ST. MATTHEWS CHURCH, WAITAHUNA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4894, 25 September 1901, Page 3

ST. MATTHEWS CHURCH, WAITAHUNA.

The anniversary services fa connec« tion with St. Matthew's Charcb, Waitabuna, were held last Sunday at 11 a.m., when there was a large congregation present. The Bey. Canon Richards, delivered an instructive and impressive discourse wbich was followod with the closest attention by tbe congregation. Taking as bis text, Joebua xxiv., 27 : " Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us : for ib hath heard all the wordg of the Lord wbich He spake unto us : it shall be therefore a witness unto yon, l*Bt ye deny your God," Canon Richards said that these words were spoken by Joshua on a special occasion. It was a sort of crisis in the history of God's ancient peop'e. God had given them rest I from their enemies ; their leader, Joshua, I was old and stricken in age, and not long before bis death he called tbe representatives of the people together at Shecbem to give them parting counsel and He recalled God's mercies and chastening judgments ; he reminded the people that they owed not only the land in wbich they were dwelling but also their national existence itself to the goodness of God, and called npon them to re-consecrate themselves to Jehovah that day. Tbe people responded to the appeal, they renewed their covenant with God, and then Joshua set np a stone of witness that the covenant might be remembered, and that the name of God might be honored in the nation for ever. Canon Richards then went on to say that some of these thoughts were specially applicable to themselves on this occasion at Waitahuna. It was the day on which they were commemorating the anniversary of their church. They were gathered together as a people who had made a covenant with God with sacrifice; it was a day on wbich they thought of Groa'a mercies id Che ps9tp fIC^J Q00.99~ crated themselves to Him afresh for the future. Was not the church a witness to this ? For what is tbe purpose of a Christian church? Was it not in the first instance to bear witness to faith in God. The national life, no less than the family life and life in the individual soul of man, exists in God and needs the blessing of God upon it to give it strength and prosperity. No nation ever prospered where God was not honored. And it was to bear witness to these truths and to enable their ohildren to learn them that they bad built their church at Waitahuna. But this was not all. If tbe purpose of a Christian church were only that of bearing by witness a monument such as Joshua set up would do just as well. But it is more than this. It is designed to be a means of grace to -the faithful and a sorb of living missionary witness to all. People attend sometimes. Why so much churchgoing ? If mne's highest aim is to glorify and by leading lives of uprightness and purity and love, what has a church building to do with it P Well, granted that the end of religion be as stated, may it not be said that this, the highest fruit of religion, does not grow of its own accord P People are subject to temptations. The forces of the world, the flesh and the devil are very subtle and very strong, and where the ordinances of religion are not observed religion itself is not long maintained, and men become careless and faithless and immoral. A man without religion is subject to his passions and is in a most miserable bondage. And, therefore, one pnrpose of a Christian church is that it may be a kind of missionary oentre, the means of arresting the carehss, and bringing before them in a forcible way truths that might otherwise be forgotten. And so also it is a means of grace to those wfio believe, that they may be strengthened. But is not the throne of grace accessible at all times P May not the individual soul turn to God at any time P Yes ; but religion is not only individual but social. It is designed to lift np and ennoble man in the whole of his being, and therefore there is a special blessing in corporate worship of God. In their church they were enabled to realise this. There they met together to offer the sacrifice of worship to God, and fco claim the promised blessing of His l presence. Thither they came to receive Bacramentally the gifts of grace, to meet their Lord and to receive Him as their own. And there was another thing of which he (the preacher) would remind them,* and this was their connection with the past. For fifteen centuries the church had nurtured and cared for and guided British national life. They were in direct historic continuity with the churches of Britain, Ireland and Scotland of the sth century — three branches of the one Catholic Church wbich had with God's blessing hallowed and strengthened their national life through all the varying phases of its existence. Their church had already meant a gjeat deal for them. They had spent upon it years of care and self denial and loving devotion. Some who had taken part in its very beginning bad already passed away. During the past year two of their most faithful workers had entered into rest. These were still members of the Church. All are still found together in one communion of Saints in our Lord. Was not this day then a day of special solemnity P Should it not lead them to reverent thanksgiving to God for past mercies, to deep searchings of heart, and to earnest prayer for a fuller consecration of themselves to for tbe future P If they were faithful tbe blessing of God wonld be ponred onfc abundantly on the Church.

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