SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

CHRISTIAN GRATITUDE.

*T BE. JAMES HAMILTON.' Tsusssamsa should occnpy a prominent place in devotion, whether secret or s-kul. For this purpose it'were well to' note God's mercies, to mark answers to prayer, to treasure up all tho pleasant incidents in your outward history and all ; God's gracious dealings with your souls; and ho who does this will find fresh materials for gratitude every day. Recount God's mercies to others. In this way you will confer a double benefit. You will quicken your own soul to increasing fervour; and, by speaking good of Bis name, you may kindle the love and gratitude of your friends and neighbours. A thankful Christian is a general benefactor.

The law of kindness which dwells on bis lips goes far to neutralise the acerbity and peevishness of the murmuring professors around him; and the atmosphere of serenity and joy in which he moves reminds you of that world where all the labours a. i labours of love, where all the movements are a harmony, and where every radiant aspect and every uplifted eye is plainly saying: "Thou art wo thy."

King praise. "Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His namo; make known His deeds among the people. Sins unto Him; sing psalms unto Him," Few things are better fitted to dispel the evil spirit of censoriousness, selfishness, end sullenness, than heart-sung hynms of thanksgiving.

Embody your gratitude in offerings of thankfulness. These are the only oblation* for which room is left in our new economy. Sin-offerings and trespassofferings have passed away. There is no place for them now. But free-will offering, and thank-offerings remain. The Gospel has left ample scope Tor these. Its joyful dispensation is essentially eucharistical; its glad tidings shosla awaken glad feelings, and these glad feelings spontaneously, express themsilves in sacrifices of thankfulness. It is in this way that the great Author of the (Gospel has stamped it with a selfdiflusive tendency—inspiring with a joy unspeakable those who receive it in simplicity and love; and then, through their overflowing hearts and-ropen hands, transmitting it over widening circuits, till a regenerate world has felt the leaven of its heavenly life. The genius of the Gospel is liberality. Itself the most amazing instance of the Divine munificence, its advent into ft knmaj soul is marked by an instantaneous expansion of its feelings and affections. When it comes in its fulness and tells in its power the churl becomes bountiful, he miser turns out a philanthropist, and the sluggard issues forth a sleepless evangelist. And so invariably floes tnis activity indicate the energy within— fore s dynamometer of spiritual vitality is the amount of what a man can do or give for Jesus' sake—that in order to ascertain how freely anyone has received, or how much anyone has been loved, yon have only to ascertain how freely he can give, or how long he can labour withous fainting. The love which does not lead to labour will soon die out; and the thankfulness which does not embody itself in sacrifices is already changing to ingratitude. OHUHOH NOTES. The Rev. J. D. Paterson, M.A., 8.D., of Sydney, has received a strongly-' supported call to succeed the Rev. T. Tail, M.A., in the charge of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Christchurch. The Rev. Jesse Carey, who was tor 16 years a missionary in Fiji, and for many years since then Foreign Mission Socre-, tary for the Victorian and Tasmaniah Conference, died recently in Melbourne, at the age of 82. The Bishop of Nelson needs nine more clergy and two laymen for his diocese, and he cannot obtain them in Australasia. Be has therefore arranged to start on a visit to England on August 20, hoping that the necessary workers may bo available there. Mrs. Sadlier will accompany him. Word has been received fr,om the Very Rev. Don Regnault, S.M., that he has taken a passage by the b.s. Maloja. Dean Regnault says he is very much impressed by the marvellous progress of tho Chufch in Australia, as evidenced on all sides by the magnificent institutions—educational and otherwisewhich he saw during his short sojourn in Australia.

The programme of the Church Congress, to be held in Auckland on February 8, 9, and 10, 1915, has been arranged. It is to be a part of the celebrations in connection with the Marsden Centenary. The subjects to be considered include, "Old Testament in the Light of Modern Research," " The Ministry," " The New Testament," "Re-Union, "The Bible aid Evolution," "Modern Heresies," "Relation of the Church to the Family." There *iil also be a men's meeting and a missionary meeting.

Mr. Gladstone, when Prime Minister, always fulfilled the office of Lector when £t Hiwarden; but it may come as a surprise to some to find the present Prime Minister serving in that office. On Che morning of Christmas Day, Mr. Asqnith, who spent his Christmas holidays at Malmesbury, Wiltshire, at the residence of Mrs. Asquith's sister, attended service at the parish church and read the lessons.

On Friday evening, May 29, Rev. Father Maillard, S.M., was entertained by the Catholic congregation of the district in the Drill Hall, Raetihi. The object of the gathering was to bid farewell to Father Maillard, who has received notice of his transfer to Otaki, and to suitably express the esteem which his 23 years' service has gained for him in this portion of his parish. Mr., John Punch presided. On behalf of the congregation Mr. Punch, asked Father Maillard a acceptance of a purse of sovereigns. Mr. Punch's accompanying remarks emphasised the recipient's long connection with the district, and the good progress the Church had made under his administration. On behalf of the many subscribers belonging to the various other denominations, Mr. P, 0, Smith (chairman of the Town Board) asked Father Maillard's acceptance of a pair of travelling rues. On behalf of the donors he Wished Father Maillard long life and happiness in his new parish.

The enthronement of the first Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Rev. J. E. WattsDitehfield, took place in the Cathedral at Chelmsford last month. Lord Rayleigh represented Lord Warwick, Lord Lieutenant of the County, and Major-General Sir J. Adye the Army. Lord Salisbury was amongst those present. The enthroning ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Dover. The Bishop afte-warda preached from the text " Righteotisnss eialteth a nation. He said they realised that day the fulfilment of the hopes of many day?. They welcomed that day a congregation thoroughly representative of every phase of Christian, political, industrial, and social life in the diocese. Speaking of man's relationsip to his fellowmen, the Bishop said there were great social problems begotten by town life, and here the Ciurch must step in and do what the law was powerless to do. She must r . quicker the moral pulse of the nation and teach men the true meaning of brother- ; '•■• hood by the proclamation of the Father- : ■ hood of" God, The must become i- the centre of a Church life in the diocese | which must know no party politics. She t. . must use every opportunity for pressing f-i home the fact v hat the Gospel of Christ dell *"manded that eviry part of the nation's life •;, .. must bo founded upon and governed by g^.righteousness. They , gladly welcomed those men of 'other modes of. thought and • "* worship than their own, yet first and foremost they must be loyal Churchmen. They teiwed in toe JBoly SathpJic JChurch.