THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1941, 26 December 1913, Page 8

THE CHURCHES.

YESTER3A*Y'S services. Special Christinas services were held yesterday in tlio morning and in the evening in all the Anglican Churches in the city. Holy Communion was celebrated at the. morning services, and iji overy church there were largo num-. bers of communicants. At St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral tlio Rev. A. M. Johnson was tlio preacher, and at Holy Communion the Bishop was the celebrant. Tlio offertories wcr-i divided between the Boys' Rescue Homo at the Hutt and the Hospital and Gaol Chaplain's Fund.

PRESBYTERIAN.

At the Noivtoivn Presbyterian Church Christmas was celebrated by an evening service, at which the Rov. W. Sh'irer delivered a sermon on the name "Immanucl," Isaiah vii, 14, Matthew i, 23. The words of the prophet were studied by the speaker, who said that his ideal and hope were realised, fulfilled, and transcended in Christ, "God with us." God, by tho Incarnation, mealed hk zedceming lovo to man created in his imago, lly a human voico man is called, and he can hear and respond. "Tho "Word had breath and wrought with human hands the creed of creeds," quoted the speaker. Tho Deliverer was sinless, yet ho was identified with mankind. As "in tho bush," God revealed His glory in humble surroundings, so in the humanity of tho Saviour the Divine glory was revealed, "burning, yet Jiot consumed." As in earlier times God saw man's sorrows and camo down to deliver, "God with us." Tho real presence continued with men "always," "to tho end," "never to leave." Immanuel, "God with us," Christ was tho world's hope. The preacher quoted tho words in "Tho Facts of Life": "The revival awaiting tho Church may be one in which men shall tur.i again to Christ, saying not only—though this will ever bo with tho other—that He and Ho only is tho Saviour of their souls, but that Ho and He only is- tho Saviour of the world." At St. John's Church. "Willis Street, a Christmas service was held at 11 o'clock in tho morning at which tho Rov. Dr. Gibb preached.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

Special services were conducted in all Catholic churches yesterday, as is eustcmary at this season, and referenco was made to Christmas observance. Tho evening services were very impressive, and suitable music was played.

METHODIST. I

A' united Methodist service was held in tlio Wesloy Church. Taranaki Street, on Cliristtnas morniiiE. The Rev. J. G. Chapman conducted tbe service, assisted hv tlio Revs. "W. S. Potter and J. H. White. Tlio Rev. Knowles-Smith preached the sermon and based his remarks oil tlio Cospol narratives of tlio Nativity and succeeding; weeks. Tbrouehout the lvholo sermon emphasis was placed on modern conditions and theso wcro illustrated bv present-day incidents, which the speaker said were taken from tlio .preacher's wide experience- as a Central Mission superintendent. Speaking of tlio recent industrial striko Mr. Smith said that probablv so far as the recent strugglo in its initial cause- was concerned, much could bo said for the righteousness of tho workers' claims, but to his mind tbe Koeleratioivs discomfiture to-day and tho consequent set-back to Labour's ideals wcro due, not to the. power of capital or tho combination of employers, but to the blatant godlossness which characterised some of the so-called leaders. Chris was tho workers' friend and champion, but the relation must bo mutually loyal. A united service in connection with the 'Wellington South Methodist circuit was held in tho Donald M'ljcan Street Church at 11 a.m. yesterday. The Rev. .I'. Ward conducted tho service tho devotional part being led by tlio'Rev. J. Southern. The text chosen was I.nko i, vii, '19. Tlio keeping of Christmas as a holy day, wiid tlio nroacher, was not- incumbent on preachers, for it was not commanded in Cod's Word. Neither, on tho other hand, was it iii that Word prohibited. It had been - jhua.osL.liy, sc-meu and treated as a God J ;

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