THE DEVOTIONAL LIFE OF CONVENTION, TAURANGA, 1956

White Ribbon, Volume 28, Issue 1, 1 May 1956, Page 2

THE DEVOTIONAL LIFE OF CONVENTION, TAURANGA, 1956

On the wall behind the Officers’ platform were two posters, one on either side of the W.C.T.U. Motto. These two posters gave the keynote for Convention: 1. ‘‘God is able . . .” and 2. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you . . . .” Many of the eighty-three delegates, who had the opportunity of using early’ transport to the Hall, were constrained by these poster reminders to meet for prayer before the morning sessions began. God was indeed in our midst. (The posters themselves were drawn up by Miss Connie McMillan of Tauranga, to whom we are grateful for this and many other thoughtful gestures.) The order of service for the opening session of Convention on the 14th of March was inspiringly conducted by the Dominion President, Mrs. H. N. Toomer. It was a privilege to join in hymns Nos. 9 and 16 in W.R. Hymnal, and in the responses, commencing with “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” The Convention Communion Service was held in St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church on the Thursday morning, and was conducted by the Rev. J.* R. Nairn, 8.A., minister, assisted by four elders. The lovely pipe-organ was played by the Church organist, Mrs. Ferguson, and the tune “Crinnnd”

was, of course, included as we sang the paraphrase of Psalm 23. The minister took us reverently in pilgrimage from the Bethlehem manger to the Crosj of Calvary. We realized afresh the meaning of “1 ill He come.” The Annual Memorial Service on the Friday afternoon, again in the Church, w r as a time of solemnity and challenge, as we lovingly remembered our sixty-three sisters who had passed on to Higher Service since last Convention. The Responsive Reading, conducted by the President, was taken from Eccl. 11:6-14, and selected verses from Revelation, chapters 7 and 22. The Officers assisted in this Service and “Mrs. Miller of Tauranga render< d a solo. At Nooii-*ide Devotion* the new’ hymn, composed by Mr*. M. Knauf, was adopted in place of “Be?j.iful Hour of Noon-tide,” and prayers were l by various members of Convention. The Daily Devotional Sessions were an inspiration to us all, and included such topics as Peace, Rest, Abiding, and the reading of such Scriptures as ?salm 127 and I Corinthians 13. We owe a deht of gratitude to Mesdames Dewe, Kirkham, Green, Jarvis, Rankin, and Miss C. M. McLay for their leadership, and also to Mrs. Christian aid other accompanists, who led the singing of Mich lovely hymns as “It passeth knowledge,” and ‘Take courage Temperance workers.” Our delegates to World Convention 1956, in Germany, were farewelled by the singing of “Blest he the tie.” May we never lose the inspiration of such a Convention, and may we also remember Mrs. F. Rankin’s application of the Old Testament message, “Take a little honey with you.” —Hilda Grigg (Auckland).