ALL SAINTS' CHURCH. HARVEST THANKSGIVING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 27 February 1896, Page 2

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH. HARVEST THANKSGIVING

i_LU A special harvest thanksgiving service was held at All Saint's' Ohuroh last evening, and as usual the decorations wero very efl'ective. On entering, at eaoh side of tho door werohoppolcs, and nßar the soreen fruit and corn, ou the offertory box a basket of fruit, ln the body of the cburoh the gas standard was wreathed alternately with sunflowers and Margi*er(te daisies. Each window was ornamented with 'corn nnd fruit, while the font, reading desk, and pulpit were tastefully deoorated wtth fruit; ~*i

and flowers. In the ohancel were sheaves < of corn and hop poles. Several specimens I of native busb plants and fruits were ap* ; j propriately blended in tbe decorations. ') The prayers wore read by the vicar, the ] Rev P. W Chatterton, andlhe speoial lessons 1 by the Von Archdeaoon Wright, of Biohj i mond (formerly of All Saints'), who also preached the sermon. The choir rendered the musical portion well, the chief numbers being in anthem " Sing to the Lord of the Harvest " by J. H. Maunder, and Burnett's service in F. Tho preacher took for his text Psalm cxxvi, verse 6, and atter briefly pointing out the events to which tbe words originally alluded, proceeded to draw lessons from the text applicable to the oc- . easion and modern Christian life. Tho sower sows the seed in hope and trust, in full expectation of a harvest, often not without anxieties succeeded by discourage- - ments ; then followed the harvest and its ! accompanying feelings of thankfulness. But, said tbe preacher, neither the Sower ' nor any scientific man could cause the seed to grow, that is, to givo life— that alone is witbin the power of tbe life-giver. In spiritual things the duty laid down— not on one privileged class alone, but on every man — was to sow tbe precious seed of God's word, heedless of disappointments and discouragements, and leave tbe results to God who in His own good time would gather in the harvest. By examples from the history of the Christian Chn r ch from the times of Athana-ius, Luther, the martyrs of the Reformation, down to the missionaries in Uganda, instances were given of how* tlie seed was faithfully cown amid persecutions and great opposition, the sowers often sacrilicing their lives to thfir duty, seeing in their lifetime no results. But how great has since been the harvest ! In liko manner all were urged to do their duty aud sow. The preacher in conclusion referred to the purpose to wbich the offertory was to be devoted and Baid tliat the work in the Cheviot district was the opening of new ground for the church, lt had been said by some that it would have been better to let another diocese work it, but in tbe light of the leaching of tho text, it was the duty of this diocese to sow, not to depute another to do their work. Archdeacon Grace had paid the district a visit and met wiih great and and encouraging promises of support, and it was the duty of the membeis of the ohurch to support the work. The weather was unpiopitious, but there was a fair attendance. The offertory is to be devoted to the Cheviot Church fund.