PULPIT MESSAGES.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 61, 14 March 1902, Page 4

PULPIT MESSAGES.

Theie was a mild sensation in the City Temple, London, on the first Sunday in the New Year, when Dr Parker interrupted a rather common place sermon in order to announce the messages which he desired to send to "important persons all over the world." "It is right," he said, "that our first New Year's card should be for the King. God save the King!" .Whereupon, throwing convention to the winds, the congregation broke forth into lusty applause, presently, hushed in a. general rising, when it was realised that a woman's sweet voice in the choir was rendering the National Anthem. when again the congregation was silent and seated, the preacher resumed: "In this supremely eventful year of your life, we give you most loyal greetings and salutations. You are not a King of one church, of one sect of politicians, of one knot of wire-pullers, of one selfish squad of place-hunters. You are the King of the whole people." And again the hearers, deeply moved, applauded without restraint. "Honour the people, for they honour you ; love the whole Empire •" and so ran on the message which concluded with a second stentorian "God save the King." Then followed a solemn message to President Roosevelt, " the King-President," Dr • Parker called him. "We remember," said the preacher, "the tragic fate of the two men who went before vou, whose memory we honour, whose example we would imitate ; may God keep you safe from the assassin's hand, and instruct you daily in all wise policy and beneficient statesmanship." Next came messages to Canada and Australia, to the Lord Mayor of London, and to the Dean of St. Paul's—- " All neighbourly wishes and all seasonable greetings." Finally, Dr Parker delivered a very earnest message "to the press." An honourable press, he said, was the greatest blessing a country could enjoy. Everybody read the newspapers, and nearly everybody believed them, But he was thinking mainly of the leading articles. They educated the sentiments of the people, they inspired the patriotism of the people; they were the sworn enemies of all malversation and all concealed wrongdoing. Newspapers were more than mere paying properties ; they were solemu and growing responsibilities. They were mightier than the military ; they were übiquitous and penetrating as the air. The pulpit appealed to the press to help with its almost omnipotent force to bless and save the world. Laughter and applause Ave re frequent during the sermon, which seems to have been quite the most striking *pf the New Year pulpit discourses in the Mother Country.