Church Services.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XX, Issue 3416, 9 June 1902, Page 2

Church Services.

THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE; At the Methodist Church yesterday morning a church parade of the Woodville Rifles and the Ruahine Battalion Band was held. The parade state was :—Volunteers-3 offic H and 81 men ; Band—l 6 men under Band-master Lawrence. The men fell in at the drillshed, and, headed by the Band, marched to the Church. The building was well filled and the service was of a most impressive nature. The Rev Mr Hounsell gave a splendid sermon on the event they were returning thanks for that day. He paid a high tribute to the bravery of oar foe, and dwelt on the fact that the Boer women hailed the proclamation of peace with as great satisfaction as the British. He paid a tribute also to the honored dead, and prayed that it might be long ere war would come again. The hymns were most heartily sung, and the service concluded with the National Anthem.

At Holy Trinity Church last night a special thanksgiving service was held. The Rev J. 0. Eccles preached a masterly discourse on the justice of the war, and the reconciliation of the Church, which teaches the doctrine of universal peace and brotherly love, with the horrors of warfare. The reverend gentleman gave a fine statement of the causes which led us into strife in South Africa, and returned thanks to God that the British nation had on the throne so noble and wise a ruler, that be had round him wise and trusty advisers, and that we in Hew Zealand had growing np around us noble youths who were prepared to take their share in upholding the cause of the Empire in any part of the world. The National Anthem was sung at the opening of the seryice, and the hymns were “Now thank we all our God”“0 God, our help in ages past ” and “ Eternal Father, strong to save.” There was a large congregation present.

At St David’s Church both morning and evening there were large congregations, the services being in thanksgiving for the blessings of peace restored in South Africa. In the morning the service was conducted by Mr Stevenson, and in the evening by Mr Crawford. The hymns were those set apart for thanksgiving services, and the congregation heartily joined in rendering them. "