DIAMOND JUBILEE OF ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 230, 30 September 1935, Page 8

DIAMOND JUBILEE OF ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

Yesterday's Services OPENING OE WEEK OF CELEBRATIONS Commemorating 01! years of parish. lifc,_tlio diamond jubilee week of All Baints’ Church opened with special services yesterday, there being a large congregation throughout. In the morning there was a celebration of Holy Communion, the celebrant being the vicar (Canon G. Y. Woodward), assisted by Kcv. F. 0. Ball. His Lordship, the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. Bprott, administered the Eito of Continuation to So candidates at the 11 o'clock service. His address was taken from Psalm 27, verso 14: “Watt on the Lord: Be strong and let thine heart tako courage; yea, wait on the Lord." His Lordship delivered an inspiring address, the keynote of which was 1 ‘ Courage.''

A special children’s service was held in the afternoon, when those attending the various Sunday schools in the parish were well represented. Rev. IJ. S. Kenney, 8.A., of Foxton, conducted tho service, tho lesson being taken from St. Matthew 18, verses 1-10. Rev. Kenney reminded the children of the reason of tho service, and said the church was as young, alive, and full of health and strength as the children were; they should thank God for their youth. Ho likened the jubilee to a great birthday celebration. They should have two foremost thoughts on their birthdays. One was, “Havo I grown?’’ —the church had grown from a small building to one which seated 1.200 people—and tho other thought should bo a feeling of thankfulness for -.tho love and caro of parents and friends. Rev. Kenney dealt with these thoughts iu reference to the church. Ho bade them repeat: “Other men laboured. We have entered into their labours,’’ and referred to the work that had gono before. He pointed cut the duty of being grateful and making tho world a better place. In the evening, there was a festal evensong, the Processional hymn being “Thy hand, O God, has guided.” The anthem was taken from Psalm 91, “Whoso dwelleth under defenco of tho most high.” The preacher was Yen. Archdeacon Bullock, of St. Peter’s Church, Wellington. At the close of tho service, there was a solemn procession of the clergy and choir singing the hymn, “We lovo the place, O God,” after which the “Te Deum” was sung

as an act of thanksgiving. His Lordship, tho Bishop, gave tho blessing. Archdeacon Bullock took for his text Genesis, chapter 28, verso 16. Referring to the 50 years, of activo Christian work, Archdeacon. Bullock said that when thinking out his sermon, he • had tried to find some message which would illustrate the hopes and feara and ups and downs of tho church during that time, and it had seemed to him that, nothing was more apt than the spiritual life .of Jacob. He told of the way in which ho had regarded the story of Jacob during the stage? of his personal life. If they took into consideration, continued the speaker, the animal origin of tho human race they would sec how painfully and slowly they had worked themselves from their animal ancestors. They were one with the animals, or had been one, and there were still traces of tho animal nature in them. A tree was not rightly judged by its roots, however;, it must also be judged by the fruits. Archdeacon Bullock went on to take three critical episodes, or periods in the life of Jacob, to illustrate tho lessons taught in All Saints’ Church during tho years. Ho was not concerned, ho said, with the wonderful progress made of buildings or such tilings, but with the heart or kernel of their existence as a church. Tho three lessons were (1) of the need for forgiveness and sorrow for sin, (2) of love and tho loyalty it meant, (3) of being a prince of God and realising His omnipotence. In summing up, Archdeacon Bullock said that tho true labour or vicars, curates, church workers and congregation during the years had . been to bring them “Nearer, my God, to Thee.” Tho sermon was an eloquent and forceful one.