ANNIVERSARY SERVICES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7, 13 May 1913, Page 5

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Anniversary services in connection with the local Presbyterian Church were celebrated on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, Rev. Mr Roseveare occupied the pulpit at both services, while yesterday’s proceedings took the form of a tea in the Hall and a social following in the Church. The Church last night was comfortably filled, and no doubt the attendance would havy been larger but for another function in one of the other churches. During the evening the Chairman, Rev. Mr Pattison, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Rev. Mr Butler, the other members of the local clergy responding to his invitation to be present.

CHANGES. The Rev. Mr Reader (Methodist) who was the first speaker, said tin , was the second occasion upon wlnca he had the pleasure of being at their anniversary. lie was pleased to know tnat the past year nad been, a successful one, and tnat progress iiao oeen made, and tnat tney were not wasting their energies needlessly. He was glad that there war. every prospect tor good in the future. He had oeen told that there had been pathos in their Church matters, but the clouds were rolling by, as they had a way of doing in Taranaki. The experience would give them fresh ideas to tackle the difficulties which lay ahead. There were always changes of which they were somewhat afraid. Well, the world was constantly changing, and even the Church was not the same as it used to be—it could not be the same. He liked to think of God as a God who liked variety; he never even sent two days alike. He compared the old “Victory” of Nelson’s day with the super-Dreadnoughts of to-day. Where would the Victory he if it were subjected to the fire of the modern fighter? And so with the Church. There had been progress in every walk of life, and in the religious life they had to anticipate that progress and be prepared for it. What was passing away? The Christianity of yesterday was not the Christianity of to-day, but they were reaching the deeper interpretation and latent power. of the Gospel. God in the creation of the universe, the speaker continued, did not leave his hands tied, and it was for them to put themselves into the hands of God and let Him direct them in His ways. He was glad their minister had not lost faith in the evangelism of Jesus Christ, and although, life was continually changing, the heart still needed the good and grace of God. jPhrist and His Cross- had lost none of their magnetism, and the hope of the speaker was that ft would yet draw men of all tongues together—that the harrier of east and west would disappear and that they would recognise that God made them for a common destiny. And only the Church of Jesus Christ could accomplish this glorious end. Mr'Reader concluded his address by wishing the Church every success in the forthcoming year.

THE HOPE OF ONE CHURCH. Tho Rev. Mr Bandy/ who was introduced by the chairman as being in ore than half Presbyterian, as his better half belonged to that Church, was in humorous vein in referring to the fact.' Coming to the more serious aspect of the Church, the Presbyterians had by choir principles—stability and reliability, etc—left their mark on the character of the nation in the colonising spirit manifested in Canada. Australia, and New Zealand, and ’ i e hoped that they would prosper in "his special work. Referring to the •c narks made previously that evening ■egardirg the hope of one church, 'c was not altogether sure about tlutt. H> claimed that what would suit one nan would not suit another, and by having tKeir various Churches, they wwe able to reach everyone with Christian by. Tho Methodists had a peculiar claim on the English, while ha Presbyterians appealed to tho

'l"ntch. He was pleased to see that they were starting their new year with r mission ; no Church could start better. and it was a splendid way for gathering stray hopes. Ho wished them every success. f “A GRAND IDEAL.” Tho Rev. Mr Rosevoare, of New Plymouth, was the next speaker, and ie expressed his pleasure at seeing so many at both the anniversary services of Sunday, despite tho weather conditions. it showed that they had staunch friends of the Church in Stratford, and he hoped he would have the pleasure of again meeting them at no very distant date. Ho was pleased with tho progress made during tho year. Ho was in tho happy position of being able to say regarding Mr Pattison, “I told you so,” and that tho* s congregation now believed all the good things which had been said of their new minister, and he hoped that they would appreciate still further his services in the Church. Continuing, tho speaker said that tho progress which manifested itself that night would continue if they stuck together ind stuck to their minister. He was glad to see that they had gone in for the now manse. Speaking as Moderator, lie was frightened that at mo time they were not going to take tho advice of the Presbytery regardin'l; the now manse, and the prospect < f the new minister having to take no his quarters in tho old manse would not anneal - 10 him very bright. Of course the question of finance cropped

up, lint in !iis mind what was got without difficulty was not worth having, and lie supposed he was right in tint as they would grow in strength, so would the income. He urged upon the Board of Managers to seo to the financial arrangements, and not worry their minister; surely

no had worries enough of another kind. In dealing with the new year upon which they were about to enter, special interest was being directed to .lie welfare of the children. No doubt it was the bad weatner vvjiich militated against the attendance of tne children, but he would have liked to have .eeii a bigger attendance on Sunday, .n this regard he would like to sea ho old pew system renewed, where :he child was brought in with its par>nts and worshipped. It was a grand .deal. He took it as cne cf the bad signs of the times, and it was a fact, ;he children were not attending church lecause it was too much trouble to Iress them for Church. Anithor department which claimed the ittention some years ago was the Evangelistic services. What, lie askid, was the Church for but to bring non, women and children to Christ A Church to bo a

me Church must he an evangelistic Jhurc'.i. If one knew a cure for, say, ■ancer, and withheld that knowledge, .-.hen such a course would bo a criminal caurse of action.. So then with the Church. If they w.thheld the •knowledge of Christianity from the nassos and neglected to send forth p.isisonaries to foreign lands, then their action must he classed as crirpiml. It was in accordance with this chat their very being existed. THE THREE STAGES.

The Rev. Mr Pattison, the last peaker of the evening, referred to

me short time ho had been with them. It had been said that there were three itages a minister had to go through, viz., lionised, scandalised, and ostracised. He trusted he would never reach the second, and sincerely hoped ,t would never come to the third. He was pleased to think that the relations so far between them had been very cordial, and lie hoped it would coninuc. They would live out the feelings which had existed in the past. In passing, he wished to say that for a country manse, the one that he occupied at the present time could not be letter. The remarks made in connection with the increase of die congregation he took as an honour. He referred briefly to tho mission which is to be conducted in connection with the Church. Referring to the attendance at the services, he would say to them that he thought a good deal of the absent members, and he would like them to think that he had a message for them. He regretted, as they all did, the redux in the case of some of their oldest and staunchest friends, but new ones were coming to take their place. In locking over the past year and into the future, they should take heatt and go forward. 'The speaker concluded by thanking the visiting clergymen for their attendance, and all those who had worked to make their anniversary social such a suc-

During the evening a short, musical orogriimme was gone through. The choir rendered two anthems (“The Banner of the Cross” and “0, for a Thousand Tongues”), while songs ivefre \ riven b.v. Miss Holford (“The Promise of Life,” and “The Gift”), Mr Doug-, las (“A Dream of Paradise”), and Rpv. Mr Eoseveare (“Unknown”). Miss Evans played a pianoforte solo, and Miss Mori son a violin solo. The accompanists were Mrs McNeely, Miss Hclfocd,- and Miss Morrison.