ACCEPTANCE OF THE LIFE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1933, Page 11

ACCEPTANCE OF THE LIFE

YOU MUST CHOOSE A SIDE ■. I . , ' / » < ADVICE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE. BIBLE CLASS CONFERENCE. The principles of a Christian life and the necessity for young people to enter God’s service formed the basis of. an address by the Rev. W. Bower Black at the New Plymouth Opera House on Sunday'night. There was a large attendance of the. general public in addition to the delegates to the Dominion summer conference’ of the Prebyterian Men’s and Women’s Bible Class Unions and Sunday school teachers. The service was conducted by the Rev.- X A. Thomson, and Mr. Black’s subject was “The Acceptance of the New Life,” being the third of the series of conference addresses on the theme “The New Life.”- A feature of the Service was the hymn singing of five young Maoris,- -whose -voices harmonised pleasingly. . People wishing to learn something or music did not. seek their information from, carpenters,' said Mr. Black. Nor did "others desiring a knowledge of carpentry go to musicians; experts on each subject were consulted. No one understood more about living than Jesus Christ, and those anxious to leam of life had to seek the advice of the Master of Men. Religion was - not a- definition but a life. It was not enough to be vaguely religious, and it was desirable that young people should be definitely Christian. It was the aim and hope of the conference to assist towards that end, for the only things that mattered were those that led to a fuller life.

FULL. OF. POSSIBILITIES.

It was vitally necessary to accept God’s gift, and it should be taken at the beginning of life, continued the speaker. Life was full of possibilities for the young, and unless acceptance came early in life there was the possibility of many wasted years. There ..was. nothing more tragic than, for a man to near his end and have nothing worth while to look back upon.. Because of the splendid opportunities of youth, Christ offered himself to them in the morning of life. “You must choose a side,’ said Mr. Black with reference to the necessity for early commitment to the service of God. “Remember the epitaph, ‘He was born a man; he grew up a jellj)-fish—and now he is nothing at all.’ It is-no use just thinking and talking of the Kingdom of God. The Christian life is one that accepts simple service and incorporates it in the daily task. The surrender is. not an emotional one,, and we do not want to see people mooning about sentimentally; the life is real and vital and requires that you give of your best all the. way.” .... ' ,

CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

The sessions of the Prebyterian Bible Class conference were continued at New Plymouth over the week-end and the concluding studies and deliberations, are to be held to-day, the delegates dispersing to-morrow. Study circles and sectional meetings were resumed on Saturday morning, while the afternoon was devoted to the swimming sports. Owing to the heat and the fact that few district teams would have been complete the basketball tournament that was to have been held on Saturday afternoon was abandoned. The roll call was taken by the Rev. R. R. Adair in St. Andrew’s Church in the evening and watch night services were also held at the respective camps. Public worship was conducted by the Rev. W. Milne at the Opera House on Sunday morning, a communion service having been taken earlier , by the Rev. J. D. McL. Wilson. The study circles and sectional meetings were-continued and, at night, the Rev. W. Bower Black spoke at the Opera House on “The Acceptance of the New Life,” the third subject of the series. Camp life continued as usual yesterday, and- in the afternoon the sports were held at the Boys’ High School. The annual meetings of the Y.W.B.C. and the Girls’ Auxiliary were held during the afternoon and Miss M. Nichols and the Rev. J. A. Thomson conducted a Home and Foreign Missions’ night in the Empire Theatre. Mrs. A. H. Harvie (India) spoke on the Foreign Missions. The programme for to-day is:— Camps: Morning prayers and the continuation of study circles and sectional meetings. 2 to 5 p.m.: Garden party at Frethey s Gardens, Frankley Park. 7.45 p.m.: Address, “The Expression of New Life,” at St. Andrew’s Church by Dr. J. D. Salmond.. Camps: Evening. prayers.

SERVICES IN OPERA HOUSE.

ADDRESS BY REV. W. MILNE.

There was a large congregation, including the majority ofi the delegates, at public worship in the New Plymouth Opera House on Sunday morning, the preacher being the Rev. W. Milne, who was assisted by two Divinity students, Mr. K. H. Evans, Roseneath, reading the .lessons and Mr.. Hame Nikora, Taupo, leading the prayer. Mr. F. W. G. McLeod conducted the hymns, for which Miss Dowling’s orchestra supplied the instrumental music. The text was from St. John XVI. 5-6, “I am the vine, ye are the branches He that abideth in me. and I in him, the gams bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” The parable, the preacher said, showed the simple unify of life, showing that it was not an aggregate of scattered units but a great whole, there being but one source of life and being. That parable taught that life severed from that source was futile They found in the parable also the truth of the naturalness of the Christian lite. The natural place for the branch was the tree, and so apart from Jesus Christ man could not live. Religion to a great multitude of people vias regarded merely as one of life s adjuncts something that might be added to life or omitted without loss; somewhat in the way that the appendix might be removed from the human body—but

Jesus made it definite that life severed from Him was futile, was not life at all. Vnnng people were /perhaps, inclined to think that the Christian life was strange, and as no one liked to be singular there was a great temptation to go with the crowd, but if they were to be true to Christ they must stand against the stream. The Christian life was the natural life, while the life of the world was as unnatural as the severed branch of the tree. . Did not the world appear to-day in this irreligious age as a blasted tree, appearing to be severed from the true source of life? Tliere was no unity of purpose, no harmony of life, no simple objective, but as Jesus Christ said, it was scattered. It must be either God or nothing. It was utterly impossible for any man or group of men to sever from the- living God and set up on their own in God’s universe, though some people .made a bold showing at taking root and might appear to flourish for a I But as Jesus Christ said, they would be rooted up. The Christian life was not against Nature but was the fulfilment of nature and all that God meant for us. It did not follow, that a person was a I Christian because he lived in a godly home and was brought up in the church. It was quite possible to live in the, atmosphere and not be of it. They must of themselves ’ take hold of God and find life'in him. Jesus Christ was the only foundation, the only way and the only true vine; and it was-only through Him that they found God, which meant life indeed. Experience taught them, and the Scriptures declared that true and effective life flowed from the foot of the Cross.

CONFERENCE ANNUAL ROLL CALL.

DELEGATES FROM ALL PARTS. '

As has .been done, at every Presbyterian conference in the past, delegates .present attended a roll call on the last night of the old. year. Held in St. Andrew s Church the roll, call was for the purpose of demonstrating the unity and fellowship of . the movement. As the delegations from each district or the representatives of. the. varying activities of the Presbyterian, youth, movement and the Presbyterian Church rose to answer the roll their leaders replied with a brief message to the conference. The service was taken by Dr. J. D. Salmond, director of the movement, who outlined the work done by the movement during the year and introduced to the conference Miss L. Buchanan, organising secretary of the Y.W.B.C. Union, Miss I. Wilson, assembly youth worker, and the Rev. R. R. Adair, organising secretary df the Y.M.B.C. Union. Mr. Adair, he said, had his office at Auckland and had been itinerating in Taranaki and other districts. Miss Buchanan, whose headquarters were at. Wellington, had been itinerating in nearly the whole of the Wellington area, ..Taranaki and Waikato, and Miss Wilson, stationed- at Christchurch, had been itinerating in South Canterbury. On behalf of the youth movement Dr. Salmond stated that all the workers had done splendid work during the year and had responded well to the continued demands the assembly made upon them. At. Dr. Salmond’s call the three workers mentioned deliveredto the conference brief messages of hope and encouragement for the coming • year. Dr. Salmond presented to the leaders of the delegations 62 certificates granted to candidates who had successfully carried through the leadership training courses, and 16 diplomas. He congratulated the Bible class leaders who . had taken the time to study the lectures sent to them and had thus completed the course. , . , ' . The roll call was taken by Mr. Adair, who urged all to answer the call in seriousness of purpose and in the spirit of dedication. He announced that messages were received both from ministers of the church in New Zealand and other countries and from Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian conferences in New Zealand and Australia. The first to answer the roll, he said, should be the committee of New Plymouth church people who had worked for a month to make the conference a success. They were the president (the Rev. J. D. McL. Wilson), the secretary (Mr. J. A. McQueen), the treasurer (Mr. E. Dingle), the registrar and assistant (Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Herdson) and the conveners of committees. Mr. Wilson replied that it had been an honour to have the conference at New Plymouth. As Mr. Adair called the roll delegations answered from the districts of Southland, West Southland, North Southland, South Otago, North Otago, Otago, South Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury, Westland, Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, South Auckland, North Auckland and Taranaki. . Others to answer the roll call were the presidents of the Bible class unions (Miss D. Dempsey and the Rev. J. A. Thomson), Bible class, leaders, district committee presidents and secretaries, headquarters officials of the Sunday school council and the Bible class unions, Sunday school teachers, State school teachers, ministers, divinity students, graduates and students of the Training Institute, camp mothers and the camp father, those attending for the first time, those who had attended from 10 to 20 conferences, a missionary, a son of a Chinese missionary, Mapri workers and' Maoris. Dr -Salmond made an announcement during the evening that the conference had received an invitation from Kelson to hold the next gathering Jhere. pie permanent conference committee had discussed the invitation and it was extremely probable that .the next conference would be held at Nelson.

SWIMMING SPORTS HELD.

KEEN COMPETITION WITNESSED. ■ The swimming sports in connection with the conference were held on Saturday. There was a large gallery of spectators and keen interest was displayed in the many events. During the afternoon Mr. Hicks, an ex-champion New Zealand high diver, gave a n exhibition of diving, the performance being highly appreciated. Officials for the day were: Starter, Dr, P. C. Davie;, steward, Mr. M. A. Mcßae; judges, Messrs. Hicks (diving), J. D. Roulston- and J. A. McQueen.

Detailed results are:— Men’s 33 1-3 yards, open: B. Fulton (Hastings) Ewart (New Plymouth) 2, B. Buchanan (Paeroa) 3. Intermediate: Campbell (New Plymouth) 1, Ewart 2, Whittleston (Stratford) 3. Ladies’ 33 1-3 yards, open: Miss Hutchings (Masterton) 1, Miss Ferguson (Palmerston North) 2. Ladies’ diving: Miss Hutchings.

Men’s diving: Stevenson (Napier) 1, Fulton 2, Moore (Wellington) 3. Men’s plunge: Fulton 1, Davies (Dunedin) 2, Ewart .3. Men’s 33 1-3 yards, junior: Ewart 1, Stevenson 2, Frederick (Invercargill) 3. Men’s 100 yards, open: Campbell X Fulton 2, S. Mandeno (Te Awamutu) 3. Combination race: Davies 1, Dingle (New Plymouth) 2, Potatau (Taupo) 3. Relay: Waikato 1, New Plymouth A and B 2 equal.

ATHLETIC SPORT DECIDED

GATHERING AT HIGH SCHOOL.

M. CAMERON’S PERFORMANCES.

Athletic sports in connection with the Dominion summer conference of the Presbyterian Men’s and Women’s Bible Class Unions and Sunday school teachers .were decided at the. New Plymouth Boys’ .High School grounds yesterday, when there was . a number of spectators. A lengthy programme of events was concluded in good time and keen competition characterised the meeting. An outstanding performance was that of M. Cameron (Hastings), who won the senior 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards, long jump and throwing the cricket ball. Officials for the day were: Manager, Dr. P. C. Davie; starter, Mr. J. S. King; track judges, Messrs. J. Hollows and N. J, T. Webster and the Rev. J. Henderson; field judges, Messrs. M. Comber and H. L. Thomson; time-keepers, Messrs. Hedges, Clark and Bennett; stewards, Messrs. J. Reed, (track), R. Cocker (call), A; J. H. Bruce (records). Results are:—

220 yards senior: M. Cameron (Hastings) 1, J. Davies (Dunedin) 2, N. Collinge (Hastings) 3. 100 yards junior: Robertson (Waipawa) 1, T. Curr (Timaru) 2, Davidson (Newstead) 3.

High jump: J. Davies (sft.) 1, M. Moore (Wellington) and Gardiner (Palmerston North) 2 equal. 100 yards ladies, junior: Miss N. Sedgwick (Fitzroy) 1, Miss Nicholson (Wai-

100 yards ladies, senior: Miss Barrett (Wanganui) 1, Miss Meyer (Marton) 2, Miss G. Spence (Waveriey) 3. 880 yards junior: T. Curr 1, A. Short (Fitzroy) 2, J. Short (Fitzroy) 3. Putting the shot: W. Moore (Wellington), 29ft. 4Jin„ 1, C. Smith' (Bay of Plenty) 2, R. Fulton (Hastings) 3. One mile senior: R. Dunn (South Otago) 1, R. Brown (Canterbury) 2, L. A. Murray (New Plymouth) 3. One mile' junior: T. Curr 1, J. Short 2. 75 yards ladies’ junior: Miss N. Sedgwick 1, Miss McCluggage (Pohokura) 1, Miss M. Nicholson 3.

75 yards ladies, senior: Miss Barrett 1, Miss Meyer 2, Miss Spence 3. \ - i 100 yards senior: M. Cameron 1, N. Cohinge 2, J. Davies 3. Long jump: M. Cameron, 19ft. 2Jin., T; W. Moore, 18ft. 3Jin., 2; J. Davies, 18ft. lin -’ 3 - , -440 yards junior: A. Short 1, Robertson and Curr, 2 equal. ' r " 880 yards senior: M. Cameron 1, R. Brown 2, G. Dalglish (Lower Hutt) 3. Throwing the cri<&et ball: M.’ Cameron,' 261 ft., 1; N. Collinge ’2, W. Moore 3- ’ . "" - 100 yards senior open: S. A. Black 1, H. L. Thomson 2, N. Webster 3. Threading the needle: Miss D. Hardy (Timaru) and Davies 1, Miss J. Collins and Collins (Fitzroy) 2, Miss J. Cliff (Hamilton) and McLeod 3. Walking race, ladies: Miss J. Cliff 1, Miss N. Sedgwick 2, Miss Meyer 3. 440 yards senior: M. Cameron 1, J. Davies 2, H. Potatau (Maori Mission) 3. 220 yards junior: A. Short 1, Robertson 2, J. Short 3. Inter-district relay: Hawke’s Bay 1« Wellington 2, New Plymouth 3. The banner for the most points scored by individual church groups in certain events was won by St. Andrew’s (Hastings) with an excellent total of 31 points. Knox (Fitzroy) and St, Paul’s (Timaru) were next with 18 and. 15 points respectively. About 12 churches were represented. ’