TEMUKA RIFLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1495, 20 April 1886, Page 3

TEMUKA RIFLES.

Preparatory to the forthcoming Easter Encampment at Oamarn the Temuka Rifles went under canvas in the Temuka Park last Saturday evening. During the previous day Captain Hayhurst and Lieutenants Findlay and White, assisted by a few of tha men, made all the necessary arrangements for the encampment. They erected five tenfa in the shelter of the trees, near the pavilion in the Park, and in front of these was placed the guardroom tent, making six tents in all. The tents were liberally provided with straw, and such other things as were necessary to the comfort of the men. At 7 o’clock on Saturday evening the bugle sounded the call, and one by one the men continued dropping in at the Volunteer Hall till,there were altogether about 25 present. Shortly before 8 o’clock the Company wore put through a few movements, after which they ware marched to the ground under command of Captain Hayhurst, Lieutenants Findlay and Whits being also present. On arriving on the ground the Company was dismissed and guard mounted, and nothing eventful occurred before morning. At six o’clock on Sun-, day morning the reveilU sounded, and at 8 o’clock breakfast was partaken of at Mr Edward Lee’s bouse (the old scboolhouse) who happens to bo the “ Army Contractor ” for the week. The men marched across to Mr Lee’s house, where a plentiful breakfast was provided for them, and it may as well be said also that they speak in the highest terms of praise of the catering of Mr Lee: in fact, the excellence of the provision made for them was the subject of general conversation among them.. The men having been marched back from breakfast were dismissed till 10, when they paraded for drill. At 10.30, headed by the Band, and considerably reinforced, they marched up Wilkin Street, along by the Catholic Church and lavender's Crossing to St. Saviour’s Church, where they attended Divine services. There were 45 present at church parade. Major Young joined them at the Church and matched with them afterwards to the camping ground. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton preached a capital sermon from Psalm cvii, 7. “ He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to ■ city ot habitation.” He continued to say that a captain of a regiment was once ordered by hit general to lead his men by a certain route to take up a position to outflank the enemy. He selected instead what he deemed to be a shorter and more expeditious way, but after marching several miles was greatly bumilaled to find that be could proceed no' further, Lis progress being ■topped by an impassable ravine. He was obliged to confess that the general was right and he was wrong. Not having a foil knowledge of the country be should have obeyed implicitly the order given without even knowing the general’s reasons for choosing the longer route# This implicit obedience was required of the Iraelites, to whom the text refers. In their journeying* to the land of Canaan God led them through seas, rivers, and the wilderness by a pillar of clond in the day time, and a pillar of fire by night. The path they trod was unknown to them. They went along, as it were,!in utter ignorance—hoping everything, knowing nothing—all that was required of them was obedience to command and the orderings of the Almighty Jehovah; Their winding and devious journeyings are vividly described in the pages of Holy Writ; how their hearts Bask with the weariness of the way; “Hungry and thirsty their souls fainted in them” ; how, time after time, they “forgot the wonderful works which God bad done for. them in tha land of Ham, and'fearful things by the Red Sea”; how they distrusted, disbelieved, doubted, rebelled, because they thought the promised land was a myth, and the journey . useless. But the way (though an unknown, and round about way) was a right way ; it was chosen by God and the way of promise, and for this reason, had they entered Canaan at once after leaving Egypt, being uoaccustomsd to arms and warfare; they would have beeu speedily overcome by the warlike hordes who occupied. the land of promise. It was necessary, then, that they should be thoroughly trained and disciplined to obedience to their leaders before they could successfully cope with their foes. The trials and difficulties of 40 years developed in all their batter qualities, and taught' them self-reliance, self-control, and unity, and canted them to enter into the promised land a nation of disciplined and God-fearing men. We, also, have a journey to perform—a way to Heaven, It is a “ mysterious way,” we know but !'■ little of it, it is h way of “doubt and sorrow ” seemingly, and yet the Christian - whose hope is in* “beholding the King in his beauty, and the land that is very far off” steps fearlessly and boldly in the path which Christ trod before him. Men may doubt the messages of the Bible and see things in it which they cannot understand fully and clearly and therefore reject it. But they are our marching orders, our sailing directions. If they de not solve all our difficulties, and lift the darkness of mystery, yet they do light up the way. If they do not give all the light we desire, for the head they do supply all that is needful for the feet. We find ritysteries also in life, the ungodly and unrighteous prospering ia all their transactions ; the godly afflicted and in trouble.” We shall know the reason J hereafter, and all wrongs will be righted. Remember that “those whom the Lord loveth be chastenetb,” and through much tribulation ye shall enter the Kingdom of heaven.'” Let us obey the Master’s authority end confide in the Saviour’s love, whether we indcrstand or not the reason for all Bis acts. The right way for us is in following the path which onr Captain has trodden before ns As man “He was in all parts tried as we are,” Where He has gone we can-follow, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (Strengthener). Christ has shown us the right way. The way for us (and for the Israelites) is the right way because it was (1) chosen by God, and (2) the way of promise. The way for ns lies in following the Crucified in self-sacrifice, and patient waiting upen the Divine will and following the teachings of Scriptures in humble, trailing faith. The preacher then eloquenUy pleaded the self-sacrifice of Qhrisji for sinners, and qrged his hearers to follow His example by “laying down fbeir lives for the brethren,” aqd pointed to the noble example of the mate of the Taiaroa who gave bis blanket to shield a thinly clad frotp the piercing blast and of little Evan Fox at Woimate who nobly risked hi? life to saye ttyo little children lyoma burping building and then took

them home and saw them fed and clothed. Patient waiting upon the will of God was beautifully illustrated in the relief of an aged couple in a mysterious «ay, in answer to prayer. The conclusion of the sermon exhorted all to accept the path of duty, full, as it must necessarily be, of self-sacrifice, patient waiting, and obedient faith. It is a mysterious way, but the path to Heaven ; there is fighting against evil here, hut rest beyond. The light becomes clearer and fuller as we follow it; turn your back upon it and you go deeper and deeper into the gloom. “ The path of the just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day, but “ the way of the wicked is as darkness.” Christ is the light; follow Him, Ha will “ lead you by the right way and bring you to a city of h ibiiation.” During the afternoon the band played at the encampment, and a large assembly of people collected, but nothing of any significance occurred. In the -evening a large camp fire was got up, but very few of the general public attended, and, it being Sunday evening, there was no singing, and none of the other amusements generally met with at such places were indulged in. At 10.30 lights were put out and everything passed off quietly till 6.30 a,m. when the rereilld was sounded. The camp was again alive in a short time, and after a short parade, the men breakfasted at Mr Lee’s house at 7 o’clock. They were then dismissed for the day, and went to work at their respective callings until 5.30 when they re-assembled in camp. At 7.30 drill was resumed and carrifd on vigorously until 9.15 when the men were dismissed. This evening there will be a camp fire and the band, will play, and to-morrow evening at about 9 o’clock tents will be struck, and all will return to their homes. The weather has been magnificent throughout.