OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2360, 24 May 1892, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

On Sunday morning the Temuks Rifles assembled at the Drillshed for the purpose of attending Divine service at St. Saviour’s Chusch. This is the first Church parade held in Temuka for some time, and as a consequence there was a good muster. Captain Outten and Lieutenant Whitehead were in command, and Major Young joined the company at the church. The service was conducted by the Rev. T. A. Hamilton, chaplain to the corps, and the hymns and lessons were appropriate to the occasion. The , first lesson was taken from the 22nd W chapter of Deuteronomy, and the second from the 4th chapter of the Second Epistle of Timothy. The text selected was part of the Bth verse of the Bth chapter of Ecclesiastes, “ And there is no discharge in that war.” On this the preacher delivered a very eloquent and touching discourse. Ee pointed out the condition of the Israelites, liable at any time to be called upon for military services, but allowed to exempt themselves under conditions mentioned in the first

lesson of the day. Strange as it may seem that men should avow their cowardice and want of love for their country by availing themselves of those exemptions, still many did so. Gideon’s army losing as many as 22,000. Even in those days it was apparent that men shirked their duty, and Solomon, no donbt, had some of these occasions in his mind when he wrote the words of the text, but he knew also that when the King of Terrors, Death, was to be fought there was no discharge. Every man, woman, and child had to enter the gate ef death, no matter how they might fight against it. There was another conflict, however, in which they were also deeply interested, and this was the conflict' with sin. This was a

personal conflict, in which all must engage, i a ncl it was one that required constant ' vigilance. Their watchword must be “dirty.” Just as a soldier was inspired by a spirit of duty when fighting the battles of his country, and looked forward only to that country’s gratitude and praise, so should every Christian engaged in a conflict with sin strengthen himself by the thought that ho was fighting for the good of the world, and thereby doinv bis duty. They had nqt far to enemies. They were present every day in the shape of personal temptations and social curses. Duty taught them to think of their fellow men. In the spiritual war there was no casting off of weapons, no flags of truce, no furloughs; it was one long struggle. There could be no sending of a substitute. A man could not claim exemption on the ground that he had sent T pis vvife and children to church ; that his wife' taught h'is children’ their prayers, anil so forth, lie must do his part of the work honestly and manfujly ijr ho wqulq fine], ivhefl Pffdh'ti gaios giye to auot> : -- Wou d h —allied to a place away from

those he loved best. He reminded them of how upon one occasion a traveller had been saved from a spy’s death by the English and American consuls casting over him the tlags of their countries, which they knew would not be fired at, so Christ protected them by casting around them the flag of his love if once they enlisted under his standard. Then, having “ fought the good fight,” and “ climbed the steep ascent of Heaven,” they would be entiilcd to “ rejoice around the Saviour’s throne.” To-day the Volunteers assemble at the Drill Shed at nine, and the customary royal salute will be given, after which the company will adjourn to the range to fire for the prizes annually given by the tradespeople. These are unusually numerous, and are on view in Mr Coo. Mason’s window. In the evening the annual social will be held in the Volunteer Hall.