MOTHERS’ UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 11

MOTHERS’ UNION

TALK ON BAPTISM. Golden chrysanthemums and a variety of dowel's in tones ot pink j decorated St. Peter’s Parish Hall for, the monthly meeting of the Mothers’ Union, yesterday. Rev. F. S. Ramson presided and conducted the opening service in the church. Songs were given by Mrs W. E. McCrca, accompanied by Miss E. Lancaster. Mr Ramson conveyed a vote of thanks to Mrs MoCrea and apologised for the absence of Mrs Ramson. ; The vicar, explaining that lie had been asked to give a series of talks on the Prayer Book, spoke interestingly, on “The Baptism ol .uiiaiits.” The service stalled, he said, with ail exhortation by the clergyman. Ho did not wish his hearers to think that the Church had imposed the condition ol entry into the Kingdom ol Heaven by water and tlie Holy Ghost, because, as was exp.ained in the exhortation, this condition had been imposed by Jesus Christ. When the Kingdom was entered by baptism the enild became a member for ever. 'J lie exhortation was followed by a prayer for security in tlie ark of the Church and then the passage from the Gospels describing the blessing of the children by Christ, the latter being a refutation of the argument that the baptism ol infants was incorrect. A canon of tlie Church stated that no parent should be urged to bo present at a baptism. The speaker considered that this rule was made in order to show the unimportance of man in the sacrament and the importance of God. The ignorance of parent or child was no bar to baptism, but everyone was exhorted to have the simple faith of a little child. Mr Ramson mentioned that tlie Church imposed severe penalties on any clergy-

man who refused to baptise a child. The speaker went on to deal with the promises made on behalf of the child. The promise to renounce sin placed the child on the side of God, to renounce the world meant to renounce the temptations coming from the outside world. The temptations of the-flesh were natural desires wrongly diverted, and the temptations of the devil, he thought, were the temptations of pride. The Creed was a fence to keep out error, not to define the whole doctrine of the Church. The same creed was used in all Christian . churches. Air Ramson went on to explain the short prayers which followed the promises and the blessing of the water. Oniv the Christian names were used in baptism, which was completed with the application of the water. The next praver indicated that the child was received into Christ’s army, and this was followed by thanksgiving and a prayer for the home. The duties of god-parents were a practical side as compared with the sacramental side, and Mr Ramson emphasised the importance of nourishing the spiritual life and the instruction of the child. It was impossible to bring up a child in accordance with the promise to lead a Godly and Christian life unless the home was a Godly and Christian one. Ala.ny parents also neglected to have their children confirmed in accordance with the promise at baptism. Air Ramson concluded by asking his hearers to remember that .this beautiful' sacrament was also a service in which man had a part. A vote of thanks to the speaker was conveyed by Airs C. AV. Bailey. It was announced that the birthday of the branch would be celebrated in June and the annual meeting would be held in July. Afternoon tea was served bv Alesdames T. Taylor, Bennett and AlcCrea.