CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 17963, 14 December 1918, Page 6

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

FROM PULPIT AND PEW.

At Tuatapere Methodist Church on Thursday, 14th November, the Birthday of the church was celebrated. A request was made by the minister and officials of the church that all who came to the Birthday Party would place in a little bag furnished for the occasion, one penny for each year they had lived, taking care, of course, not to divulge the age of the fairer sex. The request was made in the following lines:—“ One 'penny for each year you’re old. Be sure your age will not be told, But should you think the sum too light, Then more will add to our delight.” On account of influenza several were unable to attend the Birthday celebrations, but the general response to the request for funds was good. One of the features of the evening was a decorated tree, illumined by coloured lights, upon which the “bags of money” were hung. A beautiful three-storey birthday cake was also presented. Taking into consideration the influenza epidemic and other causes which prevented many from attending, the financial result of the Birthday Party was most gratifying ,the sum of £7 10s being realised. The officials and the minister of the church thank those who so willingly assisted.

Speaking at Brighton (says the Auckland Star), Dr Campbell Morgan said: “God has been taking His Church into the wildernes.s the last four years, and letting her look into the eyes of the devil.” He added; “The Church had begun to believe there was no devil.”

The annual Synod of the Methodist Church, Southland, which was postponed for three weeks owing to the epidemic, was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last. It was deemed wise >on account of sickness still among members of some of the churches, to forego the usual preaching and- Sacramental service as well as the annual social. This and the fact that several of the country representatives and ministers are still down with influenza not only reduced the attendance at the Synod, but was also responsible for so little interest being taken in it by the members of the local churches. The business was disposed of in record time, Rev. G. Clement being an ideal secretary. One of the most striking . features of the Synod was a thoughtful and eloquent address bjythe chairman, the Rev. A. Peters, on “The Needs of the Age.” Mr Peters was heartily thanked and asked to permit publication of the address. Rev. W. J. Robertson, of Dunedin, will take the services in Knox Church to-mor-row. On 22nd inst. a memorial service to the late Rev. W. C. Blair will be held, when Rev. J. Collie, Moderator of Knox Church, will preach. At the Leet Street Methodist Church on Sunday evening last an In Memoriam Service was held. Rev. A. Peters, taking for his subject “God’s Remedy for Fear,” made feeling reference to five members and adherents of the church who recently passed away, two of them being lending members of the choir, Mias Bertha Myers and Miss Francis Welibrock. The loss -of these two gifted and excellent young women is keenly felt. During the sendee suitable hymns were sung. Miss Searcll presided at the Organ and at the close feelingly played Han * del’s “Dead March in Saul.”

At the ministerial session of the recent Methodist Synod, the Rev. W. G, Slade, M.A„ fourth year 4tudept was passedJn his year and recommended for ordination to the forthcoming conference, which will be held in Christchurch in February. It was also recommended that the Rev, T, Skuse, of Bluff, pass in his year, provided his written examinations were satisfactory. Rev. A. Peters will preach at the Tevior Street Methodist Church to-morrow morning, when an Tn Memoriam sendee will be held for the late Mrs Johnson, a victim of the epidemic. Mrs Johnson for many years was a faithful and devoted member of the Teviot Street Church and her unexpected death is deeply deplored by a large circle of friends. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Johnson in his sad bereavement.

The great religious movement under Wesley produced an outburst of song and a great revival of hymn-singing. To Charles Wesley we owe the largest contribution to

.the Church’s treasury- of sonj£ Dr -Wtrtto is usually regarded as a large contributor, but whilst, his hymns number about 600, those of Charles Wesley number over ten times as many. In later times children’s hymns have received greater consideration. Wesley remembered, the little ones, and Mrs Luke, Mrs, Alexander, and Bishop Heber wrote children’s hymns. It was the opinion of Mr Thomas Henderson, Mus., 8., of Darlington, that hymns should form a course of study in theological colleges. He contended that the organist, choirmaster, and congregation" would interpret the • meaning and enter more heartily into the spirit of the hymns if they knew more about the 'writers, and would make themselves familiar with the circumstances and conditions under which thl 'hymns were written. Tilings not particularly .amusing in themselves may become so through force of contrast. A certain Scottish congregation were accustomed to -hear their own minister—a man of ample proportions and leisurely pulpit manners—arise with dignity at the opening of the service and give out the psalm -after this manner:" "Let us commence the public worship of God ill this place this morning by singing to His praise and glory in the one hundred and nineteenth psalm. Psalm one hundred and • nineteen, from the first to the eighth verse," and gradually resume his seat. One Sunday morning there was a strange minister. Nobody saw anything of him until, with startling suddenness, a long, thin man shot up like a jack-in-the-box out of the pulpit, said abruptly, “Hyb one,” and disappeared again. The old folks sat dazed and the young ones giggled.—-The Choir Magazine.