LOWER HUTT METHODIST CHURCH

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12433, 29 April 1926, Page 9

LOWER HUTT METHODIST CHURCH

An Anzac coramepioration service was conducted by the Rev. W. Rowe in the Lower Hutt Methodist Church on Sunday. Appropriate music was rendered, and the choir struck a triumphant note in their anthem, “Then Round About the Starry Throne” (Handel). The preacher gave a forceful and eloquent address, his subject being “A Transformed Sword,” basing hiß remarks on Isaiah’s ideal of a warless world. The second chapter, verse four, “The Battle of the Landing,” was graphically described, and a glowing tribute paid to the spirit displayed on the first Anzac morning. The conquests of peace required the same invincible determination. Isaiah’s prophecy seemed Utopian in view of the transpiring events in the world’s life. In spite of the League of Nations and the Locafiho Pact there were ominous signs on the horizon of Europe. War clouds, however, could be dispersed \if the right spirit wore displayed. The were the difficulties in the way. The cost in human life and treasure and the animosities aroused by modern jvars make it imperative that all the weight of the Christian Church should be tnrown into the scale “of peace on earth. goodwill towards men.” Th-e teaching of militaristic schools was considered to be based on a false . philosophy. War was regarded to-day as a complete reversal of Christianity. Men have reached -their most difficult objectives by dreaming of the impossible. Tho dreams of to-day wilt come true tomorrow'. “All,that we glory in to-day was once a dream..” Anzac itself seemed an impossible dream. Isaiah’s ideal of the Kingdom of God will be brought appreciably nearer when the nations begin to think and net in terms of internationalism. Loyalty to one’s Empire need not conflict with tlie wider

interests of the whole family of God. The cynic may sneer at the prophet's dream: “But it’s coming yet for ’a that That man to man the world o’er iihal! brothers be for a’ that.’*