THE SUNDAY CIRCLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22392, 13 October 1934, Page 4

THE SUNDAY CIRCLE

RELIGIOUS READING FOR THE HOME SPRING'S PROMISE. Opal clouds above a sapphire sea, And in the fields the wattle's mystic .flame; While in the garden every stately tree Is clad in robes that put our best to shame. Tender flowers all shining in the sun; And. promise of yet- richer bloom to come. Oh, may each glory tell, when life is done, Of endless bliss and ■ beauty and of Home! ■'-■ "■';'- < —Bessie Heighton, Christchurcli. PRAYER. Almighty God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we, citizens ,6f. this ancient land, lift.up pur hearts,to'-/'Thee as we take action in the affairs, of. our, country. We ,know that the'issue is in Thy hands; and therewith indeed ..we might be content. But'we know' our own hearts and that in our actions we may assert ourselves even against what seems. Thy will. Wherefore we pray Thee to make Thy way clear before us. 0 Thou Who hast been our refuge and our strength on many a troubled day. stay by us now; and whatever we plan and seek to bring to paee, do. Thou prosper or frustrate or amend, according to Thy knowledge, according to -Thy knowledge of our present needs, and of those things also which are lying, in- wait for us, concerning which we .of , ourselves know nothing. Behold, us, 0 Lord, and deal, favourably with us, not for any' merit of ours in Thy eight, but for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. ■••,."■ • A TEXT FOR EACH DAY'S • X ''•■.•■'■•■'■. MEDITATION.Sunday.—" Behold;, now is\tlie accepted time: behold now is.the .day.,of sakatioti."—"2 Corinthians vi, 2. "If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy, heart and with all thy soul."—Deuteronomy iv, 29. ' Monday.—"As for me, my prayer is unto Thee, 0 Lord, in an acceptable time: 0 God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me in the truth of Thy salvation." —Psalm lxix, 13. "Let all.those that seek Thee, rejoice and be glad in Thee."—Psalm lxx, 4. Tuesday.—"l love them that love me: and those that seek me early shall find me. I lead in the way of righteousness,'in the midst of the paths of judgment. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fall their treasures."—Proverbs viii, 17-20 and 21. Wednesday.—" Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Seek ye the Lord while. He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near."—lsaiah lv. 1 and 6. • , ' . . Thursday.—" I know the .thoughts • that I think' toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. Jeremiah xxix, 11-12. Fridav.—"And ye shall seek me, and find me", when rye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord."—Jeremiah xxix. 13. '"■•"'.■■"■' "Ask and it. shall be given you:, seek and,ye shall find: knock and it shall be opened unto you."—Matthew vii, 7. Saturday.—" For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."—Hebrews ivy 15 and 16.—H. R. Higgehs in A.C.W. WOMEN AND PROGRESS. There, are women and women. Some of the real women have been rejoicing that a woman has been,chosen as "General" over the .Salvation Army (says the Australian Christian World). Hitherto the!only woman general has been a general servant. 'A leading light in the Salvation Army here traces the success of the Army and, indeed, progress in society (hot Society) to the recognition of the equality of the sexes. It is rather curious that most of the churches have not yet reached the position that "there can be neither male nor female" in Gospel official positions. PASTORAL APPRENTICESHIPS. An important suggestion (says the Scottish correspondent of the London Christian World) is that no divinity student studying at the various Scottish universities should undertake definite pastoral work at the completion of his course, but that all students should spend a few years working in groups or teams under the supervision of ministers in {Tie populous areas, or campaigning in the rural districts. Student evangelistic campaigns have had a place in Scottish church life for- many years, and excellent work has been done by groups of students during their vacations. This new move is an extension of such work. Means will be provided for this special work, and it is probable that the Church will insist that every student, at the completion of his course, must engage in this work for three or four years before undertaking the charge of any church. EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN MELBOURNE. The Universe (London) says that Archbishop Downey (Liverpool) is to accompany his Eminence Cardinal Macßory, Papal Legate, to the Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne next December. The invitation was extended to his Grace some months ago, but he hesitated to accept it owing to the prolonged- absence from Liverpool which it would entail. It has been felt desirable, however, that a representative of the English Hierarchy should be present at this important event. It is expected that in addition to his official engagements the archbishop will give a series of lectures and addresses in Australia on behalf of the funds of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Melbourne's own Cathedral of St. Patrick accommodates 10,000 people, and cost £230,000 to erect.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES. "Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real? " is the subject of the lesson-sermon in all Churches of Christ, Scientist, to-morrow. The Golden. Text is: "The Lord is.our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will savo us." (Isaiah 33: .22). Among the citations which comprise the lesson-sermon are the following: "Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul; as the wind: and, my welfare passeth away as a cloud" (Job 30: 15). "If God makes sin, if good produces evil, if truth results in error, then Science and Christianity are helpless; but there are no antagonistic powers; nor laws, spiritual or material, creating and governing man through perpetual warfare. God is not the author of mortal discords. Therefore we accept the conclusions that discords have only a fabulous existence, are mortal beliefs which divine Truth and Love destroy." (" Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy.) THE FATHER OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. The late Mr John Morland. who died on July 31 at the age of 96, was not actually the oldest member of the Society of Friends, but he may well be looked upon as the " father "of the society. No other Quaker has had such a long and uninterrupted service to it. He must have attended yearly meetings in London for over 70 years, and was again a beloved and familiar figure in the front seats at the gatherings last May.