STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our. Own Correspondent.) (All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr H. J. Hopkins, booknller, will receive prompt attention.) THANKSGIVING SERVICES. S.tratford, July 7. Services in connection with the peace celebrations were held in all the Stratford churches yesterday. At the three services held in Holy Trinity Church there were good congregations. In the evening the Rev. C. W. Howard dealt very largely with the Covenant of the League of Natibns. The Covenant, be said, was really an appeal based upon righteousness and justice to the common conscience and sympathy of the human race. The common welfare would be maintained by an organised appeal to the righteous judgments of the nations, and only when it became a pecessity would force be applied, and then by the mutual consent of the nations. The preacher then went on to speak of the increased responsibility of nations as a result of the Peace Treaty. The Covenant of the League could best be fulfilled by the newborn spirit of righteousness animating the nations. At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church the Rev. J. D. Madill preached from the words, "My cup runneth over," Ps. 23—5. The psalmist, he said, unable to express adequately the nature of God's rich blessings, broke off into the words, "My cup runneth over." The cup of his soul was overflowing with gratitude, joy, and peace. There were many that day who felt like the psalmist. There were others again whose hearts were overflowing with sorrow unspeakable because of those dear to them that had fallen in the war. There was one consoling feature I about the sacrifices made—tl|s sorrows of our nation was not the sorrow of those who had lost. On the day of thanksRiving they should remember those who had fallen, and offer sympathy to those who had been bereaved, and, in the midst of their rejoicing, they should remember God. They had been led through some dark and terrible days of war, but the cloud had now gone and the sunshine of a new day—the day of peace—was healing and cheering the hearts of mankind. All should try to make the peace enduring.

The Rev. R. B. Tinsley conducted the Bcrvice9 at the Methodist Church, Ha said that we had entered a period of reconstruction, but, should we pick up the threads of our activities where, they had been rudely broken by the war and proceed as if nothing had happened? To do so would be to misunderstand the message of God as taught by history. If the past taught us nothing, then the war would have been fought in vain. We had heard much during the war about patriotism, It was a noble and worthy word. It stood for something that finds room for the expansive and unselfish powers of |ft great people. When five years ago the tocsin of war sounded the response was eager and immediate. Now that peace had come should they forget their patriotism? They should purify it and give it a greater depth and interfsity. The preacher then urged that patriotism should be applied so as to remedy social evils- They needed the spirit of sacrir fice so that the public positions of the land would not fall into the hands of those who neck them from self-interest and personal ambition. They needed a cleaner manhood and a purer womanhood. and, above all, a clearer vision of God and a sterner sense of duty. A mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at the Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m. The Rev. leather Maples, who officiated, said they truly rejoiced now that peace had been signed. The terms imposed were hard, but just. Tt would be a delusion, however, to suppose that further wars were impossible, though they hoped that peace would endure for long years. They should pray that peace would continue and that the rulers of the nations would receive guidance in meeting the grave problems ahead.

Adjutant Roberts. Lieut. Bain, and Mr. Wipkhnm, of Npaere, gave addresses op "Peace" at the Privation Army Hall. The congregations were good, and special hymns were sung. GENERAL. At the Egmont Club Parliamentary Debating Union to-nipht (Tuesday) a discussion will take place on a proposal that recreation grounds be vested in local bodies.

Mr. A. J. Barr has been appointed secretary to the local branch of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders' Association. At the next general meeting of the branch in August a paper on "Line Breeding" will be read by Mr. W. H. Booth (Carterton). It has been decided to hold the next Stratford A. and P. Association's show on November 2ii and 27.

J. Lyons won the medal match played on the Stratford Golf Club's links'on Saturday The scores, including handicaps were: J. Lyons (hep. 20) 86. W. C. Christie (10) 78, S. Spence (IB) 89. D. Malone (10) 92, J. R. L. Stanford (10) 88, F. P Uniacke (16) 97. R. Peattie (20) 102, M. P. Malone (23) 115, W. Pratt (22) 118. <J)n ,Tnlv 14 the entries for Hie championship close, nmd the opening matches will be played on the 17th inst. POSTED DIRECT FOR 2s Cd. One Good Luck Writing Pad, One Packet Envelopes, One Penholder and Nib, One H.B. Lead Pencil. Send postal note or stamps—Charles E. James, Box 21, Stratford.—Adrt.