CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 18945, 19 May 1923, Page 8

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

FROM PULPIT AND PEW. The Rev. J. Lawson Robinson will take “Essentials of the Christian Character: IL, The Spirit of Humility,” as his subject for the Sunday services. At the Esk Street Baptist Church, the Rev. J. Carlisle will again preach on the subject, “In the Beginning God Created.” Agnostics, atheists, and non-church-goers are well advised to hear these striking addresses. Before leaving Tuatapere, Mrs Sommerville was presented with a purse bag and purse by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church. “The Mission to the Modern Mind” will be concluded on Sunday evening in St Paul’s Methodist Church, when the subject will be “The Fire of Hell.” A- sacred solo will be sung by Mr W. Farley and special music will be rendered by the choir.

A large number of friends waited at the close of the evening last Sunday in the Methodist Church to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs S. Stephens and their two daughters, who are leaving for Timaru. Several short speeches were made in which references were made to the long and valued service which Mr and Mrs Stephens had rendered in connection with the various departments of the church work. On behalf of the church members and offiicals, the Rev. H. Sharp presented to Mr and Mrs Stephens a silver-plated hot water kettle and spirit lamp and a case of fish knives and forks. To Miss Elva Stephens a beautiful leather bag was given, and to Miss Audrey Stephens a choice autograph album in which was inscribed names of Junior Endeavourers, S.S. teachers, officials and choir members. A meeting of members of the Central Methodist Church was held at the close of last Sunday evening’s service, when the question of the ministerial supply for 1924 was discussed. The rules of the church provide that after the fifth year of a minister’s sendee he shall be invited by 75 per cent of the congregation. The Rev. Harold Sharp was invited to remain for the sixth year by a unanimous vote.

The fortnightly meeting of the. First Church Young Women’s Club was held last Tuesday. Mr J. L. McG. Watson gave a very interesting address on “Songs of Scotland,” and the different writers of Scotch songs. Songs were sung by Miss Robertson, of Dunedin, Sister Janet, and Mr Watson. Supper was handed round, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne brought the evening to a close. Before the usual fortnightly meeting of the First Church Young Women’s Club, they held the annual business meeting and elected the officers for the ensuing year. A lantern lecture will be delivered by the Rev. W. I. Eddy, Australian General Secretary for the Mission to Lepers, in Stobo Hall on Wednesday, May 23, at 7.45 p.m. After a successful visit to Wellington and Auckland, Mr Eddie is now on his way to Invercargill to tell what is undoubtedly a very interesting and touching story. He represented Australia at a conference held recently in Calcutta of Leperologists and leading Superintendents of Leper Houses in India, besides delegates from Britain and America. Mr Eddy, who has the reputation of being a good speaker, bases his lecture largely upon his experiences in India and the slides (which are good) are chiefly from photographs which he took during his visit there. Leprosy is, more or lees, prevalent in nearly every country in the world. Even our own little Dominion (which contains 9 lepers on Quail© Island) not being excepted; so it is earnestly hoped that there will be a large attendance to hear what Mr Eddy has to tell about our fellow creatures who suffer from this sad malady and of what the Mission to Lepers is doing to alleviate their sufferings, besides providing for their spiritual welfare. The new Presbyterian Church recently erected in the Hedgehope Home Mission charge will be opened for Divine worship to-morrow. The church has been built as a memorial to the men from the district who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. The opening service at 11 a.m. will be conducted by the Rev H. G. Gilbert of St. Paul’s, Invercargill, who served as chaplain with the forces overseas.

A record crowd attended the fortnightly meeting of the Orepuki Band of Hope on May 4, when the programme was in the hands of Mrs F. Popham. The programme was as follows:—Recitation, Amy Linton; recitation, Nancy Rae; song, Mr C. Whelan; recitation, George Henderson; duet, two girls; recitation, Nancy Hall; recitation, Blanche Buckingham; item, Raymond Barclay; recitation, Hector McArthur; item, Ruth Suddaby; song, May Young; recitation, Jack Gould; song, Mr J. Stalker; item, J. Summers; recitation, Carrie Retch; song, Dorothy Clark; recitation, Douglas Popham; item, Jean Linton; song, Mr F. Popham; recitation, Rua Cunningham; song, Ola Watson; recitation, Mrs Rae; dialogue, two boys; recitation, Bcbbie Love; song, Vera Bryan; recitation. Mona Shaw; song, Molly Moylan; recitation, Mr W. Brown; song, Phyllis Popham; item, Mr Kelly; recitation, Clem Riddle; item (encore), Mr Summers; song, three girls; recitation, Solomon Clulee; song, Mr Boyd; re citation, Mamie Hall; item, Molly Crowther. recitation, Patricia Summers; song, Mr U. Williams; recitation, Lena Shaw; item, Dulcie Johnston.

The Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Rev. W. J. Comrie, ha.been visiting the Maori Mission fields in the North Island. Writing to the Outlook about his visit, he makes the following reference to the proposed Boys’ College, in the interests of which Mr Laughton, one of the missionaries, is now visiting Southland: Very striking was the interest shown over all this country in the proposed college for boys at Waimana. In listened To a good many interpreted bj Mr Fletcher and Mr Laughton, after words of welfare and of appreciation of what our Church is doing for them, the college for their boys was always the chief, if not the only, home. Maoris are naturally affectionate, they are concerned for their boys, and they want them to get the benefit of education without having to go far away from home. It is to be hoped that the response to the appeal now being made by Mr Laughton, and to be carried on by others, will result in the modest sum of £2OOO being contributed so that the buildings may be started in the coining spring. 4EqA\ jo uoysioaiddß jo pus ouiuoapw jo