ST DAVID’S DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1922, Page 4

ST DAVID’S DAY.

WELSH' SERVICE CELEBRATION. j

The fourth annual Welsh service in connection with St David!s Day (March 1) was held at the Christchurch Cathedral on Sunday, afternoon. There was a , large congregation, and the service, which was conducted partly, in Welsh and partly in English, was very impres- 1 sive. The lessons were read, in Welsh , by Mr A. D. Jenkins, and Mr ( A. D. James and the. sermon was preached i by the Rev. P. G. Hughes, of Timaru. The preacher, took for his next Psalm 27.-13, “I . had fainted unless I had believed to see. the goodness of the Lord in. the land of tho living.” 1 In the course of his sermon Mr I Hughes said that faith entered into our everyday life. The farmer sowed his seed believing that it would bear fruit. •Tlie farmer had faith in the uniformity of Nature, hut he could not prove it. It was really an act of faith on the part .of the scientist when ho assumed that •God's universe was rational. The whole magnificent structure of scientific knowledge was really based on faith. AH our endeavours were based on faith that good would-be realised by them and we would not labour, toil and suffer if we were convinced that no good would come of our efforts. The record of thBritish Empire during the terrible •years of war proved that underlying om national life was faith in ultimate goodness. During the last few years the small. Welsh race lmd made a wonderful contribution to the welfare of the world. The three outstanding figi/es in the world; of affairs to-day were ■Welshmen and' the greatest of the three of them during the years of war had , e fused to believe .that wrong could con quer. hut believed that right must p 'O- - V ail-; ami because of that faith he was able to lead! the British Empire to victory. If the Welsh race was diminished 1 from other races in any way it was in its faith in the unseen, in its thirst lor God. He considered that this religious spirit was tho basis of the greatness of the Welshmen prominent in' th e world to-day. A the conclusion of the sermon Madame Gower-Burns sang “Hear Ye. 0 Israel.” The singing of the hymns was led by a choir consisting of members of the Cam lira in Society and other Welsh ! residents of Christchurch. During the , singing of tlie last hymn at collection was taken up in aid of the Welsh Bene- • volent Fund.