PULPIT REFERENCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2164, 1 June 1914, Page 8

PULPIT REFERENCES

"AT STs PAUL'S PRO-CATHEDRAL, In the courso of his sermon at Sti Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral yesterday morning, tho Rev. O. H. Harvey referred to tho recent train accident at iWhangamarino, and tho shipping disaster on tho St! Lawrence, and said he was suro tho congregation would join him in expressing deepest'. sympathy with the 'relatives of those who had lost their, lives. . Tho. disaster on tho Sti - Lawronce must, ho said, have left thousands of mourners, for whom a .wdvo" of'' sympathy had passed found tho world. Mr. Harvey in'ade special reference to the loss sustained by tho Salvation, Army, "that bravo Army, o" "God which is doing sucji remarkable work in New Zealand." He' asked tfio congregation to pray, that the Holy Spirit' would be a very present help to the mourners in their-time of'trouble. • "■''During St. J Peter's Church,"! Archdeacon Harper made feeling reference loss of life ca\ised by the sinking of tho Empress of Ireland. Sympathy was expressed for tho Salvation Army. Appropriate hymns wero sung, and at the -closo of tho evening service the organist •flayed Chopin's "Vuneral March." St. James's, Newtown. '■ The 'Rev. "ff. Sliirer, preaching on *;Consecration" at St. 'James's Presbyterian Church, said: "The world was startled by tho.report of another disaster. Thero is sorrow in tho sea.' Men ,wero' more impressed because- it t'aihe so ■ closely after tho loss of the Titanic; also by r.eason of tho report that some, from our'own Dominion had thus, suddenly, beon called; away, , 'ffo. ■sympathise with all-bereaved, and with •the' Salvation Army', in " "tho.- loss''o'f .trusted,officers. Sorrow, was,intensified bytlio faedthat in the sudden call womeii «nd' childron had so greatly suffered. The problem of •' suffering and ' pain is oVei- with iis,' and the call came'in'our religion .to livo. .tho. consecrated , life earnestly,' and constantly, that so, in' a spirit of «elf-forgetfulness, wo may bo •roadyi to , weep .with those who . weep.' Christ . lived tho consecrated lifo that 1 .'infill 'might.' live in' tho power, com;womoratcd at Whitsuntide; livers; of consecration for the good. of. others. ,'Aihid life's common experience, as Well Its at times .of .disaster, sudden.'.and appalling, ' men must Temember the ascending 'Christ sent ever the descend--ing > Spirit,, tho comforter and helper. 'By'tho Spirit revealing Christ may men bo taugbt 'and comforted." At St. John's Presbyterian Church last evening, the Rev. Dr. Gibb offered up prayers for the relatives of tho deceased in the disaster.' Dr." Gibb also imado reforenco to. tho, tragedy during the morning service. .... •v Tho Rev. J. R. Glassen, .pastor of the Terrace Congregational . Church, made feeling reference to tho tragedy during devotions at all services, yesterday. ...... ■ , , Reference was made at the Brooklyn .Baptist Chiirch to tlio;g.reat loss of life resulting from the wreck, and tho congregation carried a resolution of heartfelt .sympathy with the. Salvation Army at the tragio death of so many Army "delegates, who were on their way to the 'Congress about to be held in London. In many of tho churches throughout tho Hutt Valley, and particularly at the Petono Salvation Army Barracks, mention was made of tho tJtsaster, - and prayers wero offered up on behalf of the bereaved ones. At- the Petone Mothodist Church, tho Rev. J. J. Lewis announced that a special memorial service : would be held next' Sunday, and it is understood that a similar service will bo conducted at the Salvation Army on that date. -

Sailors' Meetings, 'At tho Sailors' Friend Society services pesterday, the hymns, _ lessons, and sermons wore appropriate to the disasters which befell the Empress of Ireland and the Main Trunk train. Mr. J. Mooro, Missioner,, took for. his text nt tho morning service, Corinthians 'I, >;v., 55, and during tho sermon he ' taentioned that tho disasters with which wo wero faced showed that man's power ivas still very limited,.,in spite of tho wonderful advasoes he has made, aiid that tho tendency is for greater losses as ships increase in size. During the .course of his sermon in tho evening, on Psalm 41, l,_the Missioner prayed that all nations would enforce a-rule that all ships should .lay-to where possible in 'fogsj ■ for slow or half-speed, on • some- ' boats riieanf'/the speed that:'spelt-de-struction to tho Empress of Ireland, and/ many another vessel. At the close -of ■ tho sting service the congregation'stoodduring the playing of.the Dead March in" "Saul;" v Last night at tho Seamen's Institute the Missioner (Mr. W. S.'Cocks) made reference to the disaster, and expressed sympathy with the relatives of the crew, passengers, and members of tho Salvation Army_ who perisljed. A special prayer was - ottered, and... tlio.,- hymn, " Wheii:- o.ur; Heads /- are; Bowed with Woe," was sung. It is intended to arrange a special memorial service next Sunday. Tho flag of tho mission was flown at half-njast during tho day.