WHAT’S WRONG WITH FOXTON?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2115, 15 April 1920, Page 4

WHAT’S WRONG WITH FOXTON?

SERMON BY THE REV. THOS. HALLIDAY, At the local 'Presbyterian Church on Sunday night the Rev. Thos, Halliflay took for the title of his sermon, “What’s Wrong r With Foxton?” The theme of the discourse vms citizenship. His text was from ■he.ls xxi., 30: “A Citizen of no mean City.” At the outset the preacher said “we misrepresent' Paul if we say he took no interest in everyday, •life. Proud he was that he belonged to the Chosen Race; prouder still that he was a Roman citizen. If I can create a greater love for New Zealand, a love that will go out of its way to help it, then my object is achieved. Especially if young men and women will rise to the occasion and feel that they have a part to perform to their own town as well as to the Empire. Magnitude does not necessarily imply a great city, neither does smallness in dimensions necessarily make a town mean. Take onr own town, for instance. I stand as a critic, hut I. trust a critic willing to help to improve matters. We have glorious possibilities here —a river connecting us with a great city, a railway bringing ns in touch with the business life of Now Zealand. But 1 frankly say there has been a lack of progress during the last few. years when you compare Foxton with oilier.small (owns in New Zealand. It seems onr motto Just now is '‘What was, what is, and shall forever he.’ ” The preacher referred to the disastrous fires which of late years had swept the main thoroughfare, and to the lack of tirefighting equipment to deal with these outbreaks, which- resulted in considerable loss to business men. He paid a tribute ip the men who had offered their services voluntarily us a lire brigade. These men. should lie encouraged. “What has hindered us from procuring a real fighting appliance? Why, pounds, shillings and pence. Here comes in the spirit of Christianity. Lot the strong help (he weak, so that we shall have firefighting appliances to successfully tight the flames. “Each for all, and all for each’ should he our mol to,” Reference was made to the Borough Band, and a more liberal spirit was urged in this connection. Regarding social evils, (ho minister said: “I shall not talk Prohibition. On this question we were defeated at the poll, and for the time being we must bow to the decision of the majority of the people. But we have Sunday drinking going on in our midst. Sad tales could be related regarding this evil. Meantime wo cannot close licensed hotels, but with God's help we will see that the law is enforced regarding Sunday drinking. Again,

wc have young: men -wasting their lime and their.money at what is (tilled ‘The Two-Up School.’ For God’s sake and the children's sake, let. ns see that this nuisance is put. a stop to. Sometime ago our Chamber of Commerce discussed the question of petty thieving going on in our midst. Now it seems to me that we must co-operate with the police, and the police must co-op-erate with us, to slump out a great many of the social evils in our ■midst.” Passing reference was made to the erection of the Stale school, wherein our children were to receive the training for a lighting chance in life, “What has the town dune for young men and women, and especially for the returned soldier?” said the minister. “The answer is obvious. We iiave a Town Hall, but it is let as a picture house, and all we are earcing about is that it brings in a good revemie. .What we require are up-to-date rooms —smoking room, billiard room, a lounge, which would give young men and women a place to meet in social intercourse. The first requisite is to have brainy men in our Council. Men who are fearless when they believe that they arc doing the best for the people, that they represent. Far better attempt some good for the people and fail in the attempt than be successful in doing nothing. What we want is the spirit of enthusiasm. R. L. Stevenson said ‘For God’s sake give me the young man who has brains enough to make a fool of himself.’ What did he mean? He meant young men who were not cribbed, cabined and confined, but wore willing to launch out into the deep. The words of Fowl Buxton are true: ‘The groat difference between men the feeble and the strong is invincible determination, a purpose once fixed and then death or victory.’ Catch the spirit that won through during war times, which faced fearful odds and turned seeming defeat into glorious victory. What about the question of Religion?” continued the minister. “We don’t take our

j religious life seriously. Don’t say to me that Christianity is played out. The power of example has won through... We want to introduce the Spirit of Comradeship into our church life. Too often it can be said ‘Behold how these Christians hate one another.’ _ You remember how it was said of the persecuted Apostles* ‘They went to their own company.’ Like draws to like —as _ihc magnet draws the needle to itself, so we are driven by stress and strain to our own company. A famous actor was .asked on one oc- [ easion why it was that the theatres were crowded and the churches empty, and ho made the apt reply: ‘Because we put our whole soul into the play—you preach as if there was no reality behind it. Your preaching is lifeless.’ If we fail to attract the multitude the fault is ours, not Christ’s. He is still the only One Win.) can satisfy the longing soul He is love personified. Emerson said: ‘Society can never prosper,

but must always be bankrupt, until every man does that which he was created to do.’ Love would put a new face on this weary old world in which we dwell as pagans and enemies too long. The virtue of the principle in human society in application to* great interests is obsolete and forgotten. But: one day ail men will be lovers and every calamity will he dissolved in universal .sunshine.

“Where art thou, Lord? With anxi- ■ ous eyes We pierce the vaulted night; IVo rid after world we see, But Thou are veiled from mortal sight. ' Where art Thou, Lord? We wait i Thy word. Speak, and Thy presence prove. Yea, now we feel that Thou art near, ■ Wo know Thee when we love. “By all means give time to harmless amusement and healthy recreation. Give time to home life. Reading and self education. But don’t he a shirker. Don’t be hid among the stuff. Get up and at it. Especially give time to God, prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, and attending God’s house. Thai waS a splendid motto of a successful slipper manufacturer: ‘God lirst, homo second, slippers third.’ Let me put my coneluding thought in a kind of vision, a vision of two or three years hence: Foxron spoken of as one of the mast thriving and up-to-date towns for its size in all .New Zealand. A band of brainy men willing to sacrnice a little time for the good of their town. I see in that vision that Foxton possesses a Borough Band, encouraged by. sympathy and financial help, taking highest honours at the competitions held throughout New Zealand. A Town Hall with adjacent rooms splendidly equipped and furnished, so that young men and women can have real enjoyment. Swimming baths that will attract old and young, and also beautiful laid-ont roads leading to the Beach, where many happy hours can bo spent, especially in summertime. Further, in the vision arc up-to-date unlicensed commercial hotels, well equipped and furnished, where the travelling public can lind rest and comfort—homes away from home. But last of all, a .town where there is harmony, where every one is trying to follow out the tenets of our groat Master, who .taught us lo treat others a.s we ourselves wish to be treated. 1 close in the words of the ancient poet:—

“Aline eyes harve seen the glory of the'coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed (lie fatal lightning of His terrible swift sword. His Truth is inarching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was horn across the sea. With a glory m His bosom that transligures you and me, A.s He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free, Whilst God is munching on.”