MEMORIAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 231, 18 June 1918, Page 6

MEMORIAL SERVICE

WELLINGTON CENTRAL MISSION. An impressive memorial service was conducted on Sunday evening at Everybody's Theatre by the Hey. G. ICnowles Smith, of the Wellington Central Mission. The missioner took his text from -the Book of Nehemiah, where it is stated that the workmen laboured from the rising of the sun until the star's came out. These words, he submitted, might bo applied equally well to two veteran toilers, whoso labours had now ended, and who had entered into their rest. He referred to the late Rev. James Flanagan, of the London South-East: better known as the Old Kent Road Mission, and to the late Mr. Enoch Tonks, of this city, who was one of a small bahd of workers to inaugurate the work of the present Central Mission at -a meeting held in the New 'Theatre, some seventeen years ago, "Both men," said tho speaker, "were zealous in tho cause of righteousness and inspired by the same lofty ideals. The Rev. James Flanagan lived to see the squalid surroundings which existed when he took over his charge give place to tho regenerating influences of Christianity, and tho erection of St. James's Hall was a lasting monument to his memory. In the early days of liis ministry, he was known among tho people of tho slum areas os Fatheg Flanagan, and such was his philanthropy that he was known to have entered the slum area with his month's stipend in his pocket, and after distributing financial help to some of the needy "ones to return home penniless. It may be remembered that the deceased gentleman 'paid a visit to Wellington some four years ago, ond held a series of evangelical meetings in connection with the Wellington Central Mission." Although in somewhat different surroundings, Mr. Tonks, who was a lay preacher for upwards of 50 years, laboured long and earnestly in the Methodist cause. Among the miners in tho Southern and Central Otago districts, he was respected because of - his practical .piety and'generous sympathies, and many were the long journeys 011 horseback and afoot undertaken to conduct services in outlying country districts". Tho late Mr. Tonics was keenly desirous of seeing a suitable building erected for the Wellington Central Mission, and contributed liberally towards tho object in view, and one of tho last offers Mr. Flanagan made was to return to' New Zealand and conduct the opening sorvices. At tho closo of the service, tho congregation remained standing as a mark of respect, whilst the Central Mission Band played "The Garland of Flowers."