Church Work and Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 869, 13 January 1930, Page 12

Church Work and Life

OUTSPOKEN BISHOP IMPATIENT WITH THOSE WHO DENY RELIGION QUESTIONS CHILDREN ASK Those who say they have no use for relißion exhaust the patience of Bishop Anderson, formerly of Riverina. Australia. The Bishop made that clear in a sermon at St. Matthew's Church yesterday morning. . In basing his remarks upon the Gospel, except for the day which related ihe incident of Christ's first contact with the Jewish doctors and intelligentia at the age of 12 when he was found “both hearing them and asking them questions," the Bishop said that at 12 the average child was beginning to ask himself why he was alive, where he came from and where he was going after death. Such questions invariably arose in a child’s life and they demanded an answer. "If we were animals it would be different,” Bishop Anderson said. “The animals do not question why they have been given an existence, anil what they should do with it. But human beings are intended to live a life to more purpose than the boasts of the field. The problems of origin and of our purpose in life are questions that must be faced or else put aside, and to deny religion is to accept an existence of no more value than that of the animals.” ARCHDEACON OF WAIKATO REV. G. GORDON BELL INSTITUTED CEREMONY AT HAMILTON From Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Today. The Rev. G. Gordon Bell was admitted to the office of Archdeacon of Waikato by Bishop Cherrington at St. Peter’s Cathedral yesterday. In his sermon following the installation service. Bishop Cherrington said that in the formation of a new diocese, or in any alteration made within it, spiritual things should be given the utmost prominence. Because of Archdeacon Bell’s faith in the spiritual life he could rejoice with the members of the Church in the new appointment. Belief in penitence and the Gospel were ideals of worship that the archdeacon had zealously endeavoured to obtain in the past. He would be able to waken a new zeal and join them in teaching the ideals of God. In the evening Archdeacon Bell was Inducted vicar of Cambridge. CHILDREN’S MISSION BROWN’S BAY ASSEMBLY PULPIT BUILT IN SAND The children’s special service mission in connection with the Baptist

Messages from the Pulpits

Church made a successful start at Brown's Bay on Thursday afternoon, when about 300 children and their parents gathered for the building of a monster sand castle, which will act as pulpit during the mission. The wharf was lined with interested onlookers while the children used their spades with such zeal that in a short time the pulpit was of huge dimensions. After the objects of the children’s special service mission had been explained, the children divided up for games, the senior children being introduced to the mysteries of a new beach game known as podex—a combination of basketball and cricket. Both girls and boys are very keen and there is every indication of a very successful mission. FAREWELL CEREMONY REV. G. GORDON BELL A farewell ceremony to the Rev. G. Gordon Bell, who is leaving to take up the position of archdeacon of Waikato, and vicar of St. Andrew’s, Cambridge, was held by parishioners and friends in the Holy Sepulchre Hall during the week. Mr. J. H. Fray presided, and a large number of clergymen were present, among whom were Archbishop AveriTl, Archdeacons Mac Murray, and Simkin, Canons C. H. Grant Cowen and Haselden. Keen appreciation of the work done by Mr. Bell in many diocesan circles was expressed by Archbishop Averill, who said he felt lie was sharing in the reflected glory of the evening, as he had been instrumental in bringing Mr. and Mrs. Bell to New Zealand when he was in England nine years ago. Mr. Bell was presented with an office chair, and Mrs. Bell with a quilt. Presentations were also made on behalf of the Mothers’ Union and Fellowship of Communicants.

“SACRAMENT’’ CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SERMON “Sacrament” was the subject of the lesson-sermon in the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Auckland, yesterday. The golden text was from John 14:21: “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” Among the citations was the following from the Bible: “Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.’” John 3:5. The les-son-sermon also included the following passage from the Christian Science Textbook: “The baptism of Spirit, washing the body of all the impurities ol’ flesh, signifies that the pure in heart see God and are approaching spiritual life and its demonstration. It is “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” than for sinful beliefs to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, eternal harmony.