THE CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 12

THE CHURCH

NEWS AND NOTES ’FROM PULPIT AND PEW The quarterly Communion season will be observed at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, and all communicants are reminded of this quarterly privilege. Dr Dodd, who, a short time ago, was appointed Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, is the first Nonconformist to occupy the chair. A chapel has been erected to perpetuate the memory of Queen Astrid near the spot where she met her death in a motor accident a year ago. A writer in the Australian Christian Commonwealth refers to Dr Dinsdale Young and Dr Campbell Morgan as the two men who preach regularly to the largest congregations in London, and draws attention to the fact that they are both well over 70. “A Christian Mother,” in a letter to The Outlook, says what is too often forgotten, that Christianity should begin in the home, and that mothers should bring their children up to know God, and not rest satisfied with sending them to Sunday School once a week. The attention of readers is called to the series of Evangelistic services beginning in Victoria .Hall to-morrow night, the lecturer being Mr F.. Elliott, the Scottish evangelist. Mr Elliott has just completed a successful campaign in Dunedin.

Under the auspices of the Christian Fellowship Committee, Sister Jessie will give a lecture in Everybody’s next Monday on Maori Mission work for the Presbyterian Church in the North Island. It will be illustrated by lantern slides.

The president of this year’s Methodist conference at Home, the Rev. C. Ensor Walters, has the reputation of being one of the finest platform speakers in Great Britain. The vice-president, Bailie James Gray, of Glasgow, is a prominent figure in the industrial and civic life of that city. His resemblance to Mr Lloyd George has often been remarked. He also resembles him in his oratorical gifts.

The good tidings of Christ breathe infinite pity, they promise ample forgiveness, and inspire hope in despair itself. Tire guilty soul is given a chance, every soul a chance, the most deeply lost a chance. It is just what the sinner wants; it is immeasurably beyond what he could expect. No larger, freer, mose effectual message of salvation is conceivable. Were Heaven to give us another gospel, it could not be a better. —William L. Watkinson.

Meetings of a special character will be held at the Salvation Army Citadel this week-end. Sunday will be known as Band Sunday and three public services will be conducted by Captain and Mrs E. R. Elliot, of Riverton, assisted by Envoy John Walker. On Monday evening the band, assisted by leading Invercargill artists, will present its annual Band League festival, the charge to which will be a silver coin at the door. Captain Elliot will preside.

To-morrow will be Communion Sunday at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. The Rev. C. J. Tocker will occupy the pulpit at both services. In the morning the subject will be “Christ, the Bread of Life.” The choir will sing the anthem “Come unto Me,” the solo part being sung by Miss J. Waddell. In the evening Mr Tocker will preach on, “Jesus unable to save Himself,” and the anthem will be “Jesus, my Lord, is crucified.” Retiring collections will be taken up after both services tomorrow for the benevolent fund, which at the moment is in arrears, while calls for assistance are still being received.

It will be 61 years in October since the Presbytery of Southland resolved to set up a second Presbyterian charge in Invercargill. St. Paul’s will be celebrating this event on two Sundays, October 4 and 11, and a week-night social function will also be held. The Rev. Llewellyn Williams, of Chalmers Church, Timaru, has been invited to occupy the pulpit on October 4, and. has accepted the invitation. Mr Williams will also be the main speaker at the social gathering. He is a Welshman, and held a charge in New York before coming to New Zealand a few years ago. A striking personality and a fine preacher, he will be a welcome visitor to Invercargill.

Another great monument to the memory of D. L. Moody is the Moody Memorial Church, of which Dr H. A. Ironside is the pastor. The church with a seating capacity of 4400 is always well filled. It. still enshrines the spirit of its founder, for it is a hive of evangelistic activity. The missionary zeal of the members is outstanding. On Sunday, May 10, the special offering for the support of the missionaries of the church was taken up, and more than £ll,OOO (New Zealand currency) was received. The church supports 66 out of a total of 118 of its own missionaries. A somewhat similar missionary offering was taken up in the Rev. Oswald J. Smith’s church in Toronto and £9500 was contributed. New Zealanders have still much to learn in missionary giving.

“Substance” is the subject of the Lesson-sermon in all Churches of Christ, Scientist, to-morrow. The Golden text is “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11-1.) Among the citations which comprise the Lesson-sermon are the following from the Bible: “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” (Proverbs 8-14, 21.) The Lessonsermon also includes the following passages from the Christian Science Textbook, “Science and Health with key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy: “In Christian Science, substance is understood to be Spirit, while the opponents of Christian Science believe substance to be matter. They think of matter as something and almost the only thing, and of the things which pertain to Spirit as next to nothing, or as very far removed from daily experience. Christian Science takes exactly the opposite view.”