CENTRAL MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1223, 4 September 1911, Page 6

CENTRAL MISSION.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY SERVICES. Thq Central Mission services yesterday were in celebration of tlio tenth anniversary of its establishment. In the morning the Rev. E. 0. Blamires preached at tho Herbert Street Hall. In the afternoon a combined Mission and ,Brotherliood service was held in the New Theatre. Tho Hon. G. Jowlds, who presided, delivered a spccch, in which he referred to the social application of Christian teaching. He felt that there was greater need for this than had been recognised by tho Christian Church in tho past. He commended the Brotherhood and Mission upon their efforts in this direction. Although bo yielded to none in his insistence upon the necessity for individual regeneration, it was also of importance to improve the environment of tho people. 'Tho speaker of tho day was Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P. He opened with a description of tho marvels of tho present day, and of some of tho changes and revolutions that are taking place in every sphere. -Mr. Laurenson instanced tho changcs taking place in ships, in marino propulsion, and in warfare. The Victory at the battle of Trafalgar was a vessel sixty years old. In tho present ago a Dreadnought became obsolcto -in ten years. The same thing was to bo seen in religious life. Our lathers had looked upon religion as a thin| applying < only to the next world, 'i'o-day' we tried to bring heaven to earth. Ho stressed the great importance of the spiritual motive power that must supply the force that will regenerate society. Environment alone would not serve. The change must come from within as well as from without. Miss Mueller sang "The City Divine," and Miss A. Evans was_encored for her recital of "If We Only Knew." At tlio evening service, conducted by tho Ilev. E. 0. Blamires, Mr. Newton Jones delivered an address to a congregation that packed tho New Theatre. ' Mr. Victor Jones sang a solo and other sacred items were contributed by tho Central Mission Quarteto Party and the Mission Band. Tho recently-formed Sisterhood is receiving encouraging support. Tho sum of XGO has been promised towards tho fund of JSIOO which is being raised with a view to employing a sister to work in connection with the Mission and the Brotherhood.