MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11696, 16 October 1916, Page 8

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

LANCE-CORPOkAL HOWARD HALES. Yesterday the evening service eP St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church’ Marton, took the form of a memorial for the late Lance-Corporal Howard Hales, recently reported killed in action. Rev. L. H. Hunt conducted the service, and took for bis text 11 Timothy, 4, 7 and 8. The preacher stated at the outset that his task that evening was a somewhat difficult one, as ho had not the privilege of a personal acquaintance with their departed brother. Under ordinary circumstances, he would not care to preach a memorial sermon concern : iug a person he had never known, but the present occasion was so unique, the mark that he had left on the community was so deep, the testimony to his character and worth was so spontaneous and unanimous, that he counted it a great privilege to draw attention to those general features in bis character that were worthy of onr emulation. .When the preacher first capie to this district he found that it was impossible to make any reference to Bible Class or Sunday School work without drawing forth some reference to and appreciation of the work of this man in the community. We were gratified then in seeking to find the secret of his strength, the true source of his power. In (bo fi vo,: place he believed that lb" m.w permanent and potent mflm n--* n t- life of Howard Hales ei> u im-.I from bis home. Nothing to bis mind was more significant than 'bo fact that practically all the valuable members of the church at the present time came from godly dnd pious homes. What was the real secret of Scotland’s greatness? No country of her size and population had ever made such a lasting impression on civilisation. Her preachers, her philosophers, her engineers, her explorers, her businessmen, were to be found in all parts of the universe to-day. Tbe secret of Scotland’s greatness was in the homes of her people. A ture picture of the best type of home could he found in Burn’s “Cotter’s Saturday Night.” What wore tbe distinguishing features of that home life. Its foundation was rooted in a holy fear of God. It manifested itself in n great love for the Kirk and a) 1 ?be church stood for in life. Ui.ti!-r-mately for our colonial life. sv-.-h n.iu. s are becoming rarer will: -:i> j ■ if the years. But it w ..if. o. a home that this 3o;,i> •: - Nothing could be mo: e ftban tbe testimonyhe Inal received from many quarters of the deep affection and filial devotion that existed between this man, his parents and bis sister. We can well imagine their thoughts as tney parted with him. To their honour, he it said, they did not flinch. They realised tuat God had given this son to them, and, in a beautiful spirit of resignation, they gave him back to God. They committed him to the loving care of the Great Father, feeling sure that all was well in His hands. In this lire they will see him no more. Onr hearts go out Jn loving [sympathy to tbe father, mother and sister who mourn a sou and brother. In the second place, the character of Howard Hales was distinguished by a strong sense of duty. This was the dominant note in all his work. This sense' of duty was dying down in many of us to-day, but the war had meant for all of ns a new vision of duty. In obedience to this call thousands of onr best men were going forth to death to-day. Long before the war came before his vision this man had obeyed the call of duty. It led him to dedicate his life to the service of Christ when tiie great light came to him. From that moment lie neverflinched. Where then did the call lead him? It led him to consecrate his energies in unceasing labours for the cnurch ho loved and for the Kingdom of God. They were all intimately acquainted with his work in connection with the Bible Classes, and the Sunday School and in the general activities of church life here in this town. He knew of no man in this community who had left behind him such fragrant memories of quiet consistent Christian living. But tbe final test of any man’s life was not found in bis church life or in his profession of faith in Christ. It was to be found in his life of daily toil among his fellow men. He rejoiced to know that in that connection also the testimony of his fellow workmen was unanimous, that he had won their respect and their reverence Such in general outline was the life and character of the one they mourned that night. The passing of such men constituted one of the greatest problems that confronted Christian faith to-day. We were all assiog “W T hy should such lives be taken?” “Why should God cut off such men just when their careers of usefulness are opening?”; In its aspects this problem was insoluble. If w° left out our Christian faith, the postalates of the Gospel, there would not remain a single ray of light to illumine the darkness. But if we accepted Christ’s view ot life, if we looked at the subject in the perspective of eternitv, we would see things as God saw them. We know that after all this life at its longest is but a speck on the great ocean ot eternity. It is our time ot probation. Some men learn more in twenty years of life than others do in sixty. We believe that in the Great Taskmaster’s eye this soldier had finished his work, and, therefore, God has called him to higher service. His departure brought a clarion£call to every one of us to be op and doing. He had left a gap at the front. This gap has already been filled. We were all looking forward to hia coming back to this place to carry on and continue his work for God. He lias left a gap here. Who is going to fill that gap here and now? It is comparatively easy to come to a memorial service to boar tribute to the memory of such a man, but it is not easy to step into the bread) and carry forward the work ho had begun so well.

After a brief prayer commending his sorrowing parents and sister to God the service closed by the congregation standing while the organist, Miss Hampton, played the “Dead March” in Saul.