METHODIST ANNIVERSARY.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 83, 23 May 1918, Page 2

METHODIST ANNIVERSARY.

Tlio anniversary in connection with the M&tKmata church was held on Sunduy, when there were large attend- , ances at each service. The Eev. J. Dawson preached in the morning and presented some very opportune and helpful thoughts from the 115th Psalm, a national psalm which was read regularly at the Passover season amongst the Jews. With a dignity, its very own, the opening words aro : —" Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake. The 12th and 13th verses, however, furnished tho basis of the speaker's most weighty remarks. Firstly, then, the glorious fact so true to every godly Jew Jehovah had been mindful of him of her individually, and of the nation ; for " the Lord's portion is His people." All their past history heralded forth this great fact. Despite their waywardness and obedience Jehovah, though in mercy Ho chastened them, never gave them up, and never will. "Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands ; Thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49, 15 and 16. To us too, born beneath tho British flag, thero is a vary personal meaning in these striking words. " Tho, Lord hath been mindful of us." In building up tho nation to its present strength and might Grod has been mindful of us. Go back in thought to the summer of 1815. Wellington on the eve of Waterloo is reported to have prayed for night or Blucher. Britain's prestige and all that she stood for hung in tho balance, but the Lord was mindful and Waterloo was won. In tho matter of our statesmen too, God has been mindful of us, as a nation W. E. Gladstone was as surely raised up of God to accomplish His purpose, as was Elijah. In our king, too, God has been very clearly mindful of us. On the throne witness the various practical ways in which he shows to his subjects that he believes and fears God. Cowper's grand hymn, " God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform," finds illustration in this particular in the case of King Edward, who earned the title of " Edward the Peacemak 7 er." Good Queen Victoria's exceptionally long reign was evidently so ordered that when her son succeeded her on the throne he was able to fill this place of responsibility very differently to what ho would have had he come to the throne as a young man. But the future is as sure as the experience of the past, He will bless us, and who will he bless ? " He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great." The blessing is free to all, however humble, however guilty, but not unconditional, for the fear of the Lord is to hate evil and to depart from evil. To the true penitent sorrowing for sin, how encouraging then, the words " I have blotted out Thy transgression as a thick cloud; and as a cloud Thy sins. Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. The plan «f God the Eternal, the Unchanging, takes in the glorious but solemn fact that " God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. . . . We pray in Christ's stead, Be ye reconciled to God. Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." Let us, then, get into line with tho Divine that His blessing may flow to all ranks and conditions of men. Never, was the need greater for God to have His rightful place in the hearts and lives of men than today, and that all men should honor the Son even as they honour the Father." TEA AND CONCERT. On Tuesday evening the Anniversary tea and concert was held in the public hall. The night was wet and many were prevented from attending, but nevertheless there was a good attendance and the proceedings were most enjoyable and enthusiastic. Mr W. Richards presided, and the chairman was in tho position of being able to submit an excellent musical and vocal programme. Bright addresses deli\ R. W. Jackson and Mr W. Richards. Most of the concert litems weio encored. The concert open, ed with the National Anthem, after which items were rendered by the following:—Misses North, instrumental duet; Miss Fagan, song and pianoforte solos; Miss I. Clothier songs (4) ; Miss Attwood, songs ; Mr Srnales, humorous items; Mr Bunn, recitations; Mr Allen, recitations; Messrs Allen and Bunn, dialogue. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was passed to all who had contributed to the undouhted success of the function. The attendance was thoroughly representative of all churches, which fact should bo gratifying to the members of tho Methodist church.