BALLANCE BIBLE CLASS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13887, 21 June 1938, Page 2

BALLANCE BIBLE CLASS

OPENING NIGHT. The opening assembly of the Presbyterian Bible Class and Social Club took place in the Ballancje Hall on Thursday evening. The president, the Rev. A. A. Armstrong, was assisted by the club chairman, Mr Bob Eilson in the conduct of the meeting. There was a good gathering of Ba.llance youth present and several new members were welcomed. After devotions the president directed a group study on “The Scientific Supports for the Everis Records,” and spoke about the way geological and biological research helped in understanding how wonderful a revelation of Divine truth is embodied in the great first book of the Bible which dealt with “the beginnings” of the material universe, the vegetable and animal kingdom, the development of man. the endowment of the human race with moral and spiritual faculties, the foundation _of freedom in the exercise of human free will. It was tlie reverent idea and interpretation of life baaed on religious faculties which exercised the power of faith, which distinguished and developed the spiritual in man and so made and kept him distinct from the •‘beasts which perish.” Everyone had to stand on one side of this “tree of life” and determine whether the selfish and physical or the spiritual and Divine would he the dominant authority. The failure to obey “the voice of tlie unseen God” is the fundamental cause of that defectiveness in human history and experience which in reality is “the fall of man” constantly repeated with its terrible and tragic results, but only does* this moral and spiritual denial of the authority of the external good mark so darkly personal life, but there have been periods wnen terrible collective falling away to the lower physical plane, with the resultant darkness and degeneracy which has followed national despiritualisation, the product of which was always the rise and trials of Cain “who slew his brother. ' The approaching ceielbration of tlie 400th anniversary of the placing of the Bib fee in the English tongue in the parish churches drew attention once more to that Word of God without which men can neither see clearly, live rightly, nor progress worthily. To-day as never before we know that the. Bible is as the great Queen said, “•tine secret of Britain’s greatness,” and its finest defence against all degeneracy and tyranny. Reference was made to tin' death of Dr. 11. T. Dawson through whose long, devoted service so great a ministry of good hard experience throughout the district. A vote of svmpatliv to tin' bereaved familv and friends of the deceased was recorded. The gathering closed with an enjoyable social hour and supper.