Church Work and Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 491, 22 October 1928, Page 14

Church Work and Life

MESSAGES FROM THE PULPITS

SPIRIT OF NELSON 123RD ANNIVERSARY OF TRAFALGAR SPECIAL SERVICES HELD Marking the 123rd anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, special services were held yesterday in St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, and St. Matthew’s Church. On each occasion the preacher was the Rev. H. K. Vickery. The morning service, held at St. Matthew’s, was attended by officers and men of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and representatives of the Navy League, the Veteran’s Association, the Victoria League, the Harbour Lights Guild, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and the Missions to Seamen committee. “Just as Nelson inspired the seamen round him on the fateful day of Trafalgar,” Mr. Vickery said, “the spirit of the man has tired the imagination of Britons down through the years. The achievements of Nelson form one of the greatest naval dramas in history, and have done much to inspire Britons with that sea sense which has been their mainstay, and has spelt the safety of the Motherland and the Dominions. The great drama, which after filling the immense stage of Europe for so long, found its closing scene in Trafalgar, has revealed one of the most inspiring figures in history. The King said recently: ‘Trafalgar was the greatest naval victory, Nelson the greatest admiral, and the Victory the greatest ship in history.’ ** Mr. Vickery said that the merchant sailors’ part during the Great War had been as great as that in Empirebuilding. The victory in the war could not have been possible had not the present generation revealed the same courage and determination as the mariners of old. Nearly 20,000 merchant seamen, to say nothing about the 11,000 who died while serving under the White Ensign, gave their lives in successfully keeping the tables of Britain supplied with food. , NAVAL VETERANS MEET ONE SERVED IN VICTORY At a reunion lunch, held annually to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, 24 old sailors on Saturday celebrated the victory. The reunion was held under the auspices of the Royal Naval and Royal Marines’ Veteran Association. Among the visitors were representatives of H.M.S. Philomel and of the recently formed White Ensign Club. The chairman, Mr. W. B. Leyland, in welcoming the guests, referred to the diminishing membership of the association, as shown by the attendance as the annual reunions. Only five of the 1907 membership remained. Mr. W. H. Glibbery, secretary of the association, proposed the health of the Navy, and recalled his experiences of 1888, when he served in the Victory. He was the only member of the gathering who had been present at the surrender of the German fleet in 1918. The health of the Army and kindred forces was drunk, Captain Wheeler proposing and Captain Stichbury responding. PIVOTAL TRUTHS GOSPEL, MODERNISM AND SCIENCE ADDRESS AT ST. HELIERS “Pivotal truths of the Gospel,” formed the theme of the address delivered in St. Helier’s Presbyterian Church yesterday by Mr. Reuben Dowle. His text was Ephesians i., 7, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” The stultifying of the Gospel was very noticeable in the present age, observed the speaker. Various strange sophistries, chiefly of Eastern origin are, to use the words of St. Paul, “handling the word of God deceitfully.” Such a method is illogical and quite reprehensible; and may be used to prove almost any abominable nostrum. It is no use for people to be continually talking about “up-to-dateness” and modernism. These terms do not apply in the least to the Revelation given by an all-wise Creator. Important pivotal truths, principles, and doctrines have obtained, do so now, and will till the end of the chapter. Just as in the physical world tlxed laws must be strictly obeyed, or disaster follows, so all believers in the everlasting Gospel must be faithful to the revealed word of God. This established position must be earnestly contended for as it is the faith, “once for all delivered to the Saints.” There is a fixation beyond man’s making, but emanating from the “Eternal Creative Mind.” True science and philosophy recognise this. We cannot possibly attain anything but defeat, if we attempt to tamper with the “Eternal Verities.” Now the Ephesians had grieved Paul very much by allowing themselves to /be “tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Paul’s experience, unfortunately, is not uncommon in the present day. People who should know better are being led away by the craze for modernism, i Hazy systems, both ancient and mythical, are being intermixed with the Gospel and sophistical teachings are being accepted as “scientific.” The indifferent are easily enmeshed by such views, while the eternal principles of Divine righteousness are being cast on one side as “out-of-date.” This is a present day delusion, the pivotal truths of the Gospel were, are now, and ever will be the same. The sins of omission should be pointed out, also. Many talk nicely about “the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ, forgetting that his life of love, purity and self-sacrifice was really, preparing the way for his “mightier works.” He continually looked towards Jerusalem, with its Gethsemane and its Calvary. St. Paul realised this when he said, “God forbid that I should glory, eave in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” True, Christ set us an example that we might follow in his steps, but his statement that he was “Sent from God,” prepared the way for the most glorious pivotal truth, uttered in our text, “In whom we have redemption through His blood. .. .” Redemption, forgiveness, justification and salvation jfcs a s‘ e » each pivotal truths that cannot be Hb obscured. The “forgiveness of sine” through Christ’s atonement is the most important pivotal truth of aIL ■

CITIZENS IN MAKING BIBLE-TRAINING URGED AS NEED STATE AND EDUCATION “What would Jesus do on November 14?” asked the Rev. A. S. Wilson, speaking at the Grange Road Baptist Church last evening. The preacher devoted his address to the Bible-in-schoois question. The Bible, said he, was one of the best means for building- up the Dominion. It was a human book—a citizens’ book —a book wholly without any sectarian bias; greater than all creeds or theologies. After referring to its history and biographies, its laws songs, prophecies, and proverbs, he remarked that surely a nation can undertake the education of its citizen children and refuse the offer of the finest aid they can ever obtain for their work. It was good to have the Nelson system, but to introduce clerics and their representatives was not the same effective religious influence in the school as that obtained through the ordinary curriculum and by the ordinary teacher. To exclude the teacher from religious instruction was to take from him a fine instrument in moulding character, one which would stimulate his finest qualities. The main opponents of the Bible in schools are the Roman Catholics, continued Mr. Wilson, the claim of the Romish Church was this: That State funds shall sustain “Catholic education by competent Catholic teachers for every Catholic child.” Further, the Roman Catholic said: “What we want is no more than justice. We ought to have our share of the public funds devoted to education. We do the work, why cannot we be paid for it?” Further, he says, “We have to contribute to the support of the State schools and maintain our own at the same time.” The reply of those favouring the Bible-in-scohols is that the State has already provided for schools. The policy of separation pursued by the Roman Catholic schools is destructive of the unity of New Zealand community life. Our children should grow up together in our schools. We should do all we can to lessen prejudices and antipathies and make the child life of this country throb with common sympathies. Barriers of religion were not good at the beginnings of a common citizenship. It is not the function of the State to teach particular creeds and doctrines, continued Mr. Wilson. It is outside the province of the State to teach Mormonism, Methodism, or Baptismal doctrines, Brethrenism, Roman Catholicism, or Anglicanism. The churches must do their own work out of their own resources. No -parent has any right to ask the State to teach his child his own private sectarian belief. It must be done at his own cost. So the State schools were open to the Roman Catholic, but if he prefers to send them to a particular school, well he should not grumble at the education tax. A parent may prefer to make no use of the State school and to use a private college school, but he pays for his preference. If they, as a people, nrovided good schools and then paid again for schools for any particular religion, where were they going to stop? Private schools of all brands would claim. In fact, fathers and mothers could put in a claim. “Splendid schools are provided, and they had only one lack —the Bible,” concluded Mr. Wilson. If people’s consciences prevented them from accepting this advantage then they must not ask any of them to pay for their peculiar beliefs, but as other people had done for centuries, pay for their religious scruples. ATONEMENT JUSTIFIED BY FAITH CHRISTIAN SCIENCE TEACHING “The Doctrine of Atonement” was the subject -of the lesson-sermon in the Christian Science Church yesterday, the golden text being taken from I. Corinthians, i.:18: “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Citations which comprised the lesson-sermon included the following from the Bible: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom also we have access by faith Into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His* Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Chfist, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans i.:l, 2, 10, 11.). The following passages from the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.” by Mary Baker Eddy, was also included in the lesson-sermon: “Evenpang of repentance and suffering every effort for reform, every good thought and deed, will help us to understand Jesus’s atonement for sir* Sand aid Its efficacy; but if the sinner continues to pray and repent, sin and be sorry, he has little part in the atonement —in the at-one-ment with God—for he lacks the practical repentance, which reforms the heart and enables man to do the will of wisdom” (page 19). CHRISTIAN CONVENTION WEEK-END MEETINGS The half-yearly Auckland Christian Convention, which commenced at the Scots Hall on Saturday afternoon, held successful services during the week-end. On Saturday afternoon Mr. H. Hitchman. of England, spoke on “The Person and Work of Jesus Christ,” and Mr. J. Duthie, who has been a missionary in China for 24 years, gave an account of his experiences there. Mr. A. Smith spoke on mission work in Paraguay. In the evening Mr. G. Wilson spoke on the missionary work in the Malay States. On Sunday the meeting was addressed by Mr. Wilson and Mr. H. Isaacs. The convention was continued today with meetings in ‘he morning and afternoon. This evening’s meeting will commence at 6.30.