In Memoriam Service.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2111, 21 June 1898, Page 2

In Memoriam Service.

On Sunday evening at the Wesleyan Church the Rev Mr Griffith conducted, in the presence of a large congregation, in impressive service having special reference to'the late Mr James Farmer, of Manavvaru,' a staunch supporter of Methodism. In accordance with the custom prevailing in the Wesleyan Church, the pulpit was draped in black. The hymns were appropriate to the occasion and the solo ‘ For ever with the Lord,’ contributed by Miss Hirst, who also presided at the organ, was sung with true devotional feeling. Prior to the serfen & brief memoir of Mr Farmer was jS& d in which some striking passages occurred. The deceased’s experiences on his first voyage to Canada were of a truly extraordinary nature. Mr Griffith took for his text Phil. 21 v., 1 ch. ‘For to rne to live is Christ,- and to die is gain.’ How dark, said the preacher, was the future—the life beyond the grave. What could any power on earth tell of that great unknown ? What could any man hazard. beyond the vaguest of surmises ? The Bible afforded the only evidence of 'authority, and that there would he discrimination shown in the treatment accorded the saved was clearly established. The speaker deprecated the tendency to sickly sentimentality so frequently exhibited nowadays in dealing with the question of the future life, and compared it with the rugged fidelity of the scriptures. He then went on to make a personal application of the text ‘ For me to die is gain ’ What would death mean to them ? Death to the Christian brought the rest of the victor. Life is a coullict—an eternal warring with sin. There was one aspect of the future he did not think they dwelt on sufficiently. ‘ The Glory of the place prepared for those who died in the Faith,’ and the sermon closed with an eloquent picture of Heaven and* the work to be done there.