“THE LAMPS ARE OUT”

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 63, Issue 4464, 15 August 1941, Page 4

“THE LAMPS ARE OUT”

BUT THE MASTER’S LIGHT SHINES ON. INTERCESSION SERVICE. The Intercessory Service at the Town Hall, Te Awamutu, yesterday, was again largely attended. After the National Anthem, the gathering sang “Lead, Kindly Light,” Mrs M. G. Sullivan being accompanist. Thereafter Mr A. H. Laybourn, who picsided, led in prayer, after which he delivered a short address. “ In August, 1914,” commenced Mr Laybourn, “ Sir Edward Grey (then British Foreign Minister) said, ‘ The I** lamps are going out all over Europe. If that wii’re true then, it .is even morn true to-day. So many lamps are out—the lam'ps of Liberty, of Truth, of Justice, of Good Will and Peace. How shall they be lighted again ? Our only hope and our only light are in Jesus Christ, Who is the Light of the World and lightens our darkness. Let us lift our eyes again to Him, the one Light that still shines on undinyned. No matter how deep the darkness, this Light shines on, and the deeper the darkness becomes the more brightly dotes it glow. One translation of John 1-5 is given. ‘ Amid the darkness the light shines on and the darkness never masters it.’ Let us repeat, that ‘ The darkness never masters it.’ What other light is there that has any hope or promise about it, or that shows us any road which can lead us out of the darkness of our times and on to the brightness of a new and better day Wherein our longings for security and peace may be realised ? Shall we not turn our faces to that light again and gather its reassuring truth into our hearts ? In every darkness of this life there is always light when Christ is present—light that the darkness cannot defeat or over-power. We have learned in this day of ‘ black-out ’ that it is possible to travel even the darkest road when we carry an effective torch. The light may not banish th n night, but it illumines the way immediately before us and shows us how to go. iJust such a light does everyone carry in his heart who puts his faith in Christ. Amid all the mysteries of life, through the darkness of its sorrows, down the valleys of its shadows, beneath its gloomiest skies, we can still journey on with courage, confidence, and hope when our faith holds fast in Him. That is surely what He meant when He said, ‘ He that followeth Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the ligh* of life.’ ” During the services prayers were offered by Mr J. T. Johnson, Rev. HSpencer. Rev. M. G. Sullivan, and Adjutant Packer. The singing of the hymn “ Sun of My Soul ” and the pronouncing of the Benediction concluded proceedings.