THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1157, 19 June 1911, Page 4

THE CHURCHES.

AND CORONATION SERVICES. DR. GIUB'S ADDRESS. A very largo congregation filled St, John's Church Inst night, when Dr. Gibb conducted a p.crvicp in commemoration of I lie Coronation of the King. Suitable hymns wore sung, including more than oni! of those that will bo used in (ho Coronal ion service in Westminster Abbey next Thursday. Two voices of Iho Nalional Aiilhem were .sung with gnat heartiness, and the choir rendered tlio aiilhem, "I Was Glad When they Said Unto lie," and, at the close cf the sermon, a fine setting of the Tc Deum. Dr. Gibb took as his text (be words of l.sa.inh 41), 23: "Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thv nursing mothers." The words formed part ot an oracle of the prophet of Iho return, and were uttered on the eve of the restoration of the Hebrews to (heir own land. The prophet anticipated a future ot material splendour for his people far surpassing-anything that thev had known even m the spacious days of .Solomon, or in any period prior to the captivity. At least he seemed to do so. Kings of (lio nations that had oppressed them would, m the coming time, sloop to render Hie services usually assigned to men of the humblest, rank. But it was to mistake the prophet's meaning to think that his chief concern was for tin, temporal miwrnihconco of his nation. If ho desired this, it was because its temporal advancement lias necessary to (he accomplishment of its mission as the custodian of the holy oracles, and the vicegerent of .lohovah: on earth. The figure of the text svmboljsoi the enlistment of the temporal' power in the service of the spiritual-Hie king, doms of the earth becoming ministrant to the kingdom of God. The thoughts of men had varied croat.lv as , to ,,™ c J' J ' Uo J'clntions between the State ami the Church. Now (hey held that the State was a province of the Church; aga.in tiat the Church was a province of ho State; and yet again that each should be independent of (he other. The last lay nearest to the truth. The independence, however, was not, and could not be, absolute in a Christian country. The State ought to recognise those great moral and spiritual truths which are the heritage ot all the Churches. It ought to bo the nursing father of the Church, 'not with the scrvience that Rome alone among the Churches of Christendom would cnacl, but in conserving, by legislative enactment and the exercise of its authority, that righteousness which alone exaltoth a nation.

A\ liat the nation should lx> the -king, ;ifio is its living symbol, must certainly re. Jn the broad sense which had now boon given to (lie word "church," tho King ought to bo (he servant of (ho Church In Inland he would conform to the National Church which is episcop. aliaii in government. Jn Scotland ho would conform to the National Church "Inch is Presbyterian in government. But ii° i ng , lvas mulor ol) ]inatioii to treat all .churches with absolute, impartiality. As lie belonged to all tho parties in the Male, so did ho belong (o all tho churches. It was expected of him, demanded of him, Hint he should defend and succour every agency which makes for tho uplfftmg of the people. To all that tho word church stands for in its broadest meanings, (ho Xing must bo a nursing father. This was certainly the ideal of Iho Coronation service next Thursday. ~\ll tho Kings power, all his privileges, all Lis wealth, all tho prestige that belongs to Ins great office must be used by him— so the various parts of tho Coronation ritual affirmed and symbolised—for tho promotion of tho kingdom of righteousness and truth. The throne he occupied was a high seat; it was as solemn as high. From the standpoint of temporal things tho King's task was great; but greater still from (ho standpoint of things eternal. Was it not clear, (hen, that tho King needed not only their loyalty, but their sympathy and their prayers. Time was when it was erroneously imagined that tho lnonarchs of Great Britain wero littlo more than ciphers in the counsels of tho nation; but no man had ever questioned the tremendous force of the King's example and personal influence. If he dedicated his life to the advancement of (ho Kingdom of God, (heir own eyes should witness, and their own cars hear, tho blessings that his reign would bring to his people. If ho should turn aside from tho part of righteousness his reign would bo a calamity not only to (he Homeland, but in measure to every Dominion and dependency of tho far-flung Empire. Ho had begun well. His public utterances sinco his accession had been marked by wisdom. His response to the addresses presented by tho prelates of tho Anglican Church, and, on the occasion of the Bible centenary, his message lo the great missionary conference in Edinburgh wero all omens of most happy augury-. Tho -sermon, of which this' is o brief outline, closed with an nppeal that they should not only pray for tho King, but devote themselves with ever deepening

imlour lo the promotion of (lie glory of Goil through the service of men, anil so hasten (ho full establishment of (lie overlasting kingdom of Christ, (ho one enduring reality in a world of shadows. As ho ended, Dr. Gibb recited a number of I verses written by Jlr. S. Clarke Johnson, a member of the kirk session of St. John's. These formed a fitting conclusion to tho theme, and were in themselves of high merit. The author has on various occasions given proof of his poetic power, and the versos in question were equal to his best.

ST. JAMES'S PRESBYTERIAN. At St. James's Presbyterian Church, Wellington South, special attention was called at both services yesterday (o (ho coming Coronation of his Majesty King George V. Special prayer was offered, and the National Anthem was sung. Tho Kev. William Shircr took as his subject at the evening service, "A king chosen from among thy brethren," and "1 am among you as Ho that serveth." Wo had, said Air. Shircr, the history of a people chosen to receive and convey to tho nations a revelation. The place and duty of tho ruler were defined. Tho king in Scripture was enjoined to study God's law daily, so that, having learned true wisdom and humility, he might fully realise responsibility, exercise self-com-mand, and recognise itho claims of all his subjects. Safety and success lav, for kin'' ami people, in tho full recognition of duty divinely revealed. Repudiation meant disaster. It hud been staled and admitted that tho ideal so presented was very high; hut, as had been said, it should not be abandoned at the instigation of material considerations, which could not supply ideal nor inspiration. It lias well to remember the word, "1 am among -you as He that serveth." Such service meant sacrifice. The world repaid it with thorns for a crown, and a cross for a crown, and a cross for a throne, but now on Coronation ])nv millions would sing "Thou Art the King of Glory." The hearts of men were learning, perhaps slowly, but, nevertheless, surely, (he truth expressed in the words, "Whosoever reigns fo servo will servo to reign,"

THE SALVATION ARMY. A Snlvnt'tm Army Coronation Festival was conducted in the Vivian Street Citadel yesterday by Lieut.-Coloncl Dirkonshaw, assisted by Major Johnson and tho headquarters staff. I'ovival mcctinijs were lield during the day, special sini;iii|; and music beinK a feature of (lie services. A number of recruits were enrolled. Tho Wellington presbytery enjoined all ministers and sessions lo bold special services on Sunday, .Tunc 18, in connection with the Coronation. At St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral on Thill's, day next (Coronation Bay) a special sor< vice will be conducted, which will lx> attended by his Excellency the Governor. IN OTHER CITIES. . (By Tclccrnnli-ProFH Association.! Christcluircb, June IS. Jn some of (lie churches 10-day refer, enoes were made to the Coronation, and the services concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.