The Wesleyan Body.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 28, 2 August 1894, Page 2

The Wesleyan Body.

UAIIJNI* DUUNDATI.ON O* NJBW CHURCH. Tbe ceremonies yesterday afternoon in connection with laying tbe foundation block of tbe Wesleyan Church, which is being erected on the site of the old Church, Grey street, marked an important epoch in the history of the Wesleyan body in Feilding. Since the advent of the Rev. W. H. Judkins to Feilding, the attendance at the Sunday services has continued to increase to such an extent that the building then occupied became far too small, and the erection of a new Church was hurried on the trustees, who were maturing a scheme to meet the requirements of the increasing attendance. The edifice how being erected by Mr R. Heald, the contractor, is the result, and it is being built with a view to seating two hundred and fifty people, but at a pinch there will probably be sitting room for three hundred persons* The weather being gloriously fine, nearly three hundred people were attracted from all parts of the district* Palmerston, Marton, Sandon, Campbelltown, and Bunnythorpe, being amongst the localities represented. The ceremony was commenced by singing a hymn 1 and a short prayer by tbe Rev. W. Keall, who then called on the Mayor, Mr William Carthew, to lay the foundation block. Previous to placing it in position Mr Carthew placed 'in the receptacle for the block a copy of the Feilding Star, Rangitikei Advocate, Wesleyan Methodist, and a Preachers' Plan of the circuit. The block is at the end of the. Church fronting Grey street, and under the alcove. To mark the place there is visible to anyone entering the gate a glass plate inscribed in gold lettering with tbe words : " This block was laid by W. Carthew, Esq., Ist August, 1894. Ministers, Revs. W. Keall and W. H. Judkins. Architect, T. H. James : builder, R. Heald." , Tbe Mayor having placed the block in position declared it well and •faithfully laid. He considered this was a red letter day in the history of Methodism in Feilding, and he believed tbe building would be a credit to the town. It was an ancient custom to hold demonstrations when the foundation of a building was being laid. He believed that the present success ot the Church here was the result of the labors ot previous ministers, beside* the fact that they had a new minister here, after baviug been for some yean without a resident minister. He mentioned the Revs. Wm. Parsonspn, Worker, Simmons, Martin, Cannell, and Watkins, as having labored here previous to the Rev. W. Hr Judkin's appointment. With reference 1o finance he said they did not expect the proposed Church would be so imposing a structure when they started the idea to erect a new one, and expected to be able to have one built at a cost not exceeding £300, whereas the one being built would, cost over £500. To cover this cost £200 had been collected and another £100 was obtained as a loau from the Church fund. The deficiency now was about £200, and this they hoped to materially decrease by the time the Church was opened. He hoped the time would arrive when not only the Primitive Methodist, Free Methodist, and Wesleyan bodies, would be amalgamated, but that all Christian churches would be united tinder one head. • A collection was then taken up, which added £7 10s 2d to the funds of the Church. - I Mr J. Bowater, of Sandon, ccxTgra. tulated the Feildinjr people on their efforts towards the erection of a now church. When the first Wesleyan sermon was preached in Feilding the dwelling places were mostly* tents. He was very pleased they had secured the Her W, H. Judkin's services and he trusted thac all would assist that gentleman. The Rev W. Lea was the next speaker and expressed the pleasure it gave him of being present on this occasion. He did sot altogether regret that Feilding had been left so long without a resident minister. ' There were other districts which needed the means of .grace and this district was attended to from Sandon, besides this there were other Methodist bodies in the town and it might be unwise to hurry a minister into 1 a place where there was already one. He could not help talking about his own church, but it did not follow that while praising his own he was disparaging other churches. Ju 1883 there were in connection with the Weelayan tody in New Zealand 28) church**, 262 other places of worship, 90 miiiiiters, 18 Home Missionaries, 424 local preachers, 2058 Sunday school teachers, 11,413 members, 20,012 scholars, and an attendance of 58,779. These fig. urea showed an increase since 18»S of 20 per cent of churches, 25 per cent other places of worship, 10 per cent ministers and Home Missionaries, 30 per cent local preachers, 18 per cent Sunday school teachers, 25 per cent members, 24 per cent scholars, and 23 per cent attendance. Mr Kuight, of Campbelltown, in making a few congratulatory remarks said he was sure that if a collector went to Campbelltown assistance would be rendered to Feildiog. Mr Grace, of jfaimersfon., was plpased to be at tfte gathering and offered them the congratulations of the. Palmerston church. Mr Keall regretted that by an orsrsight the ministeif of otfcer denomin* ations in Feilding had not been in* vited to attend. At the conclusion of the above addresses the ceremony was closed. The Rev Mr Judkin received an apology from Mr E, W. Bishop (of Mount. Stewart) for non-attendance with a donation of £2. Tbe Feilding Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr B. F. flaybuite materially assisted to enliven the proceedings by playing several selections of music.