CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 19224, 14 May 1921, Page 2

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

FROM PULPIT AND The Southland Ladies’ Auxiliary of Methodist Missions held their annual gift sale in Jubilee Hall, Earnslaw street, on Wednesday last, the opening ceremony being performed by his Worship the Mayor. A very attractive display of useful and fancy gods was made, the following being the stallholders: Work stall, Mesdames Thompson and Bird; produce stall, Mesdalnes Yates and Lee; cake stall, Mesdames Bain, Anderson, and Brown; sweet stall, Mesdames Johns and Carter; tea rooms, Mesdames Knuckey, Cushen and Lindsay. A brief programme was rendered in ‘the evening, the following contributing :—Misses Patton (pianoforte duet), Misses Anderson and Williamson, Mrs Hayden and Mr C. Richards (songs), Miss Yates (recitation). Good business was done at both afternoon and evening session and the promoters are well pleased with the results. The Bradley campaign, which will commence in Invercargill on Friday next in the Grand Theatre, Dee street, is in the hands of a committee composed of members of all sections of the Christian Church, and has the approval of the United Christian Council. For twenty-three years, Mr Wm. Bradley (known to our soldiers as Cairo” Bradley) has been engaged in missionary work in Egypt, the last; six years, however, being devoted chiefly to work among the soldiers camped there. During the war he threw his homo (just outside Alexandria) open to any soldier or soldiers on active service, hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders being his guests. His visit to Invercargill ha hopes will renew old friendships and he will specially enjoy meeting soldier friends of Cairo and Alexandria. Arrangements for the campaign are now well in hand, and everything points to its being a great success. On Thursday evening last tjhe members and friends of the Knox Chufcii choir met in the Conon street Hall for a social evening tendered by choir. The well-organ-ised programme of songs, recitations and games, included in which was the performance of the comical quartette, was thoroughly enjoyed by the large number present. The majority of those present each represented some book the guessing of the names of which proved a very interesting competition. Mr Chisholm briefly moved a vote of thanks to the choir for a very pleasant evening’s entertainment. The motion was seconded by Mr Geo. Watson, who stated that during the past two years the choir had been a very live Organisation of the church. Supper was served in the anteroom, the tasteful decoration of which redounded to the credit of the ladies in whose hands it had been placet!. A very enjoyable evening was concluded by tne singing of Auld Lang Syne. Under the auspices of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union a sale of work and produce was held in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Hall on Wednesday, May 4, and was well attended both afternoon and evening. The well-laden stalls were quickly depleted by the busy purchasers. In the evening a short entertainment was given to an appreciative audience, the performers being Mrs Barnett, Miss Duthie, Rev. H. G. Gilbert, Messrs Miller and Kingsland. The members of the congregation were pleaded to have the opportunity of hearing Mrs Barnett’s voice again, prior to her departure from Invercargill. Mrs Barnett has done splendid work in the musical part of the church’s organisation and will be very much misled. By the sale the creditable suf of £67 was realised which will be allocated to the various missions, home and foreign, connected w+th the church. The Women’s Council in connection with St. Peter’s Methodist Church held its monthly meeting on Thursday last, Mrs Cossum presiding. The Rev. H. Sharp, of the central church, delivered an interesting and instructive address on the story of Methodism, describing the beginnings of Methodism and showing what influences operated to bring about the great revival of the eighteenth century, which culminated in the formation of the Methodist Church. On the motion of Rev. P. J. Cossum a vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, and a most pleasant meeting was brought to a close.

The District Committee of the Presbyterian B.C. Unions are endeavouring to reawaken interest in, and help along B.C. work in the country and with that aim in view are arranging for a big rally to be held at Winton on Wednesday, May 18, at 7.30 p.m. The subjects are: “Aims and Ideals of B.C. Work,” “District Committee Work—lts Relation to Classes,” “Co-opera-tion between Youth of Church Committee and District Committees,” “A Talk About the New Y.M.B.C. Magazine, Four Square.” It is hoped that all country class members in that district will endeavour to attend and that B.C. members will remember the rally in their prayers. Bring Bibles and Church Praises and come prepared for a good time, spiritually and socially. A collection will be taken, ladies to bring baskets.

Dr Charles Brown, speaking at a great rally of Baptists in Bloomsbury Chapel, used some words that are equally applicable to New Zealand. He said: “The greatest heresy of which you can be guilty is the heresy of lacking love for your brother. Do let us make an end of suspicion of men who cannot express themselves in our phraseology. We may differ in opinions and in doctrines, we may hold different views regarding the time and form of the Second Advent; but we all adore the same Lord. Let us now make an end of labelling men as heretics who do not think as we do.” Some time ago the ladies of Ryal Bush formed a sewing guild to raise funds for the painting and repairing of the Presbyterian Church. As the church had been built without a vestry they decided that before the painting was done they should have one built. This work is now completed and the Guild intends to hold a bazaar in June to pay off the debt. Mrs

Blakie (late of Ryal Bush) has come forward with the substantial gift of £25 towards the liquidation of the debt. This will be a great help and the members of the Guild and all others helping in the work wish to sincerely thank Mrs Blakie for her splendid donation. “Only the churches of God—the reconciled churches of God,” stated Dr W. S. Macgowan, “can give Socialism a soul. Therefore let us federate the churches of God in this land.” At the last meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery the following memorial minute was adopted:— The Presbytery of Dunedin, having heard of the death of Mr Alexander Whyte at the ripe age of 84, places on record its appreciation of the splendid service he has rendered to the cause of evengelical religion in his own land, and in all English-speaking lands. Dr Wnyte had all the gifts that make a great preacher, a fine presence, mobile features, resonant voice, cultivated imagination, shrewd insight and resolute will. His, too, were the graces of the Spirit that beautify the man who abides In tne secret place of the Most High. He knew his Bible and he knew his own heart. He loved English literature and he loved Puri* tan Theology. He had a most hospitable, catholic mind, and a fine appreciation of genuine piety and saintly character wherever found. His preaching, while intellectual, scholarly, and ethical, was specially remarkable for its spirituality; “face to face, in word, veritable, experimental,” awakening a deep sense of guilt and of the need of redemption. A restrained passion glowed through all his public utterances, and he was capable of a wonderful eloquence which now and again broke forth with consuming fire as in the memorable address given in the Synod Hall immediately after the adverse verdict of the House of Lords, when he told how he had seen the judges themselves judged, his words being sb inspiring and absorbing that his hearers could listen to no other speaker. But his life work in its integrity, indus try, and intensity has been to ministers an example of unspeakable value, the inspiration of which has been felt to the ends of the earth. He magnified his office. He kept his own vineyard. With all his powers of mind and heart and soul he made full proof of his ministry. To Dr Whyte no nobler higher calling was either possible or conceivable; for as he quoted from his favour ite Goodwin, “God had only one Son, and He made Him a minister” He cultivated his pulpit gift to the utmost, indeed all his work was pulpit work, and he desired no other, never forgetting, to use his own words, “that every minister’s first and best sphere is his own parish; and that the parish, the pastorate, and the pulpit are the end of Presbytery, Synod, and Assembly.” The Presbytery would therefore thankfully remember this leader who so nobly spoke the word of God; would look back upon the close of his career, and frould copy his faith. The recent sale of work and produce organised by the ladies of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church with a view to augmenting the mission funds, was in every way a success. In the afternoon, Mrs Baird, following on the opening remarks of the Rev. H. G. Gilbert, made a short and most effective appeal on behalf of the church’s mission work. Sales were brisk. In the evening, before the stalls resumed their activities, a short and enjoyable concert programme was submitted. Attendances were good and as a result of the effort a profit of £66 has been set aside for the object named. On Wednesday evening last a most successful Bible class social was held in the schoolroom of St. Pauls Presbyterian Church. The arrangements were in the hajids of the St. Paul’s Young Men’s Bible class, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Visitors were present from many Bible classes in town —First Church, North Invercargill, Knox, St. Andrew's sending a strong Presbyterian representation, while the Methodists were also present in most welcome numbers. Games and competitions of various kinds made the evening go with a swing. Before the supper interval Rev. H. G. Gilbert, in a few humorous and happy remarks, extended a very hearty welcome to the ,visitors, expressing his delight and the delight of the St. Paul’s classes at seeing so many present. A splendid supper was provided from the “baskets” of the various classes. More games and a hearty vote of thanks to the organiser and helpers brought the evening to a close at 10.30.