SELWYN CENTENARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3172, 24 April 1909, Page 5

SELWYN CENTENARY.

SERVICES AT ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH. In spite of the rough weather the special services at St. Matthew's Church, yesterday, were well attended. At the morning service an address was given by the Rev. C. H. Isaacson, Vicar of Pahiatua. The rough weather prevented many from coming to evening service, and the choirs from Carterton and Elcetahuna were compelled to give up the id£a of being present. The service was fully choral, the anthem "What Are These?" (Stainer) being well sung by the choir. The lessons taken from Wisdom 111., I—9,1 —9, and Hebrew X.1., 33, XII., 7, were read by the Rev. H. Page, Vicar of Greytown, and the Rev V. H. Kitcat, Vicar of Eketahuna. The Rev. H. T. Stealey, Principal of the Maori College was present with several of the native scholars. The sermon was preached by the Rav. R. Young, Viear of Carterton, who took for his text, Ps. 112, 6, "The Righteous Shall Be Had In Everlasting Remembrance." He described the early days of colonisation and mission work in New Zealand, and paid high tribute to early missionaries. "The debt we owe to those who have gone before us is incalculable," said the Rev. Mr Young, "Bishop Selwyn was a man who thought nothing of self-ad-vancement. His life was given without reserve to the Church he served. He was a man thoroughly fitted iior the position to which he was called. It is impossible to estimate the debt New Zealand owes to him. His memory must never be forgotten.'' After the sermon a solemn Te Deum was sung. After the service was over supper was provided by the members of St. Matthew's Choir for the visitors. The celebration of the centenary of the birth of New Zealand's great Bishop will be continued on Sunday.