A. special service in_ honour of Empire Day, for the Free Church Sections of the Defence Forces, was field on Tuesday morning at the Union Church, a number of civilians also being precent. The service was jeonducted by the Rev. Stanley H. 'Keen, Wesleyan Chaplain to the Forces. The music, led by the choir, with Mr. D. Macdonald at the organ, included the hymns, "All people that on earth do. dwell," Lord, while for all mankind we pray, "Whom oceans part, Lord' unite," and Kipling's Recessional, "God of our fathers, known of old." [Immediately after the sermon, Mr. D._ McGavin sang as a solo, Elvey's "Land of Hope and Glory," and at jezegation joined in the singing of God save the King."
'The keynote of the sermon was. the responsibility and opportunity of the British Empire in the betterment of world conditions, Bir. Keen taking as his text the words: "Go ye and make disciples of all nations,.teaching them to observe.' was pointed out that in the appraise ment of the work of Jesus Christ two. things stand out pre-eminent—first the wark He did in Himself; jand secondly the preparations He wade in the training of His disciples to ensure the betterment of the world. The text suggests two facts: (1) What discipleship is, and (2) the obligations which rest upon those who profess discipleship to propagate their spiritual kind. Dis jcipleship, the preacher defined _ae tone who has learned discipline: not only the perception of Truth, but Jone who understands how best can serve so that the work of the Gross can be done in a recognition of the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God; in the careful obedience of the great laws of love, Hloyalty and faith.
Under the providence of God many instruments have been perfected for [His husbandry.
'Through the creation of saintly characters, through wide mass movements of religious awakening, through the formation of mighty' coalitions of temporal Powers, And through the conversion of one man to the vast purposes of a mighty people God has made progress to the betterment of the world.
'A Double Anniversary:
That day marked not only a great} anniversary in the life of the British nation, but also an important anniversary in the life of the Wesleyan Church. It was May 24, 1788, that saw the conversion of John Wesley, the founder of a great Feligious movement, and a new dawn in the religious life of th: ation. The century which followed saw England change her who'e aspect. The nation passed through the kame crucible which produced ithe French Revolution, foundation of that Empire fabric which was to hold Europe through ithe savage onslaughts of When France dissolved in of blood England was in the grip of 'a great satisfying, vital perience of religion.
But God has other weapons for: His warfare than the lives of the saints, It is probably tras that every Empire has contributed some Tasting good to the cause of human ity. Egypt, Rome, Greece, Byzar: tim, Spain, and even the Holy Roman Empire have all made their contributions to the betterment of the race. Tt is but historical sequence to say that under God, Great Britain has been the instrument of mighty moral and social advancements all over the world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.