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Church Service.
CHURCH SERVICE .
AS a preliminary to the Annual Communication at the Grand Lodge of New " Zealand , in Hokitika , a special service was held in All Saints Church , on Sunday , 23 rd April . The Brethren assembled in the Town Hall , shortly after
two , and having clothed , marched in procession to the church , where they were received by Bro . Rev . H . G . Hawkins , Vicar of All Saints , Bro . Rev . W . Ronaldson , and Bro . Ven . Archdeacon Wright , the officiating Chaplains .
Special hymns and lessons were arranged for the service , and a collection was taken up in aid of the Widows and Orphans Fund . A most excellent sermon was preached by Bro . Ven . Archdeacon Wright , who took as his text II . Chron . vi . 1 and 2 , I . Kings viii . 12 and 13 :
Four philosophers are discussing the Being of God . The first says : '' There is no God . " This is the atheist , whose folly is condemned alike by the Inspired Word and by
modern science . The second says : "I cannot tell whether there is a God or not , and therefore I do not think about it . " This is the agnostic . It is an intelligible position , although it is overlooked that such an one elevates his want of faith
into a confession of faith . The third says : " I cannot be sure that God is , nor what He is , but I think He is , and I act upon this supposition . " It is probable that there were Athenians who , while they erected ' an altar to Agnosto Theo , still worshipped , if in ignorance . The fourth says : " God
is . He dwells in thick darkness . I see him not clearly , but I worship , and build Him a house to the glory of His name . " Such was the position of King Solomon , and such the position of those who now represent him . Jehovah said that he would dwell in thick darkness . Where and how did He
say so ? By his words and works . By his name , " I Am . " By the works of nature which we see around us . God said unto Moses ,. "I am that I am . Say unto the children of Israel , * I Am hath sent me unto you . ' This is My name for ever , and this is My memorial unto all generations . " It is a
name full of the deepest meaning . It asserts the selfexistence , the eternity , and immutablity of the Diety . Only God can say "I Am . " His creatures are not , except as He gives them life and keeps them living . We are what God has made us and He enables us to be . He is that He is the only
self-existing , self-upholding Being , God over all and in all . " I Am " expresses also the eternity of the Godhead that was , and is , and is to come . Past and future are included in this , name , or rather there can be no past nor future in respect of God . His years are not spent as ours are . like a tale that is
told . What God is He has always been and always will be . The world is full of God . •Lift up your eyes , stretch out your hands , He is imminent in the universe . He is not far from any one of you . You cannot touch or handle , you stand afar off , and the mountain burns with fire , and blackness , and
tempest , but He is nigh at hand . You see not His face , it is invisible . But He is here as truly and really as the light , the gravity , the electricity , which we cannot see . There are forms by which He manifests Himself . His power , His wisdom , His beauty , these three great realities speak to us of Himself .
Look at the mighty forces of nature . See the ebb and flow of the tide—the hurrying to and fro of the sea . A power known and felt . Examine it as you will . Exalt their power and order , define _ their nature , trace their method and relations . What is the source of that power ? They bear
witness to a power unknown—that power we call God . Men may deny that design is properly applicable to the processes of nature . They say , we have no right to do as Paley did in the last century , to reason from the analogy of a watch and a watchmaker to a world and a worldmaker . But we see in
this wonderful and vast design a wisdom beyond that of man . It is the Divine wisdom who fashions all things after His own will . We walk along the sea shore . We look up at the rainbow . We say in our modern manner , " it is but the refraction of certain rays of light in certain drops of water . "
God says , "I do set my bow in the cloud , and it shall be for a token between me and the earth . And it shall come tc pass when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud , and I will remember my covenant . I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth . " But not merely in nature is the Great Architect of the Universe to be seen and known and worshipped . Solomon says : " Jehovah has said that He will dwell in thick darkness . I have surely built thee an house to dwell in—a settled place for thee to abide in for ever . " The
Church Service.
Temple which he built at Jerusalem was the outward expression of his belief in God . Let us clearly understand for what purpose King Solomon built and dedicated the Temple . It was to express to his people and to surrounding nations that there was one people
who would have constantl y before their eyes the existence of God . We need not enter into any elaborate details as to the structure of the Temple . Its general idea may be grasped , but not its variety . It was not a large building , 90 by 35 by 45 high would not seem significant to us of vastness and immensity . Its gold and precious stones , although
considerable , would not appear large when measured by the output of gold at the present day , or counted by the side of jewels of an Indian monarch . But it had a symbolical meaning far reaching . Some have regarded it as a symbol of the universe ; some of heaven ; some of the Church of God ;
some of the Temple as the palace of Jehovah , with its vestibule , audience , hall , throne , and offerings ; and some , as Luther , as an emblem of human nature . As the Temple
consisted of the court , the sanctuary , the oracle , it became the symbol of body , soul , and spirit . And while the opinion is but an opinion , it gives us an opportunity of examining its parts with reference to the present occasion .
1 . The Court . What is man ? A profound thinker , Cardinal de Ronald , has said : — "Man is an intelligence assisted by organs . " In bodily formation man is an animal , but he far surpasses the animal in the intent of his intellectual faculties . As the traveller came within view of King Solomon ' s
I emple he might look upon its structure , examine its stones , stand amazed at its golden gates , but that material structure was but an outward envelope . The spiritual would not be seen . So a man . His frame , in all its beautiful form , is only the external ; the soul is that which gives life to the
body . The body is the body which the Great Architect of the Universe gave . It is established in strength . But without the soul there is no life . God breathed into man the breath of life , and man became a living soul . The holy place was that part of the building within the porchway or
entrance . It was the part where the worship of the Unseen Jehovah was carried on . Man is made capable of worship ; he feels his dependency upon God . But we must go further . We pass within the veil , we are in the innermost sanctuary —the oracle . Man is now the recipient ofthe Divine spirit .
He can now say , as Solomon did , " Arise , O Lord God , thou and the ark of thy strength . " It is the whole man , body , soul , and spirit , which stands as the manifestation of God .
The Temple was the visible symbol of the Most High , a fold seen and known of men , but that Temple has passed away . Man himself has become the Temple of God . In his highest development he carries out in every respect God ' s will .
The two great features of our Institution—the two great pillars upon which it rests and which makes it stable , are Righteousness and Charity . The true Freemason—the one who enters into the deep spirit of its meaning , finds himself ever growing nearer to the G . A . O . T . U . Not the mere outward
form , however noble , but the inner spirit—the Godlike spirit in that which is the manifestation of the Deity . As we walk in righteousness , as the Sacred Law becomes our guide , as we follow its precepts , we walk amongst men as those who are not onty joined together in unity with one another , but
are also part of the great brotherhood in heaven above . Charity is outward expression . In the spirit of the chapter read to-day , 1 Cor . xiii ., we walk through the world . Charity never faileth . It is our great privilege to show by our works that we recognise and follow the teaching of the
volume of the Sacred Law . In the old country our Masonic Institutions form an important part of our work . And while in this new country we are but in the days of small things , to what heights can this noble Order rise when its members are united in the pursuit of righteousness , and
show forth in their lives the lessons of true charity . Our Fraternity , says one writer , based on the existence of God and truth of immortality , is neither a religious sect nor political party . But its aims and offices are the promotion of the knowledge amongst men of the Fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man . Let us carry out the spirit of true Freemasonry , and while we reverently acknowledge that the Almighty still dwells in the thick darkness , while oftentimes we do not see clearly the working of His will , while the glorious temple on Mount Moriah has
vanished—Man , man , in his threefold nature—body , soul , and spiritmade for the glory of God , exhibits the word and will of God , and by acts of righteousness and charity shows to the world that Freemasonry looks to Him who dwells in the thick darkness , and forms for Him a house which shall be a habitation for Him for ever . — " New Zealand Craftsman . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Church Service.
CHURCH SERVICE .
AS a preliminary to the Annual Communication at the Grand Lodge of New " Zealand , in Hokitika , a special service was held in All Saints Church , on Sunday , 23 rd April . The Brethren assembled in the Town Hall , shortly after
two , and having clothed , marched in procession to the church , where they were received by Bro . Rev . H . G . Hawkins , Vicar of All Saints , Bro . Rev . W . Ronaldson , and Bro . Ven . Archdeacon Wright , the officiating Chaplains .
Special hymns and lessons were arranged for the service , and a collection was taken up in aid of the Widows and Orphans Fund . A most excellent sermon was preached by Bro . Ven . Archdeacon Wright , who took as his text II . Chron . vi . 1 and 2 , I . Kings viii . 12 and 13 :
Four philosophers are discussing the Being of God . The first says : '' There is no God . " This is the atheist , whose folly is condemned alike by the Inspired Word and by
modern science . The second says : "I cannot tell whether there is a God or not , and therefore I do not think about it . " This is the agnostic . It is an intelligible position , although it is overlooked that such an one elevates his want of faith
into a confession of faith . The third says : " I cannot be sure that God is , nor what He is , but I think He is , and I act upon this supposition . " It is probable that there were Athenians who , while they erected ' an altar to Agnosto Theo , still worshipped , if in ignorance . The fourth says : " God
is . He dwells in thick darkness . I see him not clearly , but I worship , and build Him a house to the glory of His name . " Such was the position of King Solomon , and such the position of those who now represent him . Jehovah said that he would dwell in thick darkness . Where and how did He
say so ? By his words and works . By his name , " I Am . " By the works of nature which we see around us . God said unto Moses ,. "I am that I am . Say unto the children of Israel , * I Am hath sent me unto you . ' This is My name for ever , and this is My memorial unto all generations . " It is a
name full of the deepest meaning . It asserts the selfexistence , the eternity , and immutablity of the Diety . Only God can say "I Am . " His creatures are not , except as He gives them life and keeps them living . We are what God has made us and He enables us to be . He is that He is the only
self-existing , self-upholding Being , God over all and in all . " I Am " expresses also the eternity of the Godhead that was , and is , and is to come . Past and future are included in this , name , or rather there can be no past nor future in respect of God . His years are not spent as ours are . like a tale that is
told . What God is He has always been and always will be . The world is full of God . •Lift up your eyes , stretch out your hands , He is imminent in the universe . He is not far from any one of you . You cannot touch or handle , you stand afar off , and the mountain burns with fire , and blackness , and
tempest , but He is nigh at hand . You see not His face , it is invisible . But He is here as truly and really as the light , the gravity , the electricity , which we cannot see . There are forms by which He manifests Himself . His power , His wisdom , His beauty , these three great realities speak to us of Himself .
Look at the mighty forces of nature . See the ebb and flow of the tide—the hurrying to and fro of the sea . A power known and felt . Examine it as you will . Exalt their power and order , define _ their nature , trace their method and relations . What is the source of that power ? They bear
witness to a power unknown—that power we call God . Men may deny that design is properly applicable to the processes of nature . They say , we have no right to do as Paley did in the last century , to reason from the analogy of a watch and a watchmaker to a world and a worldmaker . But we see in
this wonderful and vast design a wisdom beyond that of man . It is the Divine wisdom who fashions all things after His own will . We walk along the sea shore . We look up at the rainbow . We say in our modern manner , " it is but the refraction of certain rays of light in certain drops of water . "
God says , "I do set my bow in the cloud , and it shall be for a token between me and the earth . And it shall come tc pass when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud , and I will remember my covenant . I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth . " But not merely in nature is the Great Architect of the Universe to be seen and known and worshipped . Solomon says : " Jehovah has said that He will dwell in thick darkness . I have surely built thee an house to dwell in—a settled place for thee to abide in for ever . " The
Church Service.
Temple which he built at Jerusalem was the outward expression of his belief in God . Let us clearly understand for what purpose King Solomon built and dedicated the Temple . It was to express to his people and to surrounding nations that there was one people
who would have constantl y before their eyes the existence of God . We need not enter into any elaborate details as to the structure of the Temple . Its general idea may be grasped , but not its variety . It was not a large building , 90 by 35 by 45 high would not seem significant to us of vastness and immensity . Its gold and precious stones , although
considerable , would not appear large when measured by the output of gold at the present day , or counted by the side of jewels of an Indian monarch . But it had a symbolical meaning far reaching . Some have regarded it as a symbol of the universe ; some of heaven ; some of the Church of God ;
some of the Temple as the palace of Jehovah , with its vestibule , audience , hall , throne , and offerings ; and some , as Luther , as an emblem of human nature . As the Temple
consisted of the court , the sanctuary , the oracle , it became the symbol of body , soul , and spirit . And while the opinion is but an opinion , it gives us an opportunity of examining its parts with reference to the present occasion .
1 . The Court . What is man ? A profound thinker , Cardinal de Ronald , has said : — "Man is an intelligence assisted by organs . " In bodily formation man is an animal , but he far surpasses the animal in the intent of his intellectual faculties . As the traveller came within view of King Solomon ' s
I emple he might look upon its structure , examine its stones , stand amazed at its golden gates , but that material structure was but an outward envelope . The spiritual would not be seen . So a man . His frame , in all its beautiful form , is only the external ; the soul is that which gives life to the
body . The body is the body which the Great Architect of the Universe gave . It is established in strength . But without the soul there is no life . God breathed into man the breath of life , and man became a living soul . The holy place was that part of the building within the porchway or
entrance . It was the part where the worship of the Unseen Jehovah was carried on . Man is made capable of worship ; he feels his dependency upon God . But we must go further . We pass within the veil , we are in the innermost sanctuary —the oracle . Man is now the recipient ofthe Divine spirit .
He can now say , as Solomon did , " Arise , O Lord God , thou and the ark of thy strength . " It is the whole man , body , soul , and spirit , which stands as the manifestation of God .
The Temple was the visible symbol of the Most High , a fold seen and known of men , but that Temple has passed away . Man himself has become the Temple of God . In his highest development he carries out in every respect God ' s will .
The two great features of our Institution—the two great pillars upon which it rests and which makes it stable , are Righteousness and Charity . The true Freemason—the one who enters into the deep spirit of its meaning , finds himself ever growing nearer to the G . A . O . T . U . Not the mere outward
form , however noble , but the inner spirit—the Godlike spirit in that which is the manifestation of the Deity . As we walk in righteousness , as the Sacred Law becomes our guide , as we follow its precepts , we walk amongst men as those who are not onty joined together in unity with one another , but
are also part of the great brotherhood in heaven above . Charity is outward expression . In the spirit of the chapter read to-day , 1 Cor . xiii ., we walk through the world . Charity never faileth . It is our great privilege to show by our works that we recognise and follow the teaching of the
volume of the Sacred Law . In the old country our Masonic Institutions form an important part of our work . And while in this new country we are but in the days of small things , to what heights can this noble Order rise when its members are united in the pursuit of righteousness , and
show forth in their lives the lessons of true charity . Our Fraternity , says one writer , based on the existence of God and truth of immortality , is neither a religious sect nor political party . But its aims and offices are the promotion of the knowledge amongst men of the Fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man . Let us carry out the spirit of true Freemasonry , and while we reverently acknowledge that the Almighty still dwells in the thick darkness , while oftentimes we do not see clearly the working of His will , while the glorious temple on Mount Moriah has
vanished—Man , man , in his threefold nature—body , soul , and spiritmade for the glory of God , exhibits the word and will of God , and by acts of righteousness and charity shows to the world that Freemasonry looks to Him who dwells in the thick darkness , and forms for Him a house which shall be a habitation for Him for ever . — " New Zealand Craftsman . "