UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3593, 17 January 1883, Page 3

UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH.

Soiree and Public Meeting

The re-opening of the United Methodist Free Church after its removal from its late site in Shakespeare-road to Carlyle-street was celebrated last evening by a soiree and public meeting. At 6.30 an abundant tea, of which over 300 persons partook, was provided in the school-room, tables being presided over by the following ladies:—Mesdames E. 0. Perry, H. Williams, R. G. Graham, Mills, H. Stevens, Stairmond, Alderson, Chappell, Saunders, Chicken, Jarvis, and King; Misses Glenny, Tuckwell, and Watcrhouse.

About 8 o'clock an adjournment was made to the Church, where a public meeting was held, the Rev. E. 0. Perry occupying the chair. The building, which by the way, seems to have suffered none through its removal, was crowded, and great interest was apparently manifested in the_ proceedings by all present. A good choir, under the leadership of Mr R. H. Robinson, contributed in no small degree to the general success.

The meeting opened with singing and prayer, the latter being led by tho Rev. T. Hodgson. The Chairman then delivered a brief introductory address, in the course of which ho explained that the members of the congregation had been put to very considerable inconvenience for some time past owing to the removal of the church, but he thought tliey might now congratulate themselves that the removal had been so successfully carried out. All sorts of prognostications had been indulged in respecting that undertaking, and there were not wanting those who declared the building would not stand the removal. To remove it whole, it was argued, would be impossible, while to pull it down and remove it in parts would mean utter ruin to its appearance. He appealed to one and all to judge for themselves tonight if such had' been the case. It had not; but, on the contrary, he believed the building looked even better now than before, although there was still some portion of work to complete, such as painting, kc The congregation knew that it had been found impossible to obtain a tender at anything" like a fair price for the removal, but the gentleman who had superintended the erection of the church in the first instance came to the rescue and overlooked the removal of it also, so that the work altogether woidd only cost them some £200. It was only fitting and right, therefore, that Mr Glenny should receive their heartiest thanks for the excellent manner in which the work had been done. The Chairman concluded by remarking that it was five years since the last district, meeting had been held in Napier, and he felt sure the delegates would not be sorry when it came to be held here again, as they had on this occasion learned something of Napier hospitality they were not likely to forget. The Rev. J. W. Worboys, after regretting his inability and nnprcparedncss to make a speech, offered a few remarks on the nature and object of Christian work. He exhorted Christians to be alive to thcirduty, '' preaching Christ from house to house, and reverencing the Holy Scriptures which tltoy loved."

Hymn, '•'ln the Eden Above," choir. The Rev. R. Taylor adverted with evident feelings of pleasure to the occasion of his first visit to Napier, and spoke of the very cordial weelome then accorded to him —a kindness for which he could never forget the people of this district. He missed many of the old faces that he was accustomed to thirteen years ago when he first arrived, and he was led to ask himself again and again " where had they all gone tor"

It hardly seemed like the same place to him. He must congratulate the Methodists on the progress they had made since that time, and he awaited the large attendance that evening as a token that the cause had still many sympathisers in Napier, and that its claims were not forfeited. He would urge upon the people to co-operate with their minister in his good work—in the moral and spiritual elevation of men and women. Their object should be to make the world better, and if they did not succeed in doing that they failed in their mission. Sometimes ministers of the Gospel defeated their own object by going about their work as if they were "somebody." They had too much self-satisfaction and stand-away-I-am-a-little-holier-than-you " style about them. That was not the spirit to introduce into Christian work. To make the world a little better they must go a little down into it, not to participate in its follies and sins, but to tako poor fallen man by the hand and lift him up again. If they "wished to succed in the church they must first be united, secondly j be very active, and thirdly "stick to their Bibles." Their business transactions must alio be of such a character that they shoidd fear the reflections of no man.

The Chairman here apologised for the absence of the Rev. Mr Redstone, who was unable to be present owing to the sickness of his brother. Hymn, " I am Thine, Oh Lord," choir. The Rev. S. Macfarlane made a few rather humorous observations on some of the remarks that had fallen front the previous speakers, and then proceeded to speak of the constitution of Free Methodism, which he said placed ministers and laymen on an equal footing as the chosen representatives of the people in their conferences. He was one who did not believe in making a sandwich of a minister by placing him between two laymen. But the best ecclesiastical system in the world would be condemned if not worked out as it ought by Christian men. He woidd want Ins hearers not to boast of cither their system or themselves, but rather to try and exhibit the graces and glories of Christian character every day of their lives. That would, go down with thinking people, while presumptuous and sanctimonious utterances woidd not. It was useless to disguise themselves behind Sunday looks mid manners if there was not behind all that the life that challenged investigation. Hymn 44G was then sung by the congregation, after which the Rev. Joseph White gave an address, and commented on some of the "Signs of the Times." Amongst the dangers Christians should guard against were a "sign-seeking propensity"" that had got abroad, and the deep and wide tendency to materialism. Oliristiamty was not waning

as some asserted ; on the contrary, it was making rapid progress according to statistics supplied recently by the Rev. Joseph Cook, of Boston. An address was also given by Mr W. Burrow.

The Chairman having expressed in suitable terms his thanks to those who had provided tho tea, and also to those who had assisted in the work of getting the church removed, the meeting was brought to a close with prayer. _______