BROOKLYN METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 584, 12 August 1909, Page 6

BROOKLYN METHODIST CHURCH.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID. Yesterday afternoon, the Mayoress (Mrs. A. K. Newman), placed the foundation stone of the new Methodist Church at Brooklyn "well and truly" in its position, thus inaugurating a new era in the history of the Methodist movement in that district. Tho weather was, for the'occasion, somewhat unpropitious, but there, was-nevertheless a fair gathering of adherents and friends.' The Rev. S. J. Serpeii (Taranaki Street Circuit) opened the proceedings, and the Rev. A. Dewdney (Brooklyn Baptist Church) conducted the' prayer, after which the Rev. J. R. Clark, who will' take charge of the new church, delivered-a statement (already published), settling forth the ' financial - condition of the charge at Brooklyn, and the history or the movement for. the erection ot the new church. He recorded his indebtedness to the architect (Mr. Bennie), and the contractors' (Messrs. Meyer and lllingworth), for'the manner in which the work was being carried out. : Tho Rev. Thomas Fee (president of the conference), then 'delivered a short-address ;on the condition and.progress of Methodism. The Methodist' Church, he' said, had now forty million adherents, and over eight and ■a half' million senior church members. For .the spiritual necessities of these, there had been established 96,500 cliurches, with 52,540 ministers, and 103,700 lay preachers. For their seven million children, there were ,j5,000 Sunday Schools and a staff of 900,000 'lne Unurcli of John Wesley had got "its second -wind," so to speak, and greater achievements than ever -were looked 'forward to for the future. Methodists had ,no cause to be ashamed of the teachings of their .Church, for there was not olio fundamental principle'of 'Methodism, which was ;not.also to be found in the tenets of tho :other evangelical churches. ' The speaker then touched upon tho prospects of an ultimate union of' all beliefs, and prophesied -the establishment of a great united' Christian Church'.

' ■ The church architect (Mr. Bennie) tlieri handed to Mrs. Newman the: silver-mounted mallet, designed for the occasion. Mrs. Newman, in the courso of a few remarks, observed that she . bad nioro than a passing interest in the Methodist' Church,, and rc'calledthat. many years "ago, as'a,child, she played with the presentation trowel handed to her father (ths late Dr. Featherstone) on the occasion of'the laying of the foundation stone of a Methodist - Church in "Wellington. Her son, moreover, .was. at. present pursuing his studies at Wesley's old college, Lincoln College, Oxford. The stone was then placed in position. .•• • ■■ Mr. It. A. Wright, M.P. for the district, then' addressed ■ the' gathering.. _ Although not .a Methodist himself,' ho said that lie professed a great admiration for the system and aims of that church. His own experience had shown him that the Methodist Church had played a conspicuous part in the great tight for No-License. The Wesleyan system of lay help had proved to be so successful as to commend itself to the attention of . the other religious, bodies.: The bread principle of Christianity was a belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, and bp wished that, from tin Prime Minister downwards, every member of the House of Parliament were inspired by this principle. He had personal knowledge that some of them were, and for these he cherished a sincere'esteem.