Methodist Message On Communion Sunday At Marton

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1949, Page 2

Methodist Message On Communion Sunday At Marton

“The God of Your Fathers” was the subject taken by th& Rev. H. Prowse at the world-widp Communion service held at the Marlon Methodist Church on Sunday mornihg. People were always influenced, more or less, by the power of great names, said the preacher. This was apparent in all spheres of life, —social, scientific, political and religious. What they said was quoted and broadcast. Abraham Lincoln was remembered for the Civil War and his light against slavery; Luther defied the Papal Bull, Rossetti rejuvenated British painting Wesley saved England from Revolution. Around every prominent name there was clustered noteworthy historical facts that had a significance, not only for the period in which they occurred, but for all time. Such men had left a legacy of deeds and words, said Mr. Prowse.

“The life of a godly man is a perpetual fount of inspiration; it is a well-spring of living water irom which we gather stimulus, courage and power to be and to do. The sound of it stirs the pulses of our better life and we rise to nobler resolutions and achievements. However, great the name, no name in any country has ever wielded a mightier power than Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the founders of the Hebrew nation. Their names were Uttered by prophets, priests, Kings and warriors. They were uttered by David in his last dying prayer* They are pleaded by Elijah as he stands alone and a solitary defender of the Faith on Mt. Carmel. Peter employs them when preaching Christ to the crowd in the torch of the Temple. Christ did not hesitate to Use them when confounding the Sadducees, and God does not disdain using them as a means of revealing His glorious character. He did this when He spoke to Moses from the burning bush. A voice called Moses, and the awful announcement was. made, ‘I am the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, The God of Isaac and the God of Jacob,’ and with a terrified heart Moses hears the comand to go to Egypt.”

You will notice, said Mr. Prowse, it was while Moses was busy with his comon daily task that the splendid vision of God and duty came to him. God never goes to the idl e or lazy person when He needs a man for His service. When God wants a worker, He calls a worker. When He wants something done, He goes to those already at work. When God wants a great servant, He calls a busy man. Scripture and history testifies to this. Moses was busy with his ocks, Peter and Andrew were busy casting their nets into the sea, Matthew was busy collecting th e customs, William Carey was busy mending shoes. The God of our Fathers is no respecter of persons. He has a job for eac£ one of us. God calls us while we ar e busy and sometimes he has to use fire to attract us and tell us we are on holy ground. Like Moses, we have to remove our shoes because they have trodden in wrong paths and are covered with mir e and clay of pleasure which only turn out to be excitement. The God of your Father, the God of your Mother, does that strike a cord in your heart? questioned the speaker. They could talk to God and God talked to them—their simple faith and trust puts us to shame. We have got to get back to the stage where we will not mind being sent back to Egypt —the place we ran from because we were afraid. We have got to go back so that we can be led out by God. When you look back on the past does not every sacred memory challenge you Do you stand accused by two generations? Does an inner voice say, "I was the God of your fathers, but you have forsaken me.’’ “It is possible for you to renew the link with God,” concluded Mr. Prowse. You can build that golden chain into your life and family, for the God whom your fathers trusted delights in mercy. He even now pleads, ‘Come and let us reason together—l will heal all your backslidings and love you freely.’” FIREMAN PRESENTED WITH GOLD STAR. A representative gathering of firemen from all parts of New Zealand attended a dinner in Marton on Saturday night in honour of Mr. A. S. Campbell, who has completed 25 years’ service with the Marton Volunteer Fire Brigade. Mr. Campbell was secretary of the Marton Fire Brigade for several years and resigned only recently. Tributes were paid by speakers to Mr. Campbell’s untiring efforts for the brigade over a period of 25 years and on behalf of the citizens ol Marton, Cr. W. J. Mogridge presented the guest of honour with his Gold Star.

Mr. Campbell, who has now resigned from the brigade has been elected a life member. The new secretary is Mr. C. Velvin.

At the conclusion of the dinner the gathering adjourned to the Victory Hall for a complimentary dance. INTERESTING FEATURE OF MARTON’S VITAL STATISTICS.

While births in Marton showed a substantial rise over the last quarter, compared with the same period last year, deaths and marriages were exactly the same. For September, births, deaths and marriages all showed a slight increase. According to figures made available by the postmaster, Mr. G. E. Mitchell, the number of births for the JUly-August-September quarter was 43, as against 34 for the corresponding period in 1948. Deaths and marriages were 13 and 12 respectively, the same as for last year. There were 15 births and five marriages last month, an increase of one in each case compared with September 1948. Deaths totalled four as against two 12 months ago.

The following are the statistics for the nine months of this year, with the figures for the corresponding period of Inst year in parentheses:—Births, 116 (115); deaths, S 3 (35); marriages, 43 (451.