Devotional Column

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7039, 24 December 1932, Page 2

Devotional Column

CHRISTMAS. Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen, hie stS.r in the east, and are come to worship him. Matt. 2.2. Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2. 11. ‘ ‘To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.’’■—Eph. 3-1!). Thero is vastness in Thy loving, There is greatness in Thy Grace, ’Tis a love past human thinking, This the love of Thine embrace, Oh, the sweetness of Thy loving, How it groweth—doth expand, 0!i, how deep our inward thrillings, From the touches of Thy hand. HOW FAITH WORKS. Faith accepts things now'. If it does not it is not faith. Faith does not use such expressions as “I think,” “I expoct,” “I hope.” Faith says “I know.” The quiet certainty of the knowledge that faith thus has is well expressed in the following words of the late Mrs Bainbridge

Luke 2. 11

!. tl God's promises are not secured through hope. Hope looks for the unattained,• she is ever saying, “I expect the Lord is going to answcJmy prayer’ Faith is no suppliant, but! a crowned queen. Tho place of victory is hers, and she takes and keeps! it royally. Faith, divinely bold, declares triumphantly, ‘God tells me that he has already granted me the desire of my heart, and I believe HiW; whatever I feel like, whatever I sc j, I will continue to believe His Word with all my soul, until I realise tho Very thing accomplished in me of yhich Ho has spoken.’” j Anything less that that in our attitude toward the declarations of God’s Word, means the sip of doubting whether God is really trustworthy. Wo need never doubt tliaj; therefore we may live continually ». the royal experiences of faith. j TEN RULES FOR HAPPINESS. Hold up your head, tij'at God’s good air you breathe: j A smiling face to all the world bequeath: ! Push care aside until she fades away: Pleasure to others,give when’er you may.

Press to tho high mark of Life’s goal set cleaT, In work and courage laugh aloud at fea.r, Never let worry stir tho Soul’s content; Envy no man tkd good gifts God has sent; Say only words that leave no sting behind: Seek for the beauty you shall surely find— | Thus HAPPINESJS shall dwell within your mind.; »

FROM THE MANGER;

“Pause for a moment and watch tho manger, like some dissolving view on tho screen, give way to a Gross, and the Cross to an empty tomb, and you will feel that hero is tho biggest thing our human history has known.” Suppose we take our stand this Chxistmastide by the manger in Bethlehem. It will do us all good, in thi3 complex civilisation of ours, to be recalled to the simplicity and beauty of tho child life. “To be a child,” said Francis Thompson, “is to believe in love, to believo in loveliness, to believo in belief. It is to be so little that tho elves can reach to whisper in your ear. ’ ’ . Columbus was born in Genoa to rewrite the geography of tho earth; Copernicus was born in Thorn to rewrito the story of tho hoavens; but Jesus was born in Bethlehem to rewrite the story of the human soul and to relate it both to earth and heaven. Listen to the message that still comes from the manger in Bethlehem. There is no section of mankind that docs not need this message, for it is the message of goodwill. First the goodwill of God to the children of every raco and colour, and then the goodwill of men to one another. It is a word which has relation to our modern unrest, for it bids us seek peace among tho nations, the pcaco that begins in love of God. It is a word which every one of us may tako to himself, for it brings into the perplexing problems of our life the assurance of the presence and power of God. They could not have given a better name to Jesus than “Immanuel,” “God with us.” Wherever you are, in the surging crowds of our great cities, or in some lonely outpost of the Empire, Christmas is God’s message to you. Pause a moment and watch the manger, like .some dissolving view on the screen, give way to a Cross, and the Cross: to an empty tomb, and you will feel that here is the biggest thing our human history has known. It is tho entry of God into our human life, God bearing with Him peace and hopo and joy to all mankind. >

Onepuhi District Sports Club 6th. ANNUAL SPORTS MEETING. To be held on MRS. G. GOTTY’S PROPERTY,, By the Eangitikei River, Onepuhi Bridge, about 12 miles from Podding and 8 miles from Mhrton. Monday, Dec. 26th, 1932. Commencing at 11 a.m. 1— Maiden Pony Jump. For ponies, 14.2 hands and under. Catch weights. First prize, Silver Cup, presented by Mr. T. F. iwikau, to bo won twico by tko same person before being won outright, and £2/2/- cash; second, £l/1/-. Entry 5/-. Mr. S. Hynes’ trophy to rider of pony completing the round and gaining the least number of points. 11 a.m. 2 Boys’ Race. 10 to 12 years. First prize, 5/-; second, 2/0. Entry free. 3 Girls ’ Race. 10 to 12 years. First prize, 5/-; second, 2/(5. Entry free. 4 Open Pony Jump. For ponies 14.2 hands and under. Catch weights. First prize, Silver Cup, presented by Mr. J. Blunden, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals beforo being wou outright, and £4/4/- cash; second, £2/2/-; third, 10/0. Entry 7/G. 11.30 a.m. 12 NOON LUNCH. 575 Y’ards Boys’ Race. Under 14 years. First, 7/6; second, 5/-. Entry Od. 12,30 p.m. 6 Maiden Hunters’ Jumping Competition. Open only to horses that have not won any jumping competition. Minimum weight, list. First, £4/4/-; second, £2/2/-; third, 10/0. Entry 7/6. 12.45 p.m. 7 100 Yards Maiden (men). First, 25/-; second, 15/-. Trophies. Entry 2/-. 1 p.m. 8— 75 Yards Girls’ Race. Under 14 years. First, 7/6; second, 5/-. Entry 6d. 1.10 p.m. o—loo Yards Handicap. First, 30/-; second, 20/-. Trophies. Entry 2/-. 1.20 p.m. 10— Maiden Chop. 12-inch block. First £2; second, £l. Entry 2/6. 1.30 p.m. 11— Yards Handicap. First, £2; second, £l. Trophies. Entry 2/-. 1.40 p.m. 11A—440 Yards Handicap. First prize, £l/1/-; second, 10/6. Entry 2/-. 1.55 p.m. 12 — Hunters’ Competition. Minimum weight 12st. Open only to horsos that have not won more than two firsts in jumping events at A. and P. Shows. First, £5/5/-; second, £2/2/-; third, £l/1/-.- Entry 10/-. 1.45 p.m. 13— 100 Yards Boys’ Race. Under 16 years. First, 7/6; second, 5/-. Entry 6d. 1.50 p.m. 14 — 880 Yards Handicap. First, £l/1/-; second, 10/6. Trophies. Entry 2/-. 1.55 p.m. 15— Tent Pegging Competition. First, 20/-; second, 10/-. Entry 2/6. 2 p.m. 16— 100 Yards Girls’ Race. Under 16 years. First, 7/6; second, 5/-. Entry 6d. 2 p.m. 17— Hop, Step and Jump. First, 10/-; second, 5/-. Entry 1/-. Trophies. 2.10 p.m. 18— Open Handicap Chop. 14-inch block. First, £5; second, £2/10/-; third, 15/-. Entry 6/-. 2.30 p.m. 19— Married Ladies’ Race. First and second prizes. Trophies. Entry free. 2.40 p.m. 20— Open Hunters’ Competition. Mini- / mum weight 12st. First, Silver Cup valued at £lO/10/- (presented by Miss M. J. Stewart) and £6/6/each, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals before being won outright. Second, £3/3/-; third, £l/1/-. Entry 12/6. 2.50 , p.m. Open to both lady and gentlemen riders. 21— Long Jump. First, 10/-; second, 5/-. Trophies. 3 p.m. 22 75 Yards Single Ladies’ Race. First and second prizes. Trophies. Entry free. 3.10 p.m. 23 — Greasy Pig. Prize, the pig. Entry ]/-. 3.15 p.m. 24 Consolation Hunters. Catch weights. First, £2/10/-; second, £l/1/-. Open only to all horses which have not competed at this meeting and have not secured first or second prizes. Entry 5/-. 3.30 p.m. 23—Football Goal Kicking. First, 10/6. Entry 1/- per attempt. 26 — Hockey Goal Shooting. First, 10/6. Entry 1/- per attempt. 27 Sheep Weight Judging Competition. First, £2. Entry 1/-. £S—Chain or Distance Stepping. First, £l. Entry 1/-. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 1— All Athletic Events run under the rules of the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association. 2 All prizes for Athletic Events, trophies. 3ln all Horse Events, the Committee to decide the course; two baulks to disqualify. 4 All entries must be in half-hour with the Secretary beforo each event. o—Handicaps for events 9, 11, 14 and 18 will be declared on the grounds, and competitors when nominating for these events must send in to the Secretary results of last two performances. C—The decisions of the Judges shall be final in every competition. 7 All protests to bo in the hands ol the Secretary not later than one hour after the event in dispute. 8— All disputes to be settled by the General Committee and its decision to be absolutely final. 9ln all events, three competitors or no competition; five or no second prize. 10— The Committee reserves the right to delete, or make any alterations on the programme, of altering time of starting, of refusing any entry, or abandoning the Sports if necessary, by weather or by any other circumstances, of which it shall be sole judge. 11— All prizes to be claimed immediately after Sports, otherwise they will not be recognised. 12— All competitors must be in leadiness when called, as the events must come off in the order stated; any competitor misconducting or misbehaving, will bo excluded from the competition, and if he or she should, have successfully competed, the prize shall be forefited. All competitors must leave the ring after each event. 13— ALL EVENTS POST ENTRY. REFRESHMENTS ON THE GROUNDS. HOT WATER PROVIDED FREE. ADMISSION:—AduIts, 1/-; Children over 8 years, 6d; under S years, free; motor-cars, 1/-; members and - members’ motor-cars, free. EUCHRE AND DANCE IN THE EVENING. In Tokorangi Meeting House. ADMISSION: Gents. 1/6; Ladies, 1/-. , T. F. IWIKAU, A. HUTTON, f Hon. Secretaries. t Address: Tokorangi. Halcombe'. ’Phone 6D, Halcombe, or Post Office, Halcombe.