TRINITY CHURCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20326, 27 January 1936, Page 5

TRINITY CHURCH

There was a large congregation at Trinity Church last night, when the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson conducted a memorial service. In the course of his address, based on the text: “And the city lieth foursquare and the Kings of the earth do bring their glory into it," Mr Wilkinson said that “The Times,” London, in seeking to pierce the inner motives of the life of the late King George, had this very significant statement. ‘‘Tributes would draw a false portrait if they ascribed his characteristics chiefly to inherited tradition, or indeed to any other source than the firmly held religious faith and the" utter self- forgetfulness with which he set himself his daily task. The unwearied search for opportunities of showing kindness was the direct consequence of his religion.” Then in the second place beside the glory of his personal goodness was the glory of his personal influence. That was one of the points which the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church emphasised when he wrote: “King George had been a great moral steadying force in very difficult times, and the Christian Church and all other forces that made for the higher life of the community owed him an incalculable debt.” The silent Influence of a good man was always a factor that made for the Kingdom of God. A King by his own conduct set standards and uplifted ideals. And who should assess the influence of the late King in reconciling divergent viewpoints among different sections of his people, in acting the part of peacemaker in many difficult situations. In the third place when the Lord spoke of glory, it was glory that lay at the far side of work and sacrifice and suffering. True glory was not something that could be added to a man as an outward ornament. He could not put it on as a garment. It was something that emerged from his character which had been moulded and hammered and polished. It was surely within the Divine purpose that such lives as his had their message. Such character was not attained apart from a spirit of quiet dependence upon God and constant surrender to the love of Christ.