ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 29 May 1911, Page 8

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

REV. OSBORNE'S RESIGNATION. There was a verv large congregation at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church last night, when the Rev. S. S. Osborne completed his term of seventeen years as pastor of the church. His sermon, which was an eloquent and forceful appeal to the congregation for consistency and loyal-heartedness and for work in connection with the church, was bused on a text taken from Christ's "Sermon on the Mount," in Matthews fl, verse 10: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." The preacher referred in glowing terms to the magnificence of this Sermon on the Mount, "words God spake that never man spake," and referred to the method adopted by Christ of drawing his Divine lessons from earthly objects surrounding and familiar to his hearers. Men, said the Scripture, do not light a candle and place it under a bushel, but place it on a candlestick that all might see its light, And so should we, having been lighted, become candles to others, treating it as a duty, on honor, and a joy to be privileged to illumine the dark places. "Thou art a light in the darkness, let your light shine." After referring to the infinite diversity of the operation of the Holy Spirit in illumining the,minds of men, and enabling the light to shine, the Rev. Osborne said that the disciples, as soon as they saw the Light, became missionaries for Christ in their own homes. The light which shone in public must be fed in private, just as a hurtling lamp drew its oil from the reservoir. Much good work for Christ was done thus silently, in the home, or in countless other ways by men and women who would be quite unable to publicly preach the Gospel. Prayer was needed. If the Church were to prosper and become a great agency for Christ, it could not lie done by pandering to the sensations of the age. It could not ha done by turning the church into a musical club, or a debating society, or a social hall, but only by the Christians goI ing forth filled with the spirit of Jesus Christ to conquer the hosts of evil in His name. They need not worry about the sphere of labor. God would find some spot to be illumined by their light, some work for every worker to do. If tlicy could not pr n nch the Gospel they could do noble i\v< "k for God in many ways. Speaking vider great emotion, the preacher paid a tribute to the noble work me for Christ, and the assistance he n- ' other ministers received from mnnv '"imble servants of his Master, true .•>■ ' honest witnesses for God. How many Imps were hidden or extinguished, '•"idered useless/ from fear of man? There was no need, he pointed out, for any Christian or worker of God to force religion upon people in season and out of season. God had given men reason, and they should be able to avail themselves of the opportune time; and more, when opportunity arose, they were expected to say a word for the Master. He made an urgent appeal for consistency. They must be consistent in church life, have a fixed position in the church, and there keep the light shining brightly. Unfortunately there were rolling stones to be found in the church, as well as in the world outside. There were Christian men and women, and one never knew where to look for them. They would chase every novelty that man could devise. ITe never liked to see a person leave the church in which he or she was brought up. Of course, occasion might arise when such could not be avoided, but a man should suffer long and patiently before taking that extreme step. In every Christian community were people noted for their consistent Christian lives, but, on the contrary, there were people to be found running about the world and about the churches, trying to hear something new. They should hold to their church, be always there, and do all they could, not so much for the church or for the minister, but for Him who loved them and gave Himself for them, and they should 'let their light shine."

The ladies' committee, formed from members and adherents of the church, have organised a social gathering to be held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening at 7.30. Many of Ah - . Osborne's friends who do not belong to the same denomination have expressed a desire to be present, to show by their presence their kindly feeling towards him and their appreciation of him both as a minister and a private citizen. To nil such the ladies' committee desire to extend a most cordial invitation to be present.