ST. MARK'S CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1564, 7 October 1912, Page 5

ST. MARK'S CHURCH.

SUNDAY SERVICES FOR .MEN. There was a good attendance at the monthly service for men at St. Mark's Church on Sunday, and the address was given by the Vicar (the Rc-v. C. F. Askew), who took as his teit the two verses of St, Lake's Gospel which relate to the return of the prodigal son to his father, after his riotous life, and his father's openarmed reception of him. The preacher recalled to the memory of his congregation the story of the prodigal son, which, he said, was the story in the Bible which is best and universally known. It was one full of life and one which throbbed with pathos. It left its indelible mark on all. It was a story which began in the saloon and ended in a pig-stye; one which commenced with friends and money and ended with neither; ono which ended in ft time to think, to suffer, and be sorry. When all had deserted him, the prodigal turned home, not with excuses, but with Iho cry, "Father, I am not worthy to be called thy son." It was a manly, honest action, and that son was received with open arms by a tearful father. So was it the story ot the prodigal now who wn* dying from want of spiritual food, who has lived in idleness and shame. When he is brought to think in his pig-stye of degradation,, it wns.to the home of the soul that he turned. He was received by God with open arms, and no explanation was asked by the King of King?. At the conclusion of the address a service was held for the admission of a member to St. Mark's branch of the Church of England's lien's Society.. It was conducted by the Vicar, and consisted briefly in taking the vow of the society to keep, the. rule of life, viz.— to pray to God every day nnd to do something to help forward the f work of th» Church, and to receive Iho badge, of the coc-iety. A solo was given by Mr. C. Moir. At the evening service at St. Mark's the Vicar gave a further address on the course of moral and spiritual difKcultic* of lite. His subject was: "Why is Sin Permitted?"