CHURCH SERVICES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 5

CHURCH SERVICES.

GREEN FIELDS CHURCH. The merits of Green Fields church (said the Rev. J. J. North, preaching in the Street place of worship last evening) have' been much discussed of' late, aud the suggestion Ins been latent that the old Church is "frowsy," weather-beaten, and "dead-tired." Meji were invited to choose between Green Fields church and the Christian church, but tho ; alternative was a trick. Christ went to ' both churches; so did the preacher.- The man' who went to only one was a. bigot, a Green Fields bigot or a chapel bigot, and-all-bigots M'i.'o unpleasant. The. influojicc of that on • the human, mind and heart was very marked. . M'.'iv asked, was., not Green -Fields church er.cngh, and if.man's sole need ,was to coolhis head from -the speculations of the week; or last nights liquor, Green Fields church would be enough. But if duty arid freedom, and immortality were real, another' church ' was needed. Green Fields church was deficient-, becausc the beauty of the world was callous, its splendour -At, spread abovo human soirow, and .110 tears were shed. Hard and cruel 111011 could taken the sun and see beauty unmoved. The beauty of the-world concealed its real meaning. Beneath tho surface was the struggle for existence, and, •deeper ' still, the. principle of: ' sacrifice, an-l' the.' hiddeiKthings wanted interpretation, which they received in the other church. To heir tho voice of man,' the cry of the human, th°t was what was wanted,, and especially, to hear tho voice' of the Saviour, Tor it was savin", not soothing, that men • needed;: and to get right with God was to get a_ new ■ heaven anu a new earthy while Green I'lClrfs church was never so fair as to those who kn.;w ,llim. Archbisiiop Redwood visited Meance on Satuidav, to, perform yesterday morning the ordination servico of the Rev. Mr. Hurley and the Rev. Mr. Henry, and bestow minor.orders 011 general students of the Seminary. He was also to hold a confirmation servico iu Napier yesterday afternoon. ' ; Brigadier Brav, officer-in-chargo of tho' social work of the Salvation Army, for Australasia, held a servico iu tho gaol yesterday, and .assisted Brigadier Albiston in tho conduct of services at the Vivian Street Citadel. At - tho' evening service, ■ leave ' was' taken of. SfalT-Captain Ward,'Young-People's Secretary, who has been transferred iu tliat | capacity to tho South Island.