METHODIST MISSION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2741, 6 September 1923, Page 7

METHODIST MISSION.

•THE FACT OF SIN." St. Paul's Methodist church was well attended last 'evening for the service in connection with the mission of instruction and appeal. The Rev. Harold T. Peat was in charge and the address on "The Fact of Sin" was delivered by the Rev. M.A. Rugby Pratt, who took as his • text Xiomans 3, 23. In discussing the problem of sin the preacher assumed tbe facts established in the earlier addresses of tho series as to God's existence and authority, and as to man's freedom and responsibility. He fle,flned sin as rebellion, crookedness and failure and said it was the deliberately chosen act of a free agent who saw the better and chose the worse. He proceeded to refer to sin as (l) a fact of experience. It was asserted by the literature of the ages, the annals of crime, tho testimony of saints, the laws of mankind and by the common moral judgment of men. Sin was (2) a fact of conscience. The world knew itself sinful. Mankind had judged and condemned itself. Regret, remorse and the sense of condemnation showed the reality of felt guilt. Sin was (3) a fact of religion. It had made heaven dark with the smoke of sacrifice and had made propitiation and penitence characteristics of the world's religions. Sacrifice was an effoit to find some way of salvation. Ultimately sin was against Goo and its final harvest was made manifest on Calvary. But men were recoverable from sin. The grim fact pointed to a gracious salvation thai came through Jesus Christ and the preacher closed with an appeal to take the gift of salvation by simple faith in the Lord Jesus. The song service was conducted by 'Mr A. Tregurlha and I\liss Maisie Bennett rendered two soles very beau, tifully. , The Rev. H. T. Peat made the customary appeal for Christian decision and re-consecration and this met with a good response. To-night (Thursday) the Rev. Harold T. Peat will speak in Broad Street church on "The Fact of Redemption" and Miss Jean Pacey will be the soloist.