Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 25, 17 November 1944, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatu

THE GRACE OF GOD

Dt Mimsteis' Association.

Not long ago, a well-known traveller and writer was in the city of York in England, when he chanced to come upon a beautiful and touching little scene. Without any warning down the dark street came a splendid procession. It was led by the Chief Constable of York, in full uniform with boots and spurs; then came the Town Clerk in his. robes, followed by a man wearing a fur-, edged cap such as men wore in Richard ll'.s time and holding aloft the great sword of the Emperor Sigismund, which is always carried in front of the Lord Mayor of York. The Mayor himself came next, in a scarlet robe edged brown. fur and behind him two by two the Aldermen in blue robes. These were the great men of York the men who ruled it. Behind these great personages came a long line of orphan children—little Blue-Coat, boys and Grey-Coat girls, marching along quietly and gravely. Wondering what all this was about, he asked a policeman, and was told that every year the Lord Mayor and Corporation attended a church service with the orphans and afterwards gave them prizes in the Guildhall—the place where they held their meetings. Quickly the traveller hurried after the and as he entered the building he saw a beautiful sight. The Guildhall at York is one of the finest halls in England, ! with a beautiful oak roof, lovely stained-glass windows and walls glittering with shining weapons. On a raised platform and under a canopy at the far end sat the Lord Mayor in his scarlet robes; before him on the table lay the great sword of Sigismund and the silver mace of York, and grouped round him were the city's councillors. Facing them stood the rows of little orphans. Timidly two little girls in grey walked out in front and began to dance in a pool of coloured light which the sun's rays threw on to the middle of the floor. They danced a simple morris dance, and the Lord Mayor of York rested his chin on his hands and looked gravely on. So the Mayor of one of the oldest and grandest cities in England gave half a day to the poor children who had no parents, and brought out. the city's finery to give them an experience they would never forget. When the dancing was over the Mayor made a telling them the city was proud of them and looked to them to become good men and women. The fact that they were orphans would not hold them back.

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Why, said lie a recent Lord Mayor had once been an orphan boy. Then the prizes, were given, and after that, each child received from the hands of the Lord Mayor a bright new sixpence and a lovely orange. The children departed the Mayor and the Aldermen went their way and the pageant was over. Now Ave have a word to describe the conduct of the Lord Mayor and Corporation in giving so much time and attention to little children. We say that it was. gracious. It wasn't necessary for them to do lit* The city was looking after those orphan children. It had built homes for them to live, in and set good people in charge, of them. Surely that was quite as much as they should expect? Some would sa3 r that that was more than, enough. But the Lord Mayor was kind and did more than was necessary. And that was why we say he was gracious, for a gracious person does not only what he ought to do, but also the kind extra things that his love suggests to him. He does not leave the work to others who are paid to do it; lie meets the orphans in person, he shows them the splendour of his official robes he attends politely to them and takes pleasure in their little entertainment and he gives them not only the prizes they have won but gifts they didn't earn. In all this the Lord Mayor of York helps us toi understand God. For God is gracious. In His love He goes far beyond what we deserve, and does for us things we could never hope, to earn. First, He gives us life and the skill to build our homes and obtain, food and clothing. That is a great deal for Him to do for a start, for we don't deserve even that. We often forget Him and act in ways we know He doesn't care for, and we forget sometimes even to say "Thank you" "or all these good gifts. But. even so He is not content. His love, is so great that it suggests still more ways of helping us-. Not content with giving us a world which would feed and clothe us He made it beautiful as w T ell showing us His glory in flowers and hills and streams and trees. If the Lord Mayor brightened the. orphans' lives with the sight of his splendid robes how much more does- God brighten ours with the glory of nature which is His garment! But even that was not enough to satisfy His love for us. Not content with giving us plenty to live on and beauty to brighten life, He came Himself in the person of Jesus, to tell us that He wants not. only to be our Ruler and Provider, but also to be our Friend.