Church Services.

itself in an ardent desire and earnest endeavour to find out that great and majestic power which was in all the great and marvellous works they saw around them and above them . Knowledge could be gained—real knowledge of God—but not a perfect knowledge of Him . The more that the works of nature were searched into , the more they all united in proclaiming that the hand which made them was divine .

They now came to another part of that great subject . That was the wonderful discoveries made by long continued successes of scientific men , unfolding to their dimmer view the lights by which nature was guided and controlled . Though those discoveries were made—and let them be thankful to God that their lot in life

waa cast in the times of those scientific discoveries which were far greater in extent than the successes of all the previous ages of the world's history—they could not but ask , did those discoveries of science bring them nearer as such to God ? Did they alter the relationship between man and his Creator ? Did they not serve this purpose , to deepen within them the feeling of awe at His great

Majesty ? Did it not cause greater reverence for their Divme Creator , and did not those continued successions of discovery through scientific research tell them in the words of the text , Canst thou find out the Almighty God unto perfection ? His greatness could not be found , for the simple reason that His greatness was unsearchable .

There was the book of nature which they were called upon to study , but there was also another book of revelation , and that was the Volume of the Sacred Writ , which all should use , and regard as their great light , the real guide of their faith and of all their actions . He believed that in their search through it , it

would give them a clearer and better knowledge of Him in all His works and all His ways . They had thus two great lights , the book of the creation and the revealed Volume of the Sacred Law , and they should restrict themselves to these two great lights .

They were thus enabled to be associated with the brotherhood of men in every clime , men belonging to every race , men speaking every language under heaven , men holding every variety of opinion , but all united in accepting those two great postulates or self-evident truths contained in the book of the revelation of nature and in the volume of Sacred Writ—the existence of God .

Thus united together , they could go on with their researches and could gain more perfect knowledge , which it was their privilege and their responsibility to attain , and they might exercise upon their lives and conversation the vast and important influence they ought to do . But if all the discoveries were concentrated

together into one accumulation from the past to the present , they would be constrained to say in response , in the words of the text , with all the discoveries they could not find out God . They could not find the Almighty to perfection . But from the text they --vere able to bring out another great truth , and that was that the laws

which governed nature , were fixed and undeviating , and so were the laws laid down for the government of man . They could disregard those divine laws to a certain extent , but in proportion as they disregarded those divinelaws , they brought upon themselves punishment in the form of distress of mind and disease of body ,

which last was too often perpetuated and handed down to the children and children ' s children . Hence their predecessors had so strongly , so forcibly , and so fervently pressed the inculcation of all true virtues of living . In short , by obedience to the laws of health while they lived in this present world , they rendered

obedience to the Divine laws , which were given as the rule and guide of life . There was yet another point brought before them in this searching after God , and that was , there was an element in man , a pare separate from and independent of his natural life , and that was his spiritual life .

There were laws for the guidance and control of the spiritual life , and on the cultivation of that life rested so much happiness in the present world , and also in the ages of eternity when the earth and natural life had ceased . It should be the object of every one to advance in this spiritual life , and to get nearer and

nearer to God . There was an element in nature as well as in the spiritual life which was essential to nature and to man . There had been many discoveries through science , but there was one remarkable discovery which had been brought prominently before them , and that was the element of sympathy in natui * e .

How in material things there was sympathy . There was sympathy in the elements composing the air , and in the elements composing water . One of the greatest elements in the life of man was sympathy one for another , which was inseparably associated with true faith , which was the mainspring of all true hope and whieh developed within us the real elements and characteristics

of true charity . Sympathy was the strong feeling of pity which man felt for his fellowman in sorrow and in suffering . But it was rejoicing with those that rejoice as well as weeping with those that weep . It was a far higher thing to sympathise with joy . They could easily sympathise with those who sorrow , but it was also required of them that they should sympathise with those who

Church Services.

rejoiced . God taught them with His Word to do this , and it was the duty of everyone so to live . Let this be their great aim and object in life . — " Warrington Observer . "

ON Sunday afternoon , 3 rd inst ., a Masonic musical Service , arranged by the Rev . C . R . Nunn Chaplain of Sincerity

Lodge , No . 428 , was held at Norley Church , near Northwich . There was a large attendance of Brethren , representing the Lodges of Sincerity , Northwich ; Ellesmere , Runcorn ; Cholmondeley , Frodsham ; Avondale , Middlewich ; and Samaritan ,

Sandbach . By special dispensation they wore full Masonic regalia , and assembled and clothed in the School Room , from whence they marched in procession , led by the Vicar ( the Rev . C . R . Nunn ) and choir , to the church , singing the processional hvmn " Onward , Christian Soldiers . "

The church was crowded . The service was conducted by the Vicar , who gave a brief address , in which he referred to the excellent work done by the Masonic Fraternity throughout the country , and specially advocated the claims of the Cheshire Charities , for which a collection was subsequently taken . The

musical portion of the service was most artistic . Mr . J . Patterson Shaw , F . C . O ., organist of Witton Church , Northwich , presided at the organ , and gave several selections . Sacred Solos from the " Messiah , " " Elijah , " & c , were rendered by Miss Louise Cestria , R . A . M ., of Chester , Bro . E . Pritchard , A . L . C . M ., of Northwich

and Bro . Branch , of Runcorn . An instrumental march was given by Mr . J . P . Sbaw ( organ ) , Mr . T . R . Yarwood ( violin ) , and Mr . R . E . Yarwood ( flute ) . A Masonic hymn composed by the Rev . C . R . Nunn , and delicated to Earl Egerton of Tatton , was sung by the congregation . The National Anthem concluded the service .

IN connection with the re-opening of the parish church of St . John , Tademan Road , West Chelsea , after restoration , a Masonic service will be held on Sunday next , 17 th inst ., at

halfpast three , when Brother the Rev . J . Leaver , B . D ., P . M ., Vicar of St . John ' s , Holloway , will preach . The collection will be devoted to the restoration fund . Ladies and friends will be admitted to the gallery and south aisle .

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