CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13597, 18 May 1908, Page 6

CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES

CHALMERS PRESBYTERIAN

Till.' anniversary services r.f Chalmeis Presbyterian Church were oelebiat-ed jesterdav. the preacher for the day being the Rev. *H. B. Grav, M.A., of the XorthEust Valley Church, Dunedin. As befitting the occasion the preacher s plat,form and choir stalls were tastefully decorated with white arid coloured chrysanthemums-, while acrcss the front of the platform was llorallv illustrated the text " Praise ye the Lord." There was a large congregation at- the morning .service, whilst at the evening service the building was so largely attended that chairs had to be put along the aisles. His services throughout- were of a- learty character, the .singing by the choir- Ming very good, and their rendering of the anthems " Oh ! Taste and See(morning), and '"The Lord is my Shepherd(evening), of a finished and devotional character. Mr Gray delivered three sermons at the servicefe —one to young people in terms that they could remember and understand, and one to adults in which he made a powerful appeal to all to lead the Christian life; and, in the evening, taking as his text the 19th Psalm, verse 14, he dealt at length with the mercy of God. The discourses held the attention of the listeners throughout ; and made the anniversary a memorable one. The collections yesterday were in aid of the Building Fund. CONGREGATIONAL-BAPTIST. At the United Congregational and Baptist Church yesterday, the Rev. F. G. Buckingham, president of the Baptist Union, conducted the anniversary services. In the morning ho took a text from l'hilippians 11., 5-11, but more especially froni verses 5, 6 and 7—Let this mind be. in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who Wing in the form of God. thought it not robbery to be equal with God : But made Hinn-elf of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." The preacher remarked at the outset that it was appropriate on the anniversary <;f the church to speak round the name of Christ; and went on to describe the influe-nce of Christ'!? teachings on humanity and in a. general way spoke of His work on earth and His subsequent return to- the right hand of God. Mr Buckingham affirmed that Christians welt- not engaged in a losing cause, and some day Christ- would return to earth as the. rigruful king of the world; and he appealed to God to help us all to believe iu this. The services were continued in the evening, the congregations at each Ming very good. The choir materially assisted in the success of the services. To-night Ihe anniversary social will be held iu Trinity Hall, Barnard Street.