WOODSIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 35

WOODSIDE.

May 4. — Harvest thanksgiving services were held throughout the West Taieri parish on Sabbath last — at the church in the morning, Maungatua in the afternoon, and Ovitram Hall in the evening. At each place quite a display of the fruits of the earth was made, almost, every vegetable finding a place. Of fruit there was a large variety, and at Maungatua several bags of oats and potatoes were conspicuous among the other gifts. Several bags of wheat and oats were still to come in, and by the kindness of local millers these grains are to be turned into flour and oatmeal before reaching their destination. An endless variety of flowers, arranged with all the artistic ingenuity of those who knew how, completed a display which certainly was a substantial expression of the generosity of the congregation. The services were conducted throughout the day by the Rev. R. Fairmaid, who in the morning chose for his text Psalms lxv, 11 : " Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness," and after explaining that the whole Psalm was one of general thanksgiving, spoke at length on what the goodness of God consisted in ; the unceasing regularity of the Divine goodness, and the Psalmist's beautiful conception of what God's goodness means — themes that suggested our absolute dependence upon God Himself, and our duty to be grateful to Him not only for our temporal supplies, but for the greatest of all gifts — the gift of bis son Jesus Christ. At Maungatua in the afternoon Mr Fairmaid preached from Mark iv, 28. Tho sermon was again exceedingly appropriate, for, after showing how the seed was cast into the ground and matured there, the preacher pointed out that the process was the same in spiritual life — first the blade, then tho ear, then the full corn in the ear, and at last the reaping time in the eternal home of the Father. At Outram Hall in the evening the text was chosen from Matthew xvi, 3, and the preacher carried his audience with him as he moved from point to point in that beautiful parable of the sower and the seed. The service of praise added, much to tha irnpressiveness of the day's proceedings. Suitable hymns were sung at all the places. Miss F. Chisholm presided at the organ both morning and evening, and the choir sang as an offertory the anthem, " O lovely peace." At Maungatua Mr Service officiated at the organ and led the singing. As usual, the goods donated were gathered together and sent to Dunedin, to be divided among the Training Institute and the deaconesses at work in the Presbyterian congregations of Duneclm. It might be interesting to mention that some 25cwt of stuff was sent away, and some money donations are still to be forwarded to our workers among the pool.