HARVEST THANKSGIVING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14154, 14 March 1910, Page 5

HARVEST THANKSGIVING.

j WESLEY CHURCH. I . The anniversai-v ar.d harvest festival j in connection wuh the Weslev Church , were celebrated vesierdav bv <e'X"'-l ; services m the ~ l:t f evening. ' ilw Rev. V>. J. .Williams, who . stationed m "liffiare some 14 veers a feJ and who is now in Wellington, occupied the pulpit and preached eloquem; sermons appropriate to the occasion, lhe decorations of the church were carried out very artistieaiiv: on the window recesses, about the pulpit and the doorway, and iiajiginrr from the chandeln-rs were evidences of the bountiful season, heads of ripened corn, fruiis and vegcibles and oretty grasses, set oil by bright dowers. The hymns specially suitable, and underlie lead cf a strong choir, were joined in with heartiness by large eont~egations. In the morning Mr Williams preceded his sermon by a homeiv lesson to the children on the " test "Grown in Grace," pointing out that the young ones, while they could not help gr swing, could help how they grew. He took his text for his »rning address from Revelations 18 —3, "And a second time they said Hallelujah." It was, he said an inspiration to study that text and the cireum-."anc-es it referred to. Pagan Rome, the gigantic world power, which had threatened to orerthrow Christianity, was ;tsi-lf destroyed. The first outburst of rejoicing at Rome's downfall was followed by a period of silence, he Christians wondering whether it was right that they should rejoice. Then came to them the strong conviction that whatever v.as involved in the overthrew of Rome it was just retribution, they recognised more clearly the righteousness of God's judgment, and rejoiced again. The lesson could he applied to their harvest festivals, for though it was easy to rejoice at a bright outlook, they should still endeavour to keen heart and sing God's praise* when the season seemed aa unnrofitble cue.