St. Paul’s Methodist Church

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3445, 6 September 1926, Page 7

St. Paul’s Methodist Church

At St. Paul’s Methodist Church yesterday morning, there was scarcely a vacant scat when the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt conducted an inspirational service, and spoke a message of cheer for the worry-worn. Ho pointed out how men and women were crushed by the tyranny of circumstance. The ever-pressing problem in life, as in mechanics,' was how to get rid of friction. In mechanics the problem was only partially solved. The wear and tear of the machine was reduced by such expedients as polishing the parts, using lubricants, and employing ball-bearings, but so long as friction persisted, sooner or later the mechanism was doomed. The problem of life was a problem of friction. There was the fret of competition, the fret of disappointed hope, of betrayed trust, of frustrated ambition, of misconstrued motive, of poverty and pain, of bafflement and bereavement. To the victims of life’s fret, Jesus came with His message or

trust in the Heavenly Father. Men were not shuttlecocks of circumstance, but children of God. Life was not chaotic, but under Divine direction. God’s love each moment was touching us. If we but recognised this, the grim facta of life would no longer appal us, nor would, tin*, thought of to-morrow put any tension upon our nerves. Behind tho gitai facts was a gracious Father, showing tender solicitude for His children. A large congreation assembled Cor the evening service, when Mr. Pratt spoke on “The Added Touch,” basing his sermon on the text, “Whoso shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” .The preacher road® many practical applications of his theme, and concluded with an appeal for service that went beyond the minimum of requirement, to the maximum of ability. The choir gav© Nichol’s anthem “Pilgrims of tJ» Night,” and Mrs. J. W. Fergic sang the solo, "Tho Better Land.”