts, chapter 3, verse 16: "Then Peter said: Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give thee." Mr Jolly said that one of the chief pursuits and ruling passions of modern life was the soarch for silver and gold. Yet, it was a commonplace that wealth alone did not satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. This fact obtained especially in the great orisis of life, when the soul realised that a surer and more enduring stay was needed than that whioh silver and gold could procure. The greatest benefactor of the human race, Jesus Christ, was not a man possessed of worldly wealth. The world's reformers, inventors, arid intellectual champions were not men <yyho; primarily conferred nlaterial benefits on the race. Nor in order

to live a high and noble life was a large amount of material wealth necessary. The highest qualitiesprosperity, social rauk,, aQ d even mere intellectual ability. , It was ■tfell known that the centreing of pur thoughts upon material gain had a hardening arid coarsening effect upon the moral life, whereas the life of altruism developed a truer and purer mind, a more robust and effective moral chatracter. Charaoter should come first, and one lesson, Wβ in our modern economy were requiring to learn, was that the idol of wealth should be set aside. Silver and gold had their right place, of course; but God promised not these, but something of infinite value—the joy of a new life, the grace of His Gospel.

At the Broad street Methodist Ohuron, the service last evening was conducted by the Rev. H. Beggs, of the Cuba street Church, who took for his text the words of Chronicles Bk, 19:1 8: "Bβ of good courage and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the city of our God." After giving the historic background of the text Mr Beggs said that such courage as this was of the same spirit as that of the soldier and sailor. It had won all our great battles for us. All our life was a oontinual warfare. Wβ wanted courage to endure the monotony of life, to meet the many disappointments, for no life was all sunshine and pleasure, and to sustain progress. One would not need to look to the battlefield for the greatest courage. The courage of Christ with Gethsemane but & few hours away and the Cross on the morrow, when; he sang a song with his disci• pies was greater than anv other in history. Examples of Christian courage were to be found in our ordinary life. In conclusion the preAoher apoke of the courage of the Apostle Paul who stayed in the midst of a Pagan nation when converted to the Christian religion saying, "For to me to live is Christ." Some spoke as if to them to live was wealth and fame and pleasure. Hβ urged his hearers to take courage and to say "For to me to live is Christ."

There was a special service at the Ouba street Methodist Church jesterday afternoon for young men. Solos were song by Messrs Collis and Cosslett and the Rev. Mr Begg read a paper on "A young man and Christ." In the evening the service was conducted by Mr 0. L. Can , who has done excellent work in Pohangina. for some time past. In the morning it was annnouced that next Sunday a free will offering would be taken on behalf of the trust funds in order to connect the church property with the sewer. Visiting clergy men to the Synod have expressed their great pleasure at the prominence given to the reports in the "Manawatu Times."

The Sunday services at the Congregational Church were conducted by the Rev. S. J. Baker. In the evening he preached from Galatians chapter 6—6 "For each man shall bear his own burden." Hβ said that it was the invisible loads that transfigured and ennobled a man. It was »ot till he had some burden, some* responsibility upon his shoulders that the best and strongest in his nature came out. It was through physical stress and strain that experiences were gained which could not possibly be acquired in another way. He referred to "invisible loads" which have been placed upon succeeding generations by dogmatists and theologians.

The Rev. F. Macdonald occupied the pulpit morning and evening at the Baptist Church. In the morning he preached from Isaiah xl-28, "Hast thou not known,'' in whieh an appeal to memory was made to review the dealings of God through all ages in which His power and Almightiness had been a proof of security to all who trusted in Him. "God is in Heaven, all's well with the .world." In the evening the preacher %x>k as his text John vi-37, "Him that conaeth unto Me I will in no wise cast out." The necessity was urged of having a heart belief in God's faithfulness to receive any who came to him in faith and sincerity. Salvation did not mean believJng or supporting any particular creed, but was of Christ Himself. He Vas the one and only Saviour. The anthem "Como Thou Fount of Every Blessing'' was nicely rendered by the choir. Mr Elliott, M.A., Deacon of the Baptist Church, is leaving on a trip to England shortly and expects to be awav about twelve mouths.

The Feilding and Palmerston bands

of the Salvation Army exohanged places yesterday and special collections were hold at each place on behalf of the "band funds.