HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2333, 22 March 1892, Page 3

HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

Services of thanksgiving for the ingathering of the harvest were held at Temuka on Sunday last. The weather was just sufficiently threatening as to militate against large congregations, but the services were, on the whole, well attended, and there was noticeable a fair sprinkling of country residents. At the Presbyterian Church the morning service was conducted by the Rev. Mr Watters, who laid special stress on the many causes for thanksgiving that the congregation, as a whole, had. He reminded them of the benefits they enjoyed as compared with the people of other lands, and besought them to render thanks to God for blessings liberally vouchsafed to them. The hymns were specially selected for the occasion, and were sung very heartily under the leadership of Mr W. G. Rutland. In the evening a mission service was held, a brief notice of which appears elsewhere. At the Wesleyan Church, the services in the morning and evening were conducted by the Rev. Mr Bond, the president of the Wesleyan Conference. For the occasion, the church was very beautifully decorated with wreaths, crosses, and other devices, in evergreens and flowers, and in front of the rostrum was a magnificent display of fruits and vegetables. In the morning the service commenced with the appropriate hymn “Raise the song of harvest home,” and after the customary devotional exercises Mr Bond proceeded to discuss his text, which was taken from the last chapter of Hosea, the sth and 6th verses. Making free use of the imagery of the Bible, he observed that growth was the essential condition of Christian life. Of growth there were two kinds, that by accumulation from without, and the higher kind, which was caused by reason of expansion from within. To the latter there was in a sense no curtailment. The flowers that bloomed left their seeds behind them, the trees put forth their branches and roots, and bore fruits, and the human race increased. He compared the stronger types of Christianity to the cedars of Lebanon, that growing as they did under unfavourable circumstances, yet wrapped their roots around the primitive rock, and were thus enabled to withstand the shocks of tempest and storm. From the lily and olive tree of the text, he drew a comparison of our feelings towards some rare and beautiful form which might be attractive to the eye, but which our senses assured us was full of cunning and guile, and to be avoided, and that humbler type, which, possessing little outward adornment, had the attraction of a moral character and kindliness, and, like the olive, was fruitful continually, constantly yielding good works. He urged his hearers to copy the higher life, and thus leave at the end of each year with wider aspirations, purer thoughts, and a yield of nobler deeds. Whi].e the collection was being taken up, the choir, uudop M? Harrison's leadership, sang “He shall feed His flock.” In the evening there was a larger attendance, and the service was very instructive. The anthem selected was “ Abide with nag.” The Salvation Army, in accordance with annual custom, decorated their barracks profusely, not only with evergreens, fruit, and flowers, but also with a display of other articles, ranging, literally, from a “ needle to an audios.” The services really commenced on tfyo Saturday evening, when there was a good attendance. On Sunday all the services attracted large congregations, and the proceedings were vepy hearty. Ip addition to tk e oftjcers in charge, Captain Harlow and Lieut, Tilbrook, there were present Major Vince, Adjutant Hoare, and Lieutenant Cater, all of whom delivered addresses. Lieut, Tilbrook performed a drum solo, that was highly appreciated, and the services generally were of a character that must have been very gratifying to the officers. The collections at the various services amounted to £4.