MEMORIAL SERVICE

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11483, 30 June 1930, Page 5

MEMORIAL SERVICE

At St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church yesterday morning, a special service was conducted in memory of the late Mr Frances Edward Beaufort.

Preaching from John, 14 —19, the Rev. A. F. Sutherland, 8.A., showed how one of the strongest desires of the human heart was for assurance regarding immortality. To satisfy thi.s desire, science and philosophy had as deeply as possible into the hidden mysteries of God but without success. Then came Christ, teaching a resurrection and eternal life, but the time came when He Himself hung upon the Cross and the people felt He had been mistaken. On the third day, however, Jesus shattered the gates of brass and hurst the bars of iron asunder, gaining a complete victory over death. Nothing but the presence of tlie risen Christ wrbught the wonderful change that- came over the disciples at that time. “Because I live, ye -shall live also” Jesus says. In Christ, the grave has lost its terror, and death has been robbed of its gloom ; the heathen “buryingplace” becomes the Christian “sleeping place” (cemetery). Thus Christ is our witness to eternal life and has power to impart it to us by faith. “May the memory of Mr Beaufort s life, liis courage on the field of battle, and his devotion to his home and liis country be an inspiration to us all, and may God comfort liis widow and family by His gracious presence.” The church had been specially draped for tfie occasion by Mrs East, and appropriate hymns " were sung by the choir under Mr W. R. Richardson. Mir Melville Pringle officiated at the organ, the service concluding with the Dead March.