CHURCH NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 29 July 1901, Page 4

CHURCH NOTES.

(By Amicus.)

The Presbyterian Church was crowded last evening, when a thanking service was held for the returned troopers. The • troopers were not present in a largo number, but the service was in every way suitable foe the congregation. The Rev. R. Stewart pr. aeh-jcl a very instructive sermon which for definite thought and well-defined expressiveness was an intellectual treat. The preacher in dealing with the subject of war showed a most liberal acquaintance with the literature of this much discussed topic. One has to bo extremely careful in those days when militarism is likely to be a most engrossing subject and when according to a general standard-of judgment the least divergence from approval of war is likely to mark a man as impatriotic. It is in fact the conception of some that patriotism consists of a tolerance of war whether justifiable or otherwise. Mr Stewart in his convictions of the present war may b • regarded as a safe judgment that is worthy of imitation of Christian people without fear of sacrifice of principles or the surrender of scriptural teaching. “ Fight the good fight of faith ” was the text for the sermon. “This text,” said the preacher, “ has a military ring about it, and we suppose our service this evening must also have a military ring in it. The New Testament as well as the Old has much military language. We wonder at times why the epistles have so much imagery of the battlefield. St Paul was made to go through great stress and meet with the hostility of men. He was constantly in touch with men acquainted with camps and battlefields so his writings take a military form. We are met here to thank God for the return of our Hoopers and show our gratitude. The/ have been welcomed again and again, not always perhaps in the best mode nor were the welcomes most wisely arranged. The people had been requested not to give intoxicating drink to our soldiers, but the appeal had often been disregarded. To read the long lists of toasts in some journals suggested the presence of ranch drink. At these functions a man should be able to go home with a certain amount of steadiness, and he was glad to know that not one instance had been given him of any trooper in our midst having been the worse for drink. It was a credit to them and it showed much courage and self-control. They had sustained the most splendid traditions 6f the Empire. Although our welcome was not in the manner of some, it was none the less sincere. In discussing the text our first question is Is war admissible P We deplore the necessity of war. Man is a creature of peace, and strife is foreign to his higher nature. The British have not developed a spirit of war, and we were startled at a likely war with France because of our unpreparedness. It was the same with South Africa. Wo are adverse to war and do not desire it, but hare been forced to it. We trusted too much to other nations, and thought they followed our example and regarded them the same as ourselves. We are averse to a commercial war. Our Conciliation and Arbitration Act showed this. It was to avoid strikes and was a step in the right direction. A celebrated Judge had reported favourably in Australia in regard to the law. What we want is to have this spirit extended to Internationa affairs. An attempt had been made for arbitration between Great Britain and America, but failed at the crucial moment, Though we wished to avert war, we must be prepared or other nations less civilised would step in and cut us up. , The China war has shown us how Russia has been prevented from seizing the 'country by the intervention of England and America. The question was not yet settled diplomatically, but Russia’s hold on Manchuria showed her policy and it is not her principle to withdraw from territory she wishes to acquire. We all ' know the settled intent of the Boer war. The Boer simply intended to drive ns into the sea. They had been working for that end for twenty years. If we did . not know this it was because our information was defective. The Boers have some excellent qualities, but literature shows us their settled intent. What other reasons had they in making pro- ■ parations ? Thoir military equipment and munitions of war and small arms indicate their purpose. They were, perhaps, acting according to their light, bul it was not the best kind of light to have. They did not intend their country to be open to the world, their manner of legislation was to be for their own ends. Some nations passed laws that needed our protest. The shipping laws of America are injurious to us, and we should protest. We may occasionally suffer, but should seek to lead the world. It is deplorable to go to war, but we could not have advanced without it. In man there is much animalism that cannot be restrained. This war was forced on us. We tried to avert it; made every concession and arrangement to avoid it, and after all were compelled to take up arms against those who attacked our possessions. Wo have prayed for the war to cease and are still praying for it to he .f ; ended, but this is a time of coming together. The troopers fought a good fight and we welcome them What should be the object of war ? It should bo to secure virtue, righteousness, liberty, lore and peace. There were some sordid minds that said tho Boer war was a capitalistic war. This is not true, Cecil Rhodes may have been out of place in talking of dividends and speculations when our men were falling Thank God all men were not like him. We fought for higher ends—to promote brotherly, love, and for the moral and spiritual enterprise of all mankind. If our nation leads well God will prosper us. He has a great work for us to do, but our position will be lost if we talk of dividends and speculations, in place of liberty and like the soldier-spirit of our text. The man who devotes'himself to God will find many opportunities for heroism and the heart will be made tender and good. Lord Roberts, though a soldier, was perhaps our best

living example of a humane and tender nature. Though chief of armies he is a \ model man. (3) Warfare must bo defensive. The soldier on guard must protect himself. It is so with the Christian. All anger, evil dispositions and wrong must be guarded ngamst. Ho must, also I- iok out for- the enemy. Like the strategy of Boor the evil one trys to deceive us. The enemy of the Christian is cratfy and it is the duty of the soldier and attack him. To find out where he is en--11 duelled, and seek to overcome him. We must attack ignorance, indifference and must be decided against the spirit of worldliness. (4) The character of this warfare is faith as opposed to doubtful trust, ft is also a good fight, and has the authority of God who gives security for services. Wo are looking for a final t iu riph through the power of love. ■ V bile we welcome back our returned men w ■ pr y that God may speedily develop us into a peace loving people, filled with hight, >•■ r. We shall then be highly exaulted i i h for Him, “the go id fight of it '*• At ttio close of the service the viioi s-ing an anthem and the hymn rnyar f ir peace was impressively sung. a Mr .VI-.iss played very beautifully on the organ “ Angels ever Bright and Fair.”