ANNIVERSARY SERVICE.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XV, Issue 5, 1 November 1924, Page 455

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE.

An anniversary service m connestion with the spiritual healing mission conducted by Mr Hiekson, was held m Holy Trinity Church, Gisborne, on October 15th, there being an attendance of close on 400 people. Specially selected hymns and prayers were used during the service, and Canon Packe delivered a thoughtful address on matters pertaining to spiritual healing. Canon Packe said that the occasion on which they were met that evening was a most sacred one, m that they were celebrating the anniversary of a great. spiritual healing mission. It would be impossible to forget scenes such as had been seen during the visit of Mr Hiekson, but it must not be forgotten that m the minds of many people at the present time, there were doubts and difficulties concerning the mystery of God's dealing with pain.. There was the extraordinary idea prevalent m the minds of many people, as m that of Jacob, who sought to bargain with God that "If you keep away from me all that is unpleasant, if you will keep from my home all sorrow, then you shall be my God, but if you do; not, then I cannot acknowledge you as my God." It was impossible to deal that way with nature, and it was equally impossible to bargain with God. It was not when the sun shone that trust m God was necessary. It was during the dark days when tribulation came that.one felt drawn to a merciful God. That was how it had been with Job, who had declared "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." God'was everywhere, and was only waiting to help. God had ordained two channels through which the sick could be healed, By meaas of medical and

surgical science, the body could be healed and the second channel lay through prayer. God created the physician and the surgeon, and it was necessary that these two channels should come closer together. ' Those who looked at the Cross gained the true knowledge of the meaning of suffering. If those who were present that evening would continue to seek knowledge of God, then they would realise the extent to which they could trust Him. They should study, the Bible, for there were no . more beautiful passages m existence than such as were to be found m the 23rd Psalm. Though the ways of this world might be dark and dreary, there was a beautiful and glorious world without sorrow, where they could enter into God's eternal rest. Special prayers' were offered up by the. Rev. L. H. Ferny after which the ceremony of the laying on ■of hands was performed by Canon Packe, assisted by the R-ev. L. H. Fennj and the Rev. D. J. Davies.