ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1061, 26 October 1911, Page 3

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH.

The Lord Bishop of Wellington held a confirmation in All Saints’ Church yesterday afternoon, when thirty-three Maoris were presented to the Bishop by the Rev Temuri. The Bishop was attended by bis Chaplain, Rev A. O. Wiliiams, and the vicar of the parish. The Bishop preached on the text, “My Grace is Sufficient for Thee.” He explained that strength and power was given in Confirmation —that power St. Paul had all through his wonderful life —it was the power of Christ Jesus in every heart. He illustrated his meaning from the life of David Livingstone, and showed how it was the power of Christ that took him out to Central Alrica. The Bishop then explained to the Maoris the meaning or Confirmation, and the reason for their presence there that afternoon. The Rev A. O. Williams interpreted the Bishop’s address into Maori. The singing of the Maori hymns was a great feature of the service. Unaccompanied by the organ, the harmony was perlect, and the rich musical voices did justice to a language so full of poetry.

The Bishop took a special service in the evening. The Mission hymns were used, and were sung with zeal. The Bishop was again attended by the Rev A. O. Williams and the vicar. The Bishop gave two addresses, which will be long remembered by those who heard them. He preached from the 51st Fsalm, 4th verse, ' ‘ Against Thee only have I sinned.” He dealt with sin from heridity and environment, and showed that no one could blame either for a mis-spenl life. Sin was the outcome of free will, and it was against a loving Creator —the holy Majesty of God. The Bishop explained that what was wanted to-day was a sense of sin. Man was losing that. He illustrated how that David had committed his great sin of flagrant guilt, and had broken the sixth and seventh Commandments, but the desire of David was to get back to God. “Against Thee only have I sinned.” He had not only violated the moral law, but he had severed his will from the Divine Will, and thus by his own wilfuluess had deliberately opposed God. The Bishop said this spirit ot David should be our example to look at sin, not so much as a sin against society or self but something that hit the very heart ot God, and would bring to the lips of the penitent the cry, “Against Thee only have I sinned.”

The Bishop then explained that with a consciousness of sin, and sorrow for it, came forgiveness and absolution. Nathan the Prophet had boldly rebuked King David with the stern words, “ Thou art the man,” and David asked him to piay to God for him, and showed real and heartielt sorrow, ."lhave sinned against the Herd.” Then came the words of pardon, "The Lord hath put away thy sin.” It was the same with the prodigal sou ; it was the consciousness ol sin. “ Father, I have sinned against Thee. The Bishop made a great appeal for the sense of sin. This cry of 11 I have sinned ” —because with that came the putting away of the sin—with true confession came absolution, shewn over and over again in the Gospel by our Lord Jesus Christ. Only let there be a sense ol sin, not blaming others tor our own misdoings, but owning up in a manly way, that it is I, even 1 that have sinned, and sinned not only against my body or against society, but against the glory and purity and love of God.