THE CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 10

THE CHURCH

NEWS AND NOTES.

FROM PULPIT AND PEW.

A Spring Fair is advertised for St. Peter’s Methodist Church to-day. The evening service at St. Andrew’s Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Y.M.B.C. members. Seven new languages were added to the list of languages in which the British and Foreign Bible Society pubUsh the Bible and portions from it. The total number of languages is 655. At the North Baptist Church tofor th. d«; w> be Pastor L. P. Bryan. The subject for the morning service will be the Folly Of Fretting” and for the evening service “Alternatives.” A professor, in an article in . The Evangelical Quarterly,” on and preaching, says that Calvin s preaching did not please everyone Some were cold and indifferent, and some were outspoken in their criticism, and openly hostile. Has not this been true ofThe greatest preachers in every 88 The Bible Class movement of the Presbyterian Church of New Zeala ™? is observing to-morrow as a day of praver. The aim is “to awaken in the life of Presbyterian youth m New Zealand a deeper sense of Christs preo ence.” Special meetings will be held ta most of the Presbyterian Churches and classes to-morrow in accordance with this day. At St. Peter’s Methodist Church tomorrow special thanksgiving services will be held. In the morning the sub.iect will be “The Second Mile and in the evening the gifts will be dedicated with thanksgiving. Mrs A. J. Wilcocks will sing “Penitence (Beethoven), and the choir “Hosanna In The Highest” (Stamer), and other selections. The five-month plan will culminate with these services. The Church anniversary will be celebrated at the Central Methodist Church, Leet street, on Sunday. In the morning the Rev. A. G. Mackintosh Carter, 8.A., 8.D., will occupy the pulpit. Master Clelland Millar will sing “There Is A Happy Land,” Jackson s “Te Deum.” “Sing A Song Of Praise, will be given by the choir. The Rev. C H. Olds will be the evening preacher. Miss Maragret Jopp will sing “Nearer, My God To Thee and the anthems will be “My Task, and “As Torrents in Summer.”

A cordial invitation is extended to all to attend the Salvation Army on Sunday. The meetings will be bright and interesting. “Things that matter will be the topic of the 11 a.m. service, and at 3 p.m. the children from the primary department will provide a programme. At 7 p.m. the final meeting of the day will be held and the second coming of Jesus Christ will be studied; the events leading up to this great event and also the 3£ years after He comes. This is a matter of great interest in these latter days and many opinions are expressed with regard to it.

The first anniversary of what is known as the Modern Covenanters League, which was instituted in Knox Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, was celebrated recently in Knox Church. The Covenanters promise “for the ensuing twelve months,” to attend upon the worship of God morning and evening, Sunday by Sunday, and to discountenance all that is hostile to public worship.” The Christchurch Presbytery has suggested to the congregations within its bounds to adopt the idea where possible, and there is a likelihood of the movement spreading.

In spite of the widespread liberal and modern treatment of the Bible it 13 encouraging to find that the proclamation of the gospel on sane conservative lines still meets with abundant success. The united mission being held by the churches in Ashburton is proof of this. All the ministers have co-operated. The large Presbyterian Hall has been regularly crowded to overflowing, the congregations mounting to as many as 1400. The bells of the Anglican Church have sent forth a daily call to prayer at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. A daybreak prayer meeting has attracted over 200. The spirit of denominationalism has been entirely absent, and the appeal of the missioner, Mr Mains, a well-known Auckland business man, has met with many professions of faith in Christ. It is clear that what is wrong with the churches cannot be attributed to the Bible when rightly handled.

What is the purpose of life? Why do you suffer? Why are you afflicted? Why have you to weep? Why have you to exercise control? Why have you to struggle? It is a process of evolution from the very beginning, from the very foundation of the earth, from the time when the spark starts forth on its individual progress. While it is climbing towards that mountain top, it accumulates those things that are unnecessary, and through this accumulation it creates karma, and gradually, as it progresses on that upward path, it begins to discard, it becomes more simple, until it joins the flame and becomes the Truth itself. From the flame you came forth, to the flame you will return and thus unite the beginning and the end. The purpose of life is to lose the separate self which started as an individual spark and when you have done that, then the Truth is established within you.—Mr J. Krishnamurti.

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church will observe the day of prayer in connection with the Bible Class movement very fully to-morrow. At 10 a.m. the combined Bible Classes will be addressed by the minister on “Cultivating the Presence of Christ.” Morning worship will follow, and will be wholly conducted by members of the Senior Young Men’s Bible Class, the general theme being: “A call to Prayer and Witness.” A district Bible Class rally will be held in the church at 2.30 p.m., in which the Methodist and Church of Christ classes are co-operating. Pastor Fretwell will be the speaker. In the evening, the Rev. C. J. Tocker vrtll occupy the pulpit, his theme being: “The Fellowship of Prayer.” The choir will sing the anthem, “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” and this service will be broadcast. These special meetings are open to all, and anyone who is interested is welcome to attend them.

At First Church on Sunday special meetings for Bible classes will be held at 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. in the Central Hall in connection with the Day of Prayer for Presbyterian youth of New Zealand. The usual family diet of Divine Worship at 11 a.m. will be conducted by the Rev. C. H. Olds, 8.A., of the Central Methodist Church. At 6.30 p.m. a commemoration service in connection with the centenary of the death of Sir Walter Scott will be held. On September 21 a service of this nature was held in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. The St. Andrews Society and the Caledonian Pipe band have signified their intention of attending this service of commemoration. The preacher will be the minister of the parish whose subject will be “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.” The selected anthems are Elvey’s “Souls of the Righteous” and “Eggleton’s “Where shall wisdom be found?” Two of Sir Walter Scott’s hymns will be sung during th© service.