PULPIT VOICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 232, 1 October 1928, Page 8

PULPIT VOICES.

LAWS OF HARMONY.

CHRIST lAN SCIENCE

FUNDAMENTALS OF LIFE.

In a lecture on "Christian Science; Its Protest Against Evil," which was given before a large attendance at the Strand Theatre yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. Stuart Booth, C.5.8., of Denver, Colorado, said that Christian Science, as the revelation of God's law, had come into the world proclaiming the omnipotence and omnipresence of Spirit, divine Truth Life and Love, and coincidcntly presenting its logical and practical protest against all evil, error, materialism, hate and fear, and against death. The speaker /"said the remarkable progress of Christian Science, beginning in 1806, with one Christian ."Scientist, Marv Buker Eddy, to-day encircled the world, and attested the validity and effectire! ness of its teachings. Jesus Christ m the greatest protectant of all timet against the claims of evil, and based all his precepts and practice upon divine love. It was noteworthy, and of Teat importance to mankind in every age,"that Christ's protests against sin coincided with His healing of the physical discords and deformities of men. God's will was demonstrated and proved by Him and the claims of sin reversed. The works of the Master were not limited to time, place or people, for they taught freedom to all people along the paths of obedience to d. ine principle, love, whereby the claims of human will, temporal power, and personal domination were first overcome with the individual. Christ Jesus dealt in a scientific and Christian manner with the problem of evil by seeing it, not as persons, but aw a wrong thought using those who believed in it, which wrong thought, however, he saw as powerless, because of the omnipotence of the divine mind. Christian Science, continued Mr. Booth, definitely rebuked and repudiated the educated belief that disease and discord were inevitable, and were to be expect«d and prepared for. Similarly, it taught that harmony in man was *as beautiful as in music, and discord w-as unnatural and unreal. Discords were not studied, although adherents gained their freedom from discords called sickness by obeying scriptural injunction. Christian Science resisted any belief which limited man's sense of the scope 3nd application of God's universal law of harmony, which also involved the field ot business like every other channel of human activity. This influence made for abundant good. It corrected justice and perfected control. The speaker also dealt with the inherent impotence of fear, which was displaced by a real faith in God, supported by spiritual understanding. Right thinking and right living were the fundamentals of true life. EDENDALE BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL. Special services were held at th» Edendale Baptist Church yesterday, in celebration of the eleventh anniversary of the Sunday School. Addresses wera delivered by Rev. W. Gilmour, BA. (Edendale Presbyterian Church), Ber. Knowles Kempton (Avondale Baptist Church), and Pastor Alfred Fear. Especially bright singing was rendered by the scholars, conducted by Mr. B. Utting. The building was very tastefully decorated with flowers and greenery, added to which was a very pleasing lighting effect, arranged by two young teachers, Messrs. W. Lomax and Garratt. The services will conclude tomorrow evening with the annual tea and entertainment by the scholars. DEVONPORT SPRING SERVICE. ' St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Devoaport, was attractively decorated for a special spring service yesterday morning. The large congregation indudad the children of the Vauxhall Road home. The Rev. Lawson Marsh took for his text the Song of Solomon and spoke of the wonderful climate in the northeiß parts of New Zealand. Appropriate to the occasion the morning was cloudleM. Springtime, said the speaker, had • message for all, and came as pleasant relief from the rigours of winter. Sow of the lessons of early life could In learnt from the example of the vernal season. The sacrament of baptism was celebrated during the service, a white flow being placed on the breast of caefc infant while it remained in the minister's arms after the dedication. MOUNT ALBERT METHODISTS. In continuation of the special service* connected with the reopening of the Methodist church at Mount Albert, the Hon. L. M. Isitt, M.L.C., preached yesterday morning, and the Rev. Dr. C. HLaws, principal of the Methodist Theological College at night. Large congregations attended each service. The choir, under Mr. S. Dimery. rendered spec "I music, and Miss Laura Stone contributed a solo. On Wednesday night a social gathering will be held to conclude the reopeninf services. SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. St. John's Methodist Churci\ Ponsonby Road, was crowded yesterday, the occasion being the Sunday School anniversary, which attracted overflowing congregations. The morning service was conducted by the Rev. Morrison-Suther-land. of Mount Albert, and the afternoon and evening by the minister of the church, the Re*. Arthur Mitchell The singing of the children, trained and conducted by Mr. H. Horsley. was favourably commented 011 at each of the services by the people. The church vra? very tastefully festooned with arum lilies and lycopodhun. and baskets of spring flowers rested on the wr!l bracket?, whilst a beautiful wreath ,-nrniountcd the roll of honour of tlio~e who fell in the Great War. The ofiVrtories for the j day amounted to nearly £40. Mr. Mitchell thanked all who had hel]>ed to make the anniversary such a great suece-s. and ■ intimated the hymns be repeated next Sundav.