DIOCESAN NEWS.

Waiapu Church Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 November 1907, Page 11

DIOCESAN NEWS.

The Synod Sermon was preached by the Kev. H. P. Cowx, Vicar of Waipawa, who took for his text Psalm 72, 8 : "He shall have dominion from sea to sea." After showing that this verse predicts the final triumph of Christianity and the world wide extension of the ICingdom of God, he dwelt on the present grievous neglect of religion and the need and likelihood of a revival. Matters had been far worse in the Ist four centuries, and in the Dark Ages before the Eeformation, and in England in the ISth century. There was no need to fear that infidelity would continue for any long period, for religion was natural to man. He quoted Mr Gladstone as saying that the tide of Belief tends to ebb and flow, and that waves of Unbelief pass over, a hind, but soon dwindle and disappear ; and further that worldliness is the chief foe of religion and the great reason why men neglect it. The preacher also mentioned as hopeful signs, the National Mission to be held in 1909, the growing spirit of unity between the Churches, and the remarkable success of Missionary enterprise ; much pre-' paratory work had been done and soon great results might be expected. The Church then as a living and growing power would gradually triumph over all opposition. Our aim should be to unite at home and advance abroad—to push on missionary enterprise far more vigorously than we do now ; but above all to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that the Church may be quickened into newness of lifo and the whole round world brought under the dominion of Christ.