ST. PAUL’S CHURCH

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

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH

The Rev. James Baird conducted the memorial service at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Highfield. Appropriate hymns were sung, also solos by Mrs A. C. Mclnnes and Master Ronald Flamank. Mr Baird took as his text 2 Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 2. He said that King George V. had come to possess In a unique degree what one might term the spiritual affection of the peoples of his far-flung Empire. He was no mere figurehead of Royalty enjoying a nebulous existence far aloof from the serious things of life and history. He represented a warm personal factor, vital and gracious. Through the years of his reign he became more and more an asset to the British Empire, an asset of a worth beyond all price, because of a nobility of character and idealism which exerted an incalculable influence upon his generation. He gained his ascendancy over men’s hearts because they saw revealed in him a wealth of moral and spiritual quality which cast a spell upon a nation’s soul. The brief text of Scripture he had quoted seemed to him in many respects appropriate, ‘A Man in Christ.’ He Imagined that the Apostle Paul would have placed emphasis on every word of that text of his. A man in Christ. Anyone who knew anything about the changing tendencies in social history was aware of the peculiarity of the age in which King George exercised his kingship. It was usually styled a democratic age. This meant that the minds of men in our age had been less and less influenced by merely hereditary and official distinctions.

“A Man in Christ.” This meant in the second place that he was a brotherly man. In this, too, he partook of the spirit of the democratic age, for the typical man of the democratic age was a man of benevolent outlook. The windows of the late King’s heart were wide open towards his fellowmen, and he was consumed with a zeal for the welfare of all his peoples, especially those of them in greatest need. All the artificial, obscuring barriers which separated kings from people in the past, faded out, and King George stood forth as a great advocate of his people’s interests and welfare. In a unique sense he became their very own. It was this amazing devotion of the man on the Throne that appealed to the popular imagination. It was his genuine Christian spirit of love and good will and solicitude that won to his person the deep affection of his people far and near, and caused his throne to be surrounded by their love in such manner as was surely" unparalleled. The King was also a Godly man, for he bore his heavy burden in the strength of God. Supported by his religious faith he was enabled to stand erect amid the storm and stress of his life’s battle and play his part gallantly to the end, never despairing in the face of troubles incessant. His was an inspired leadership which quickened courage and confidence and hope in the darkest days. They would humbly acknowledge their gratitude for what he was and for his achievement, and give God all the glory for a great King and servant of the Empire, who by His grace was fashioned.