BAPTIST CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 26 April 1937, Page 8

BAPTIST CHURCH

86th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL SERVICES YESTERDAY ADDRESES in' SECRETARY OF BAPTIST UNION Tim anniversary services of the Raplisl ('liiircli were held yesterday there being very good attendances at all .xervit es. The Rev. M. \\ . P. Lascelies, the secretary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, was the speaker at the morning and afternoon services and the pastor of flic church, the Rev. A. Fear addressed the evening Hireling. The Boys’ Brigade and the Girls’ Life Brigade and the Life Boys also paraded in uniform at the morning service.

In addressing the Brigades, the Rev. Air Lascelies expressed Ids pleasure at seeing them and said he was glad to know that there were brigade companies associated with so many Baptist churches. He exhorted them to hold fast to that which was good, and their work in the Brigade was good, and the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ which they obtained there was good. They ought also, he went on, to abstain from all appearance of evil, not only to abstain from evil, but to turn their hacks upon even the very appearance of it. Air Lascelle’s sermon was based upon Psalm 90 and part of verse 9. “We spend our years as a tale that is told.’’ Everyone, said Mr Lascelies, had a history any everyone a story to tell,.and lie was nu-fested to know how that life story of his listeners was being unfolded. Were they thrilling people or casting (hem down? Were the boys and girls receiving an inspiration from them, or were they living for self? They reminded themselves solemnly, said the speaker, that 86 milestones had been passed. All tbe way faithful men and women had served God i i this place. Maybe those who had passed over lo the other side were watching and interceding for those here. Anniversary 1 time was a time for taking stock to see how we stood, whether wo had advanced in our spiritual life or no, whether wc had been more faithful, or more zealous in winning others for the Master. THE BIBLE AS A TEMPLE In the afternon meeting the Rev. Mr Lascelies was again the speaker. The Sunday School and Bible classes also assembled in the church. Mr Lascelies in his address likened the Bible to a temple, a temple which took 1700 years to build. It bad an architect, God who made the rivers and the mountains, the seas and all that in them is. The temple had 06 compartments of various size, which were the 66 hooks comprising the Bible; 1189 passages and halls which were the chapters; and 31,163 beams or miters which were the verses. It was a temple for all God’s people, red and yellow, black and white. The first live hooks, lie said, were the chambers of law and justice. The next twelve chambers contained the library and historical records. Tbe book of job be likened to a gymnasium, the Psalms to an orchestra, proverbs being the chamber of 'commerce. There was another large but more modern building connected with the first, and tbe first four chambers conlained. four full length portraits of our Lord Jesus Christ wrought by tbe Holy Spirit. Tbe Book of Acts was the busy workmen’s chambers. The other chambers were richly furnished and beautifully appointed, these being the various epistles. Revelation was a mysterious chamber which contained pictures of living creatures and angels, of the pure river ol the water of life and of the great white throne. “UPON THIS ROCK” The pastor of the Church, the Rev. A Fear, conducted the evening service, and spoke from the words “Upon this rock will I build my church.” This day, said Mr Fear, was a day ol remembrance. They had been remembering Anzac, and also remembering the brave souls who in the years gone by had won for them no mean place as a Baptist community and they saluted all wh 0 had laboured here, and had joined the great cloud of witnesses mentioned in Heb. 12.1. This church, said the speaker, had always stood for conversion; that man was lost if he remained in his sin, and that man could be free from sin and death through Christ Jesus. In a moment they could pass from death to life, and weak men became strong. They came to Jesus as they were, Weary and worn and sad,

They found in Him a resting place, And He has made them glad. This church, be went on, had also stood for consecration not consecrated buildings but consecrated people, and that men and women were the temples of God. This church also had stood for obedience to Christ. They observed the Lord’s Supper as a feast to be kept in remembrance of Him and His dying love, till He came. Also the church believed in baptism, not the sprinkling of children, not as necessary for conversion, bul as keeping the Lord’s commandments He believed that everyone, no matter to what denomination they belonged, were Christ’s if they confessed Him and were washed in His blood.

The choir, under the baton of Mr 0. Cunningham, at each service rendered appropriate music. In the afternoon the Of ble classes and Sunday school contributed items. The church was taste fully decorated for the occasion.