HARVEST THANKSGIVING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1319, 5 March 1883, Page 3

HARVEST THANKSGIVING.

The Harvest Thanksgiving Services in St. Matthew's Church, Masterton, yesterday, .were hardlylso well attended as last year, though in the evening the Church was comfortably tilled. The display of., the fruits of the earth on this occasion was remarkable for variety and for the taste with which it 'was 'arranged, ' Festoons of oats ornamented with apples, and.evergreens were suspended from'pillar to pillar along both aisles, while in front of the lectern a light frame, work. had' been'erected, which was covered with fruits of all kinds. Suspended from the centre arches ; of the frame were splendid clustres of grapes, while down the front of its columns were to. be seen carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, turnips, cucumbers, runner beans, apples, pears, hops, wool, barley, wheat, oats,. uiaize, crab-apples, potatoes, rhu-. barb, onions, blackberries, and pumpkins. On the flgor, near the altar rails, •were beautiful plants and flowers of various kinds." The whole arrangement formed a harmonious and beautiful picture. In the morning the r Hev. Mr raige took for his text Psalm CHI,, Ist andind verses, " Praise the Lord, 0 my. soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name. Praise theLord, 0 toy soul, and forget not all his benefits.". In his discourse the preacher alluded totho want of gratitude generally displayed by man; for the gifts of the Creator, and held that'it was well,' therefore,' to once a year dedicate a service ofthanksgiving to God for the fruits of the earth, in order to turn our thoughts/for. a'brief space to; those material benefits which, every., one appreciated whether the.hnnd that.gave ,weW recognised or.'not; '■:' lie alluded to; L'tM' fact 1 tnat this year tlio';havVesfc." UKd 'benefited by it He also blinded, to -the- woolclip, and-the- increase- of 'the' , flocks andterds^fthe'valley as'mattoi'S; ' to'b'e' thankful, andsaid lie. believed that'thejbeat way to make.their; . thanksgiving acceptables to God/and'of benefifr to;' v?ds' t_oi ; : back ftp'the 'portion s qf ] "that with.which.they: had been'blessed;: and' mentioned the fact that thepffering i that;! ' the-j benefit" of'' .■the /''.Melanmn ' 'Mssi9u. ; : ; By. givin».-fe J th'is;fuWthey wouid.bfr^assistingfa ■ woula begiying direct toiGo'df Ifiiised

•for Vtjie Cliurcb it would:ije no Teal ,gift,/kut/jsiraplya paasing^froinc^poclte^toitHe'otlier.' Let their offoi'irigs tliitt. day be '.atriie blessings,, and: if it was so" viewed they would be spared the humiliation bf last year, when iimouiited to; On an avenige 3|d. per head of "the congregation. Hethon*pokeafew\rads about the indebtedness of the Ohiirch! Thousands of pounds would 'be ttievresult of tlie Kitrvest—tKete was 'a debt of ; <£lso.pn the Church;; -was it a great matter to aslt.that this sura should be paid as a thanksgiving, rind thus show thai they recognised God- as the Lord of;.■%,harvest,land appreciated iis blessings?; A,fewwprdson'the ! groat goodness : concluded: .the sermon, lb' the.evening the text,was taken rom : Psalm j OXW,rloth verse 7 shall .praise. LThe'e 0 Lo)'d, and.thySiiints shall bless Thee,": andthe.discoureedwelt uponthe:wis■m ,and goodness■ of ,the;. • Divine Creator.