Whiteley Memorial Church.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7805, 25 April 1905, Page 2

Whiteley Memorial Church.

VOLINTEEU SERVICE. The special volunteer servico at the Whiteley Memorial Churc.lv on Eauter Sunday evening was very successful, the congregation iring very lurgq, ami the service bcs\rty and enjoyable. A'bout forty 01 t'hc men in camp availed themselves of the invitution of the minister and officials to attend. Xtev. J. N. llutllu, president of the Methodist Conference., prefaced his sermon with some remarks appropriate to the occasion 1 , saying it might also bo fitting for him to say that whilst they looked on the volunteer movement with a considerable amount of satisfaction yet they deplored the strong military spirit which prevailed among the older communities on the continent of Europo. No one who possessed anything at all of tho Christian spirit could look on the state of affairs in Europo with much feeling of satisfaction. When they camo to consider the spirit of militarism, when they noted tHe enormous number of men drawn from industrial pursuits, and wheal they remembered the tremendous cost of maintaining the armies and navies which now existed, they could not help but think that war was n terriiljile and costlly thing to humanity. It seemed so utterly at variance with the teaohing of the Lord Jeeus Christ that one body of men should be set up to shoot down another body of 111011 against whom they had no iquarrel whatever. Did ft not seem to be more roasonablo and more in accordance with the teaching of Him who camo to ' show them how to havo peace and goodwill towards each other, to settle their (differences iby arbitration ? The preacher felt sure that this humanitarian feeliitg was growing an'tt that disputes would foe settled by the peaceful methods- of arbitral tion. Proceeding, (lie ntaiMer preached a powerful ind 'rolling sermon ifrom the words •.»/ I'aul, "Watch ye, stand fust in the faith! quit you'like mon of strength." n e u.p,ed firmness ind cimsturiey in regard to religious truths ami principles. The so-called liber,ll views put forward by men without and within the church might mean anything or nothing. The preacher also made reference to the gambling cvijl, _ which, -ho said, was sapping uhc lile blood of the country and making its effects felt in all walk*) Of life. Christians should givo this and the liquor traffic no Wiarter. Specially selected hymns wero sung during the service, ihe choir rendered the number Onward Christian Soldiers," ami Miss tilaeli sang a solo with considerable expression and sweetness