Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ SOCIETY.

ANNUAL SERVICE. The sixty-fifth anniversary service of the Otago High School Old Boys’ Assoeiaaion was held in the school hall on Sunday afternoon, when there was a large attendance of old boys and present pupils. The president of the association (Mr. D. J. Calder) presided. The service was opened with the singing of “ The Old Hundredth,” after which Archdeacon Haggitt ('Christchurch), an old boy of the school, offered a prayer. Ihe president took as his lesson Ephesians chapter iv. The hymn “0 God OutHelp in Ages Past ” was then sung. Archdeacon Haggitt commenced his address by stating that 1928 years ago there took place the greatest event in human history—the coming to the world of Jesus Christ. The importance of the event was witnessed in many ways, and every morning the newspapers were dated by the birth of our Lord. Jesus came to explain to us what God was like. God was infinite, and we on earth were finite. Prior to His advent people on earth had been groping for God, for commonsense and the existence of the universe made it plain that there was a God. The speaker then referred to the love of the Almighty as evidenced in the wonderful parable of “The Prodigal Son.” Man was a creature of freewill, and he was permitted to work out his own salvation. Christ revealed his divinity not only bv word, but by His character and life, and He said that those who had seen Him had seen the Father. Wherever missionaries had gone they had found the people receptive to Christ’s teachings. Common human sympathy was the greatest thing in the world, and a good example of this quality was demonstrated in the parable of “The Good Samaritan.” True love, heroism, and self-sacrifice were closely connected with human sympathy. The speaker exhorted the boys never to be ashamed of displaying this quality, as it was a tremendous power in both the big things and the little things of life. Self-sacrifice was the greatest law of the universe, and there was no gain but by loss, which principle Christ fully proved by voluntarily giving up His life for humanity. Christians had no need to be ashamed of their Master’s teachings, for there were no ’pretences nor tricks in motive in life, and it should be a worthy of the closest concentration. It was necessary to have a dominant motive in life, and.it should be a worthy one. It behoved every earnest Christian to make Christianity the power it should be in the world to-day. Too many people made sport or business the prominent interests in their lives, but these should not be the “be all and end all of life.” Sport was recreation, and good for that purpose, and one’s vocation was all right so long as it did not lead to the neglect of the higher and greater things of life. Sport and business were only two of the things in God’s great plan, and each individual had to make the right use of his God-given powers. As old boys they must all feel proud of the high positions occupied by former pupils of the school, but there was a higher thing than success, and that was doing one’s utmost to fulfil God’s plan and help others. Great problems faced New Zealanders, and each individual could help to solve them by being a true Christian. Men should endeavour to be complete physically, mentally, and, spiritually, anti apply their principles to their daily lives. The archdeacon concluded by asking the boys to assist their churches by being straight, fair-minded, and sympathetic to their weaker brethren. He then recited the first verse of “ Fight the Good Fight,” which was sung bj' those present. The president and the rector of the High School (Mr W. J. Morrell) thanked Archdeacon Haggitt for his able address, and Air Calder specially referred to the archdeacon’s coming all the way from Christchurch. Air Haggitt said he had been very pleased when he had received the invitation, and had been only too glad to seize the opportunity. The benediction was then pronounced, and the service terminated with the singing of the National Anthem. Professor T. D. Adams officiated at the piano.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19280807.2.115

Bibliographic details

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 32

Word Count
709

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ SOCIETY. Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 32

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ SOCIETY. Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 32