THANKSGIVING DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 6

THANKSGIVING DAY

OBSERVANCE AT HAWERA. ST. MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH. At all the Hawera churches on Sunday thanksgiving services were held for the King’s restoration to health. The St. Mary’s Church service was attended by the Mayor and Councillors, representatives of the Hawera Fire Brigade, the Masonic Lodges of Hawera, the Girl Guides, and the Municipal Band. There was a large congregation. The order of service was appropriate to the occasion, special hymns and prayers being used, while the choir sang the “Gloria” from Mozart’s Twelfth Mass. The band took a special part, playing the accompaniment for the hymn "All People that on Earth do Dwell.” and also contributing a selection at the conclusion, "'Pilgrim’s Song of Hope,” an andante by Batiste. The band also played the National Anthem after the service finished. The lessons were read by Mr. G. 11. Buckeridge. Preaching on the text 1 Peter, IL, 17, “Honour all men: Love the brotherhood: Fear God; Honour the King,” the vicar, the Rev. J. R. Young, gave an impressive sermon on the need for acknowledging the gifts of God, as was, asked for on this great occasion in thankfulness for the King’s recovery from illness. People were apt, he said, to forget in these days to express thankfulness for Divine goodness to them, and it was very important that this should be done by all. He instanced from the Bible story of the ten lepers, the fact that only one returned thanks. The King had been restored to health, and it was good to recall that he had specially asked for this service of thanksgiving in acknowledgment and recognition of the Divine goodness, and to give the people of the Empire an opportunity of sharing in that thankfulness. The gifts and blessings that camo to people from God should, he said, never be forgotten by them. An interesting feature of the service was the depositing on the altar of the flag of the Girl Guides of St. Mary’s, as an act of devotion. There was a good parade under Airs. F. C. King, commander, and Mrs. J. Houston, Commissioner for Taranaki, was also present. In the evening there was also a spirit of thanksgiving at the service, and the National Anthem concluded the service, sung as a prayer of thanks. The anthem, “But the Lord is Mindful of His Own,” was sung by the choir, Miss K. Buckeridge taking the-solo part. Mr. Herbert Webb was at the organ for both, services. • •■ST. JOHN’S PRESBYTERIAN. At the Presbyterian Church there were three services during the day, all ■featuring expressions of thankfulness for the recovery of the King. The Rev. R. E. Evans preached at each service, and in each sermon he struck a special note befitting the occasion. In the morning he took as his subject the gratitude that must be felt by all for the recovery of the King and gratitude for the glorious institution that bad been sot up in the Empire, and that was a very important factor in the life of the nation. In the afternoon Mr. Evans read the portion of the Psalms chosen to be read at Westminster Abbey. He gave an eloquent sermon on the reasons for the thanksgiving .service. The King had asked, he said, that the nation might thank God, with him, for his recovery, and the day had been set apart for ail loyal subjects to meet and give thanks. He stressed the importance of the religion of Jesus Christ as the foundation principle accepted by the men who ■were at the head of the realm, and he said that therefore, the people should take that as an example. Religion was the strongest influence in the world, and the King" believed in putting this into practice. It was also the basis of most of the laws and formed the foundation of the national life. Salvation, he said, was the first thought stressed in the National Anthem, which was really a prayer for the King. The nation, he added, 'had been praying, and the King believed that this had been a powerful factor in his restoration to health. Therefore he had asked the people to share in the service of prayer, and thanksgiving. At the evening service Mr. Evans took as his theme the words of the first chapter of the prophet Isaiah —Jehovah as plaiptiff and the people as defendants, a national trial scene, as he aptly expressed the .subject of his address. “Life,” he said, “is like a trial scene, and though you may call what opinion you like, you are responsible to God for your conduct on earth and you are going one day to meet him face to face.” But, he said, Jehovah was anxious to lead the people into the right paths, and was preparing a home for them, as Jesus had said, “In My Fathers nouse are many mansions.” There were ’large congregations at each service. At each service the National Anthem was sung, and the junior choir sang an anthem. "PRAYERS ANSWERED.” Special reference to the purpose of the day was made at both services at the Methodist Church, rhe speaker on each occasion being the Rev. E. S. Emmitt. . ~ The Te Deum was rendered in tnc morning, and an an them by the choir in the evening. Otherwise the order oi the services was according to the special form issued. Mr. Emmitt spoke in the mornin„ from the 90th Psalm: “From everlasting to everlasting,” and iu the e\enhi° his remarks were based on adverse from the 40th chapter of that wait upon the Lord snail cnan o c their strength.” , Both services at the Baptist Chui .h were of a ttanksgivtag nature .ml . lowed the order suggested by the Goi "SmVyer. «I British Empire,” said the Preacher (the Rev. R. L. Fursdon), "have found an answer in the King’s return to health, and it fe only right whenwe/hav* such an answer that we -should give thanks |o God.”

Solemn Mass was offered at St. Joseph's at 11 o’clock and a Te Deum riung. A Te Deum was also sung by the choir at night. e At themorning service Archbishop Redwood's message to the people of his archdiocese, expressing thanks to God for the King’s recovery to health, was road by Father P. F. Cullen, who had charge of the service. _ Special prayers were offered at botn morning and evening services at tie Church of Christ, and appropriate reference was made in the address. Pastor Daws spoke, at both services. A .special service was held by tlie °aavation Army in the morning, Commandant Adams being in charge and taking > his text: "Thanks to Almighty God.