FLOWER SUNDAY HELD

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1934, Page 2

FLOWER SUNDAY HELD

SPECIAL METHODIST SERVICES.

SERMONS AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Yesterday was “Flower Sunday” at Whiteley Memorial Church, New Plymouth, where special services were held. The morning service was conducted by the Rev. S. Henderson, who preached from the text “For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” Mr. Henderson’s address referred to the message and lessons of flowers. Someone had declared that the three greatest events in the world’s history had occurred in a garden, namely, the fall of man, and the agony and the resurrection of Christ. A garden had been truthfully described as “a piece of the earth’s surface humanised,” and in tlje production of flowers Mr. Henderson considered a partnership between God and man could be traced. Flowers spoke of service and service to all classes of mankind. Without the common clay there could be no glory such as that of the rose, and there was room for the humbler as well as the higher classes of service in the work of the garden. So it was in regard to the garden of the soul. If man kept such a garden God would walk therein and make it flourish and be glorified. God spoke of his power and kindness through the language of the flowers and the beauty and utility of the products of the earth. The address, which was illustrated by many quotations from the poets in regard to the beauty of flowers and gardens, concluded with an appeal to make ones nature “blossom” and be beautiful in God’s service.

Taking as his text “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow,” Rev. F. Copeland at the evening service spoke in a similar strain, giving a general talk on the revelation of beauty by flowers. Suitable music, hymns and anthems were included in the service, and Messrs. Len Kerr, New Plymouth, and Allan Brown, Wanganui, sang solos.