THE CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 10

THE CHURCH

GENERAL NEWS AND NOTES. FROM PULPIT AND PEW. Professor F. W. Dunlop will conduct both services at Knox Church, Ness street, tomorrow. The Rev W. R. Malcoln* will be the preacher at both services at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church to-morrow. The Esk street Baptist services to-morrow will be taken by Mr G. Batchelor in the morning and Mr H. Schroeder in the evening. An anti-opium Sunday was recently observed by the Christian churches in China, when there were parades, demonstrations, and mass meetings. As a precaution against the spread of infantile paralysis, the visit of the Salvation Army Anderson Bay Orphanage girls to Invercargill has been postponed. The Rev Murray A. Gow, of Waianiwa, will conduct First Church’s services tomorrow. In the evening Mr Gow will speak from the subject, “Life’s Question.” The Rev. Angus Mcßean will conduct both services at the Leet street Methodist Church to-morrow. The evening subject will be “The Transformation of the Desert.” Mr Foley will preach at both services at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church to-mor-row. The subject for the morning address will be: “The Person of the Holy Spirit,” and the evening address: "The New Birth.” On February 15 the anniversary services of the Dipton congregation will be held, when the Rev John Miller, F.R.G.S., a former minister of Dipton, and now minister of St. Clair Presbyterian Church, Dunedin, will conduct the services. Rev and Mrs Miller will be delighted to meet old friends once again on thia occasion. The Rev Dr Dickie (Professor of Systematic Theology in Knox College, Dunedin) and his wife and family have been spending the month of January’ in the Manse at Centre Bush, while the Rev W. H Norton and family have been enjoying their holiday at “Sandridge,” St. Clair. The doctor has been conducting the services in the parish and will preach again to-morrow at Centre Bush, 11 a.m.; South Hillend, 3 p.m.; and Otapiri, 7 p.m. The Presbyterian charge of Dipton is at present vacant but supply for the present is well arranged for. To-morrow the Rev H. Clarke, M.A., M.C., will conduct the services throughout the parish. Rev Clarke is the minister of the Milton Presbyterian Church, and during the late war he served as a Padre of the N.Z.E.F. in France where his services were much appreciated by the men amongst whom he laboured. All, and especially “Diggers” will be welcome to hear him to-morrow.

In welcoming to Lambeth Palace the Abyssinian Prince Tafari Makonnen, the Archbishop of Canterbury said that the Church of Abyssinia in respect to antiquity stood in the front rank amongst the Christian communities of the world. It inherited the traditions of some sixteen centuries, and could trace its origin, it was said, yet further back to the very days of the Apostles. Its story was associated with the age of the great Athanasius and his fellows. The Archbishop also referred to the publication by the Prince of the work of St. John Chysostom with a preface of his own.

The dedication of a new chapel for the Community of the Ascension at Goulburn (N.S.W.) is an event of interest to the Anglican Church throughout Australasia. The Bishop of Goulburn said that the event marked a new stage in the progress of Australian Christianity, because it was an evidence that the first religious community for men in Australia was now firmly established. The Community of the Ascension is an order comprising priests and laymen. It was only recently established. There are two lay brothers, both of whom left New Zealand to join the order, one going from Hamilton and the other from Dunedin. The Superior is the Rev Father Kempe, C.A.

‘TTie church of to-morrow,” said the Rev. A. H. Collins, of Taranaki, in the course of a recent sermon, “will be the one that works with apostolic zeal and purity, and freedom, through men. There is no future for any church that does not keep resolute hold on the best things in evangelism, and still gratefully and gladly welcome the assured results of modem scholarships.” Later, the preacher said that the value of a creed did not lie in the number of its articles, but in the strength, the purity, and intelligence of a few root principles really believed, and actually practised. finally, Mr Collins held that Demos has no time for popes or priests, or presbyters, therefore the church of to-morrow should be the church of the people. “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.” Speaking recently at an influentially attended meeting at the Brighton Pavilion on behalf qf the Army’s social work, the Rev A. A. Green, a Jewish rabbi, said that, as a boy, he had heard the Rev William Booth, as the great founder of the Salvation Army then was, speak in Whitechapel, and had grown to regard the Army, which his genius conceived and his spirit inspired, with profound respect and admiration. The Army had to win its way to public recognition, and a Jew was always qualified to measure the amount of character required to keep firm in faith and steady in attachment to great ideals in the midst of misunderstanding and misrepresentation. Nothing was so low that the Army would not stoop to try to raise it, not of such evil that they refrained from an effort at remedy, por so hopeless that they lost courage in dealing with it. Their social work knew no creed or race or nationality, and he felt he could say that he was the true spokesman of his community when he appealed on behalf of what he considered a national asset of the highest human value.

The following incident occurred in Otautau:—Pastoral visitations have at. times their touch of humour, which even the most sedate wearer of ministerial garb can appreciate. A well-known and much-respected minister recently visited a member of his flock who had experienced a very severe illness and had been laid aside for quite a while. Arriving at the homestead, the minister was astonished to find his friend busily engaged painting vehicles and buildings. The colour scheme was striking, being bright red. “You must have been in Russia since I was here last,” said the sky pilot, “as you are painting everything red, only there is this difference—you are repairing and building up, there they knock things down.” “No, I’ve not been to Russia,” said the farmer. “Ah, then you must be preparing to sell out when you are painting everything up.’ “No, lam not going to sell out.’ Just at this juncture the worthy lady of the home appeared. “Old folks,” said the minister, “are like these old drays, the better of a coat of paint.” “Aye,” replied the old lady, “it’s wonderful the improvement that can be made even to an old woman when she gets painted up.” GORE BAPTIST CHURCH. VALEDICTORY GARDEN PARTY. (From Out Correspondent.) Members of the Gore Baptist Church, with a number of friends, held a garden party on Wednesday afternoon at the residence of Mr and Mrs E. Frobarth in honour of Rev. T. H. Eccersall, Mrs Eccersall, and family, in order to say farewell to them before they leave for Mr Eccersall’s new pastorate at Wanganui East. An enjoy*able afternoon was spent in games, etc., afternoon tea and tea being provided. After tea an adjournment was made to the Church, where a social evening was held. Appropriate hymns were sung, and the folfojlowmg took part in the programme:— Mrs Eccersall solos) ; Mias D. and Master Ivor Ferguson (instrumental item); Ivan Ferguson (recitation); Mrs Frobarth

(solo); Young Ladies’ Bible Class (chorus) ; Mrs L. Ferguson (solo.) During the evening the church secretary, Mr T. H. Hughes, on behalf of members and friends, who held Mr Eccersall in high esteem, presented him with a well-filled wallet of bank-notes, and in doing so referred to the great work accompished during the pastor’s sojourn in Gore. He wished the recipient God-speed, fullness of joy, health and prosperity. Rev. Mr Eccersall responded expressing heartfelt thanks. Gore would always be sweet in his memory, and the law of association would always remind him of the blessed time he had spent in the midst of God’s people there. Miss L. Galletly then presented to Mrs Eccersall a salad bowl from the teachers of the Sunday school, and to each member of the family was handed a book. Mr Eccersall responded briefly. Representatives of various branches of the Church’s work spoke, expressing their heartfelt appreciation of Mr Eccersall’s work.