I HEAR AN M.L.C. AND A D.D. PREACH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17689, 9 November 1925, Page 1

I HEAR AN M.L.C. AND A D.D. PREACH.

A SUNDAY PAUSE IN CARNIVAL WEEK. (Written for the “Star.”) By ASCOT A. BROAD. Wesley Church looked beautiful yesterday morning. The sun was pouring its halcyon rays from an almost cloudless sky above it, so that the rather sombre-looking, dull-red building seemed to glow again. The silver band of the Salvation Army came swinging past, with a fine quickstep tune as the people were gathering for worship. I stood to attention to drink in the full effect of this situation, reflecting the while on v.-hat the Army in its now world-wide organisation had effected mainly i through praise and service. J A MAX CAME RUSIIIXG AT ME 1 from across the street. In the breeziest yet kindliest manner he asked where 1 was to worship. 1 had not the heart to tell him I was really worshipping then; but I indicated my intention of entering soon the Wesley Church by which we. were standing. He was, however, due at the Cathedral and so, as “ships that pass in the night,” we ■ hailed each cPthcr and parted. \ l ENTERED THE CHURCH. ' It. was well filled, as alas! churches are attended nowadays. But, what a difference between without and with in! The. dreariness, the feeling of cob! | which seemed t>> strike one out. of the sun! Yet it was not all sombrencss I Two vases of large, globular, blood-rcc

j peony, roses in a wealth of greenery j on either side of the pulpit delighted ( the eye. A choice bouquet of starI shaped, golden flowers blossomed at ; its foot. The organ pipes shooting from j the background behind the rostrum i were gilded and coloured. Soon came ! the opening voluntary, booming, api pealing, leading our aspiration upwards. The choir take their places. THE PREACHER ENTERS. I recognise him as a recently .created M.L.C. ; but he has changed within the last dozen years. The aureole of grey about his head has whitened. He tells us that after the strenuous exertion of the past week he feels tired: but after devotional exercises, as he speaks in homely yet telling words to the children present, of the difference between appearance and reality, his eyes burn with their old fire, and his voice rings out vibrant as of yore. From the Scriptures, he reads with clear diction and marked interpretative feeling, ihe story of the opening of the eyes of the man born blind. His text is taken from the narrative: the words of Jesus: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometli, where no man can work.” THE SERMON. This M-L.C. can preach. Jlis discourse was not so much a sermon as preaching, lie gave excellent introduction to his treatment of the text, by declaring in confidence to the youngfolks present that older people who with many a failure had tried to embody its spirit in their lives, did not look upon death with fear. It was natural for men to love life; but the follower of Christ learned to regard death as little in comparison with the life which followed it. Feeling reference was made to the passing of a late Mayor of Christchurch, who shortly before, his death remarked in the simplest, matter of fact terms to the preacher, that he was so very tired, but was to have a glorious rest. Also, we were otld of a most lovable aijd trusted leader in a great social cause who had just passed away, and who • before his passing declared he should

have liked to live to help on the cause so dear to his heart; but as concerning his death, the consolation and sense of the presence of the Master in and through it all were most wonderful. There followed such an appeal for Christian men to combine service with worship, as we have not heard for a long time. He spared not any of us, driving home the truth with intense, sustained power of expression that there was something for each one to do beyond singing hymns and meeting for worship. It. was a relief from such assaults upon our indolence, when in quiet tones he. would .assure us, there was just no joy equal 1o that which came to the man who dared to do his best for the Kingdom of God. REFLECTION'S. The preacher was human. In dealing with social propaganda he may have left himself open to criticism on the part of such as differed from him Rut when it is rqmembered that the truth is greater than all differences concerning it, such action is more, for giveable. J left the church thinking of the relationship between church and State. Was the old Jewish teaching of Theocracy true: that. the church

should be the State and the State the church ? Here was a man who had served both. Why did the Jew fail, why should our preacher, our M.L.C. fail? I found the answer in a Cross and stretched upon it the Unspeakable Sacrifice! There is a Christian theocracy. KNOX CHURCH. The evening found me in the Fresbvtcrian Church, named after Scotland's greatest son, although many Scots will place in that position of supreme eminence one who certainly would never have placed himself there—Robert Burns. Knox Church is large, roomy, almost ylqnnyy • for it is roofed in dark, Gothic arches, and they minimise, humiliate all beneath them. Their high, aspiring stateliness is hard upon all about their base. The pulpit is centrally placed and well forward. Behind it were organist and choir, and behind the choir the organ, its pipes giving a welcome colouring of blue and gold to what otherwise might have proved a dingy background. What an inspiring sight it was to sec the large choir come trooping in, the organist meantime with skill manipulating the voluntary, while the preacher slowly ascended the pulpit stairs. IN' THE PULPIT A D.D. The congregation rose to their feet and a sanctur was sung with reverence and devotional feeling. There followed other devotional exercises with readings from Scripture, hymns sung by congregation and choir alike, and an anthem impressively sung by the choir alone. The preacher was a well-known Doctor of Divinity from Wellington, and chose as his text the immortal words from the book of Proverbs: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The sermon was at once intellectual and spiritual. A poet, in a green meadow had the same vision of grass, shady trees, and. say, running stream, presented to his bodily eyes as had an ox grazing in the same : yet the man saw thereby what the animal could never know. But even I then, there was a vision of the heart, j which 1 transcended that of the mind \ itself, enlightening the soul of learned and unlearned alike speaking of God. FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND TIIE STATE. In words of power and beauty, the preacher contended to the large congregation present, listening with rapt attention, that vision was necessary for the individual, if he was really to live. Man had not only to see himself penitentially before God, as he was, but he had to ,be able to sec what possibilities for righteousness pertained to himself in the graciousness of the Almighty. Let no one esteem the idealist as a mere visionary; for his dreams often come true. Dreams such as his tended to lift the soul out of the ruts of dead materialism, and to keep it in quest of high and holy things. Our Lord in a sense was a dreamer, and His dream is corning true. The conclusion of the discourse was an eloquent place for vision on the part of the State. It the nations would only but take more seriously the vision of a warless world! New Ze-fland might have done more for the League of Nations than she had. However, there, were not lacking testimonies to prove that the nations were generally taking a more serious interest in the League. So the D.D.. as the M.L.C., the Presbyterian, as the Methodist in the morn ing, made a strong appeal for Chris tian service for the State.