A Scrite Among the Local Churches.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 40, 13 August 1894, Page 2

A Scrite Among the Local Churches.

(By "DIOGENES.") No. 1: The Pbesbyteruk. For the benefit of those who have not fossicked about the Coolgardie of ancient history, I may just state that Diogenes wag an old gent who occupied the ground floor of a one-storied soft-water tub, which he had rolled outside the city gate of Athens. It cost him nothing for spring-cleaning and white- washing "aha Kir annaitl plumber's bill amounted to about the same figure. His daily requirements were quite on a par with his sleeping accommodation iw"m^ch ai s<j*'in* : fact, that when asked hy the 'invincible Emperor Alexander what he (Aleck) "could do for him," Diogenes curtly replied " Gerrout o' the o* my ; front entrance, :^o'sjlicAn ; «laW hold of a bit more sunshine," or- word* to that effect. Kings are proverbially born fools, so it is quite possible Diogenes' wanted a few more sunbeams to' enable him to see what amount of common sense there was embodied in his distinguished visitor's conversation. This merely en passant. \ I had i- intended initiating this series of> papers by a visit to St. John's </hurcb, but as its Incunibent was officiating at Colyton, I decided to make the- Presbyterian Church and the Rev. H. M. 7 Murray the subject of my first article. - i THE PRESBYTERIAN PLACE OF WORSHIP. As is frequently the case with New Zealand church properties, the architect has wasted a big slice of bis seating space by throwing it away in the construction .of ah unnecessary and disproportionately; ; high ' r^cfof.t: (Thfy fact is demonstrated by the, unsightly supports which .it has found requisite to fix on the east and west' sides of the Church to prevent the superincumbent roof from sitting on the congregation. A PLKASING CONTRASX;TO JOiL THIS Is afforded the visitor when he enters the building, for he -sees evidence of \ neatness, comfort, and taste <Qn *very hand. An upward glance shows him that the cumbrous woodwork Werheod had to be violently from flopping down on to the devo|et( headsof the pastor and the woi^ppersw ,0n the whole, the interior of Mr-Murray's .sanctuary may be regarded aS one of the best-lighted, best-ventilafedj and most comfortable I have yet-seen in the town. • ' &'* "•'-• > ■ ■•■' : -(■■■■ '■■■'■^'■z ■>' *■■•</:?" A DISAPPOINTMENT AWAITW) : Mf, ;, , for although advertised to preach in the morning, the Rev. H.Ml Murray did hot officiate, albeit, be wtu present at the service, A much ypuiiger preacher, in the person of the Rev; D. R. Andrew, of A wahuri^.V reigned in his stead," pro te»t.<x With a pronounced Scotch accent, Mr Andrew may be eaid to possess a fairly: good and dear delivery, which the excellent acoustic properties of the churctt permitted of being heard to the follest advantage. By wwary r ot compensation fcr,; Iklr Mur^ ray's absence from tbe pulpit, f found that the three tunes selected for tbV mormng.hymns were old favourites of mine— l, that usually sung- to "The church's one foundation" (the' name of which escapes me just at this moment), 2, Hollingside, " Jesu, Lover of -My Soul/ and, 3, " Lead Kwjcljy, I tOAJ t THE SERMON. ~"'' : V ''\ '-.' Xi ' ■ The Rev. Mr Andrew chose for his text the sixth verse of St. Matthew's sixth chapter— " But tbou when thou prayest enter into thy closet; and when thou has entered shut thy door and pray to the : Father which is in secret ; and thy Father who teeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 1 'We were endebted to Matthew, said the speaker prefatorily, for the fullest and moat complete account'! of our Saviour's, alas, too brief life and history. It was seen by God that nan^ in this depraved state, was utterly incapable of bettering himself or bis»hful>condition without the asautanoenof a' higher and holier power than his own.: God had therefore provided such * power in the person of His sod Jesus Christ. The necessity for eomething or someone to 'look uptofor guidance' and wisdom i was • inherent' in mon~* even among heathern aboriginals.. This was instanced in the cases of. poor, ignorant, and benigntedf Citij^ese, Central Africans, and other primitive races. Our Saviour had' taught ! us that we had something far better to worship than blocks of wood pr stone — viz., God, the Father." To Him we could always go in prayer for aJk we needed ; both in public worship on<] io the secresy of our closets or chambers. Christ expressly rounseUed fiV followers to pray to the Father^ andto pray in secret ; for He had not. on^ly prdinV ised to hear secret prayf^ but; to vouchsafe open answers' to Ihemrr-pro-vided< the supplications were backed up. by Faith. That courageous warrior, Havelock, implicitly believed in the efficacy of prayer; as was evidenced by the state of spiritual; and religious,' as well as military, discipline in which he had trained bis victorous . troops. The General's men were ironically called " Havelock's Saints," but he and they could ignore all that kind of sarcasm and yet give a good kecpuntiof themselves when need arose. ''"ifiCn old Latin motto ran : "Experience teaches all things " ; and experience of prayer testified that it " brought -all things '» good and beneficial to those who asked in Faith. Many lives had been ship* f wrecked owing to the want of the re* straining and guiding influence of prayer in early youth. Bat, on the other hand, there were many bright examples of good and holy, men who had, by prayer and Faith, been able to leave their footprints on the sands of time. In conclusion the rev. speaker exhorted his numerous bearers to pray at all times, not only publicly but in secret. I am quite satisfied, whatever the Rev. Mr Murray's standard as a preacher may be, that his substitute yesterday morning is an earnest and honest expounder of his Master's doctrines and teachings. .' ;