Church Work and Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 661, 13 May 1929, Page 14

Church Work and Life

“CHURCHING THE MAYOR” MR. BAILDON AT ST. JAMES'S “CHRIST AND THE CITY” The old English custom of Churching the Mayor was seen at St. James’s Presbyterian Church yesterday morning, when the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, attended divine service. His Worship wore his official mayoral robes. Accompanying Mr. Baildon were 15 members of the City Council, and the Town Clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, and the city treasurer, Mr. Andrew Messer. At last Thursday’s meeting of the council the Mayor, in inviting councillors to be present at church, said it was an old English custom for a ixgw corporation to attend church on the first Sunday after installation. Mr. Baildon is an old Sunday School pupil of St. James's and the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, is an elder of the church. The preacher, the Rev. E. R. Harries, took as his text, “Christ and the City.” Jerusalem, which was once the joy of all the earth, was now a city of squalor and misery. Through decline in civic pride Romo had lost her greatness. Special prayers were offered for the work of the new City Council. MAYOR OF ONEHUNGA MR. MORTON ATTENDS CHURCH The Mayor of Onehunga, Mr. Edward Morton, and the Mayoress, Miss Edna Morton attended the Methodist Church, Onehunga, yesterday morning, accompanied by most members of the Borough Council. The sermon was preached by the Rev. F. E. Leadley. Jn the evening the Mayor and Mayoress attended the Congregational Church, where a special Y.M.C.A. service was held. Addresses were given hy Sir George Richardson and Mr. TV. J. Holdsworth. NEW BAPTIST CHURCH OPENING CEREMONY AT PUKEKOHE GREAT PROGRESS MADE The new Baptist Church at Pukekohe, a beautiful building cf brick and concrete -at the corner of Victoria and Seddon Streets, was opened on Saturday afternoon. The structure, which seats approximately 120, was filled for the ceiemony. The building was officially opened by Mrs. J. Stembridge and a short speech by Mr. Samuel Barry, president of the Auckland Baptist Union, followed. The Rev. Knowles Kempton, of the Avondale Baptist Church, preached the dedicatory sermon. Among the speakers were Mr. and Mrs. J. Stembridge, foundation members of the church, the Rev. H. L. Fiebig, of Pukekoho Methodist Church, and Mr. R. O. Clark, principal of Wesley College, Paerata. The various speakers congratulated the members of the church on their line effort and the enterprise which they had shown as a religious body in Pukekohe. Mr. Stembridge said that the cost of the church building without the site, but inclusive of furniture, was £1,050, of which only £4OO was owing. He confidently predicted that £IOO would be raised during that service and the evening social. The collection later taken at the service realised £sl 3s 1 lid. The original intention of the members was to erect a wooden building, sufficient for present needs, but they were urged to build for permanency and future requirements. The church as a body was founded with 21 members on December 6, 1927, the founda-tion-stone of the building being laid last February. In addition to material assistance by members a number of townspeople helped in such work as the installation of the electric lighting. {Some of the furnishings were donated. A social was held in the evening. The services yesterday were conducted by the Rev. Dr. J. J. North, of Auckland. No minister has yet been chosen and, as in the past, services will be conducted by visiting clergymen and lay preachers.

MESSAGES FROM THE PULPITS

NATION AND HOME LIFE INFLUENCE OF MOTHERS ADDRESS AT PITT ST. CHURCH Mothers’ Day was fittingly observed at both services in the Pitt Street Methodist Church yesterday At the evening service Rev. W. Walker took for his text Isaiah, ' 31 : 5. j The preacher said that Dr. George | Adam Smith, the Hebrew scholar, had given a translation of this scripture i which brought into prominence the I mother love of God. His translation j was: “As little mother birds flying, so will the Lord of Hosts protect Jerusaj lem.” The kingdom of Juda'n was j threatened by the Assyrian army. Hezekiah the king sought to make an ! alliance with Egypt. This course the prophet Isaiah strongly opposed and urged complete reliance upon God. He put forth God’s defenco under two representations. First, that of a lion, which indicated His mightv * strength, and second, that of a mother bird defending its young, thus showing that infinite tenderness mingled with irresistible might in the nature of God. It was impossible to contemplate a good mother without thinking of the infinite depth of her love. The greatest need of any nation was for good mothers. To the mother there has been given the most sacred trust in the world, tho training of the child. “The standard of the nation is to a large extent decided by the standard of its mothers,” said the speaker, and the standard of its mothers is determined by the home life of the people. It is always the home life which decides national character.” An earnest plea was put forth by the preacher to guard jealously the sanctity of the home. MOUNT EDEN SERVICE Mr. J. W. Shaw, M.A., was the a +i the M ° th er’s Day service i eld v b ? - the „ cor «L>ined Mount Eden -Presbyterian Young Men’s and Young omen s Bible Classes in the church 3 esterday afternoon. There was an attendance of 140 members and their mothers. The speaker said that much had been made of the placing of the child in the midst, but he was glad to see that the maidens and men had placed their in the midst on this occasion. Tne movement had originated in America, where it tended to sloppy sentimentalism. The temperament of New Zealanders was different. ; Mr. Shaw instanced the wonderful patience, courage and faith of mothers, and referred to the beautiful picture of Christ in his hour of death on the Cross concerned for his mother. Mr. W. J. Munro led the gathering in prayer, and the mothers were welI corned by Mr. R. Lymburn. Sacred solos were rendered by Mrs. Lymburn and Mr. A. W. H. Gaily. Miss Betty Richmond gave a recitation, and Mr. E. M. Edgar officiated at the organ. The wife of the minister, Mrs. L. H. Hunt, occupied the chair. Staff-Captain T. Holmes and Mrs. Holmes, of the Salvation Army, conducted a Mothers’ Day service in the Mount Eden Gaol yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Holmes spoke on the subject of “Mother,” and Captain Holmes on that of “Where is Mother?” In response to an invitation, about 150 men came forward and took a white flower to wear in their coats. FAITH AS ANCHOR BIBLE IN TIMES OF DOUBT KEY TO UNDERSTANDING “The use of the Scriptures as a sheet anchor in times of doubt has but one qualification, and that is faith in Jesus Christ. One may read the Bible from cover to cover, but without faith an understanding is impossible, and the effort wasted,” said the Rev. W. LawsonMarsh, M.A., at the Devonport Presbyterian Church last evening. The minister took as his text, Timothey iii., 15. “I want to show,” he said, “how it is through Jesus Christ we understand the Scriptures. Here in this text we have the veteran apostle Paul speaking to Timothy, when the latter was taking over the charge of a small Christian community in a pagan city. Now Paul was essentially a strong-willed man, subject to no order of earthly making. Timothy, on the other hand, was a gentle man, utterly unselfish, and lacking that quality of useful obstinacy that was Paul’s. Timothy was a tender man. one to whom opposition was painful. Paul knew this, yet he also knew the fine qualities of the man. As he thought of the difficulties, the wealthy paganism surrounding Timothy he could not but be afraid on his behalf. “I think,” the minister continued, “that Timothy’s sheet anchor might serve for any one of us in these times of doubt. Paul meant that Timothy’s help and inspiration would come from the peculiar wisdom of the Old Testament. not actually from its litem! meaning. If one were always to follow the literal meanings one might go unwittingly against the word of God in its finer meaning, as witness the burning of old women as witches in England less than 100 years ago because of the words ‘Suffer not a witch to live.’ Thus it was that one might read the Bible from cover to cover, yet without faith understanding was impossible. “The interest of any book lies in its theme. Before one can criticise one must understand what the author is trying to illustrate, or the theme. The same is true also of the Bible. We must have an understanding of the thought of God. namely faith. It will triumph over death itself. From Genesis to Revelations the theme of the Bible is God’s redemption. It is a record of God's meeting men and redeeming them. They who put their faith in Him shall never be confounded,” concluded the speaker. CHRIST CHURCH, ALFRISTON ANNUAL MEETING HELD Parishioners of Christ Church, Alfriston, at the annual meeting, presided over by the Rev. W. H. Rattray, elected the following officers for the year: Vicar’s warden, Mr. G. M. Running; people’s warden, Mr. H. Mart; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Chad- ! win: auditor. Mrs. Priest: committee,! Mesdames Mart, R. Muir, IT. ICimp- ! ton, Running, Priest. Miss H. Dun- j can, Messrs. G. W. Cliadwin, Repson, | Cleveland; central vestry, Messrs. IT. Mart and W. Chadwin. The meeting j decided to have electric lighting in- j stalled in the church.

“NOT A SERIOUS TROUBLE” DEPOSITION OF SALVATION ARMY HEAD COMMISSIONER HAY'S ADDRESS Commissioner James Hay, head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, addressed a crowded assembly in the Congress Hall, j Grey Avenue, yesterday afternoon, i on “The High Council and the | Future of the Salvation Army.” The great respect for the Army ex- j : isting throughout the Dominion was j referred to by the Hon. A. J. Stall-! worthy, who presided. He spoke of | the great, distinction Commissioner Hay had brought to this country when j the High Council was in session in I London. “He had been chosen to preside from among 63 commissioners,” said the Minister, “and he has covered himself with glory.” Commissioner Hay said that the Salvation Army was one of the most powerful factors in the world dealing with social problems. The interest in it was profound. It was among the most recent and freshest movements in the world, morally, mentally and spiritually. Its founder, William Booth, was one of the most outstanding characters in morality and spirituality of the last century. He had started at zero, without followers, which was one of the hardest tasks in the whole world. “I have the greatest admiration for Catherine Booth, the wife of the founder, and for Bramwell Booth,” said the speaker. “I admire them for their work, their leadership and their Christ-like devotion.” The army now had 16,000 corps and societies. It took the concentrated ability of a capable man to make one corps and to sustain it for five years. It had come as a shock to some that he Array appeared to be in trouble. To its members it was not great, but to the man in the street the recent happenings had appeared serious. Students of religious history knew that no religious body had passed through the first 60 years of its existence without some readjustment in government, ethics or doctrine. He thought that, in a humble way, the Salvation Army was a great assurance of peace in the world. A vote of thanks to Commissioner Hay was moved by Mr. G. Baildon, Mayor of Auckland, who referred to the interest taken in the work of the Salvation Army. In the hall yesterday morning Com- ■ missioner Hay gave a special talk on “Sons of God,” and last evening he ad- 1 dressed a large attendance on “The Great Assize.” ADAM AND FALLEN MAN CHURCHES OF CHRIST “Adam and Fallen Man” was the j , subject of the lesson-sermon in all | Churches of Christ (Scientist) yester- I day. The Golden Text was from Romans i 9:8: “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children ! of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

Among the citations which comprised the lesson-sermon was the following from the Bible: “For ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither' Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are qjl one in Christ Jesus.”—Gal. iii., 26-28. The lesson-sermon also included the following passage from the Christian Science text book: “Science and Health, with Ivey to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy: “Anybody, who is able to perceive the incongruity between God’s idea and poor humanity, ought to be able to discern the distinction (made by Christian Science) between God’s man, made in His image, and. £he sinning race of Adam.” It is not the purpose of Christian Science to “educate the idea of God, or treat it for disease,” as is alleged by one critic. “I regret that such criticism confounds man with Adam. When a man is spoken of as made in God’s image, it is not sinful and sickly mortal man who is referred to, but the ideal man. reflecting God’s likeness.” iPages 345-346.) METHODISTS’ JUBILEE NORTHERN WAIROA CIRCUIT (From Our Own Correspondent) DARGAVILLE, Sunday. Jubilee celebrations in connection with the Northern Wairoa Circuit of the Methodist Church are to take place toward the end of this month. The church was established in this district in 1878, and the 50th anniversary occurred a year ago, but records on hand at that time made it appear that the present month was the jubilee month. However, other details since discovered show that 1878 was the year of establishment, and it has been decided to carry out the celebration this year, although a year late. PAINTING CHURCH HALL ANGLICANS AT NORTHCOTE For the purpose of painting St. John the Baptist Church Parish Hall, Nortlicote, members and their friends responded in large numbers on Saturday afternoon. After an early start considerable progress was made. It is intended to carry on each Saturday until the work is completed, and then further to improve the church grounds and the area round the new vicarage. “TOO MUCH TALK” “CHURCH TIMES” CRITICISES The Bishop of Liverpool, replying by a letter to tho “Church Times” to the allegation that there is too much talk in church life, and to the criticism of a recent conference, says:— “It is a familiar complaint that nowadays we spend too much time in talking. Yet there are practical purposes on which we cannot be expected to finish our thinking silently. For better or for worse (and, I think, mostly for the better) we are committed to the conference method. The main question is to select subjects that are supremely worth thinking about and talking about. It is to be noted that our proposals involve no fresh organisation. In Ruridecanal Chapters we use the normal machinery of the Church. With misrepresentations of An Tlo-Catholicism the Conference was n. t concerned. But we received amplo evidence that through study and prayer together men of different schools soon learn to understand one another, which is the first step to the understanding of one another’s systems.”