Harvest Thanksgiving.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 65, 21 March 1904, Page 2

Harvest Thanksgiving.

'1 he harvest festival services in connection with Ihe Whitcle.v Memorial Church were held yesterday, ltev. J. s. Slade, of Onehunga, preaching both morning and evening, besides addressing the Sunday School scholars in the afternoon. As usual Die arrangement of the frail, garden' ur.il farm produce and flowers was in excellent taste, (he decorations being very creditable to those concerned. There Were good congregations at 'all Ihe services. The church was crowded in Ihe evening. The sermon was taken from Matt. 2(i, vll.y •Judas Iscariol's question "What will ye give me, and 1 will deliver Him unto you?" Mr Klade showed that •Imlas only joined tlie Christians for what he could gel, no! for what tie could do tor his Lord and Easier and Weill on fo shew II,a; this "lscariolism" pervaded life in the picsenl day. It existed in Die relali his belweea the electors and the candidate tor political honours, etween •the Parliamentary representative and the Oovernment, in (he home between husband and wile, between parents and children ; in church life between members and sects, and between men and their Cod. The ipieslion ever presenled itself, "What will you give me?" Lives were lived either on Die Christian or lscariot, principle, and miforUinatelv there was too much of the latter motive, which blinded eve, distorted the vision and hardened the heart, until what should be a foretaste of heaven became a fair sample of hell. The address was most, in terestiug, and attentively listened to t hroughout. A special anthem was sung by the choir, Die solos being taken by Miss lllack and Air Lee.

This evening the concluding meeting will be held, when Messrs Whitaker and I'ikett will report on the doings of conference. A musical programme has also been arranged, The grapes and other luscious fruits used in tlie harvest festival displav will lie sent to the hosprhil and Old J'eoplo's Homo.