News and Notes.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XII, Issue 10, 1 April 1922, Page 266

News and Notes.

. The Bishop of Rhode, Island reqentr ly concluded a sermon m St. Stephen 's .Church, Providence, as follows: — " The mission of the Church to-day is to stir the conscience, and to change the heart of an unrepentant world, The sins that are eating at the foundations of* society are covered by complacance and by, mortal atrophy. For a single moment of lurid life m time of war, suffering and!anger bared .men's souls and opened men's eyes to their condition. The moment has passed and left the hearts of men more heedless and more self-willed than : ever. Look about you. See how avarice is drying up the spring's of human sympathy.. The passion .for. pleasure is sweeping men and women on, like leaves before an autumn wind, m aimless misery. Moral standards which to-day are called m question, to-inorirow are ignored.' Worst of all, the yearning of the soul for Godj the persistent hope which: will not die, is fed upon the lifeless forms of dead traditions. To such an age, sin-sick and horiie- 1 sick, the voice cries m the wilderness* as it once fell on ears that waited for the promise of Christ's cbmirigy 'Repent ye/ Not only for the correction and the comfort that you may yourselves receive, but for the 'hopes that you may awaken iri the hearts of men, it is yours to lead the: way of a lost world into the confessional. Here at the doors of the church may it stand as an inexorable reminder of God's law, a pledge of His pardon, a messenger of peace. "—"Church Times." '

The friends of Mr Percy Steed will be interested to learn that the Rev. John Hobbs has received a... letter from him m which, he states that he was ordained priest at the Advent Ordinations, Mr Steed was awarded the Pilkington Prize which! is oorf r fered to Ordination candidates m the Diocese of London for "Public Oratory, Reading arid Sermon Preparation, " " This, " he says, "I owe mainly! to my training m enunciation when a member of St.. Matthew's choir, Hastings; so. you see how far-rreaching is the ;work of Percy Tombs and E. Varley Hudson." '..■-■■■

Dear Old Lady (having a lift— her first mptor ride— as chauffeur sigiials a turn) : !"Look here, young man— you keep your hands on the wheel. I '11 tell you when it begins to rain. " —"Punch."