ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

CHURCH SERVICES. ' Tho Canterbury Pilgrims' Association is endeavouring to arrange for special church services throughout Canterbury on Sunday next in connexion with the celebration of tho eightieth anniversary of the foundation of the province. The following circular letter has been addressed to every minister m the province, irrespective of -denomination: ".Few instances of British tion are more striking than the settlement of Canterbury, m tho middle of last century. As wo recall tho social and economic conditions of iiuropo and of England at that period, we aro bound to recognise tho scheme for a colonial settlement as a project ol high enterprise and bright hopes against a dark background of social chaos and unrest. Led by men of solid academic learning, of hue statesmanship, of sound religious and high moral standing, tho proposed Canterbury settlement presented a« scheme for tho amelioration of many of the anomalies of English life of that day. How far the aspirations of the founders have been realised, tho position of the province—now eighty years since its foundation —bears witness. "Believing that there is much that is worthy of remembrance, aspirations that should be recalled, accomplishments that may be proudly noted, failures even that may profitably be recorded, the Canterbury Pilgrims' Association is desirous of calling your attention to these things. We would remember what our fathers have told us, what has been wrought, in the providence of God, by their endeavours, and the paths laid down by them, for us to follow in. They have planted; it is for us to water. They have founded ; it is for us to build. "It is in the hope that ministers of religion in Canterbury will not be unmindful of these things, and herein will find a theme well worthy of notice, that the Association approaches you and respectfully solicits your interest in the celebration of the Anniversary. It expresses the hope that the occasion holds a subject that will appeal to you as eminently suitable for reference to in worship and in sermon on Sunday, December 14th —the Sunday preceding the commemoration. ' "It is felt that the heritage which is ours is too precious to be lightly regarded, too bright to allow the progress of years to dim it. It is thought that the generation of to-day should he reminded of the bequest their forebears have left them, the responsibility that is theirs to hand on this benuest untarnished, and to add to all that is illustrious and noble in £he traditions of the settlement."