Opening Services in the New Wesleyan Church.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 94, 15 October 1894, Page 2

Opening Services in the New Wesleyan Church.

The opening services in connection i with the recently erected Wesleyan Church were held yesterday morning, afternoon and evening. A description of the building has already heen published in this journal and, therefore, it is unnecessary for us to make further mention of the architecture. As far as the acoustic power of this pretty church is concerned, it is perfection, it being quite as easy to hear in the back seats as in the front. The morning service, which was attended by a large congregation, all the seats being filled, ;wa„ conducted by the Rev. W. Keall, pastor of the SandonFeilding circuit. He read portions of the scripture from H Chronioles 6 chapter, I Chronicles XXIX chapter and Exodus HI chapter, taking his text from Exodus IH, 5 verse, which reads : " And he said, draw not nigh hither ; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." In his discourse he referred to the joyous celebrations in opening the Church. They came there to offer thanksgiving to God, to whom this building had been dedicated. Great carefulness was required of those worshipping in God's house. More carefulness would be more profitable. There should be no rude unprofitable speech made iv God's house, but they should be of profound respect. All things were holy because they were God's, but there are spots to which special holiness is attached. The tendency of opinion is to say it is only a place, but it was more than that and he exhorted his hearers to be reverent and cautious. Inferring to the blessings to be derived from communion with the holy spirit he said that man was saved by man, to whom God guarantees the necessary characteristics. The work was too sacred to boast of, and he said the money given shows the sentiments which move us. The discourse was appropriate and was listened to with interest. In the afternoon Mr G. Grant, of Palmerston, conducted a service, the congregation being almost as large as the one in the morning. He took his text from Luke VH chapter and 42nd verse, dwelling on the redemption by Christ of those who repented and appealed to Him. Mr Grant also read a portion of the scripture from HoseaXTV and Luke XXIV. The evening service, conducted hy the Rev. W. H. Judkins, of the Feilding Church, was largely attended. In fact, seats were placed in every available portion of the Church, and then it was impossible to find room for many who wished to attend. Half an hour before the service commenced, the Church was well filled, and a quarter to seven it was crammed. Mr Judkins took his text from Ephesians V, verses 25, 26 and 27 : "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word ; that He might present it, &c., &c." He preached a very practical 1 sermon, referring to the sectarianism of 1 the present day and its cause. Although ' they should endeavor to keep away from narrow sectarianism, the sects of to-day 1 were perfectly legitimate, as they had to face things as they are. They were 1 trying to attain the ideal. Sects are not always facing each other with daggers drawn, but often worked in 1 harmony. They knew what things * ought to be, but had to face them as j they were. Nowadays the tendency 1 was to look at beautiful buildings and surroundings and, also, ceremonies. He contended this was not the spirit which should predominate in a Christian Church. The clergy must place themselves on a level with tha people and throw aside dignity, which lies in character, not in vestment. The Church of Christ must be progressive, influencing humanity for good. The ideal Church building should even provide a room for the temporary accommodation of homeless ones, and that was what it was coming to. He strongly condemned i what is termed "dignity" and the agSrandisement which some people eneavored to attain through the medium i of churches. i During the services a strong combined choir from the Feilding, Sanson, and i Campbelltown Churches, under the i conductorship of Mr R. F, Haybittle, 1 rendered several selections from ' the Choral Anthems. The anthems in the morning were " Make a Joyful Noise : unto the Lord," " Cast thy Burden on i the Lord," and " Great Jehovah," Miss . Curtis taking the alto solo part of the i latter. In the evening the anthems i were •• The Lord Jehovah Praise," I "Make a Joyful Noise," and "My i Shepherd," Messrs Milson and Durrant taking the tenor duet of the latter. A i strong orchestra of ten instruments ; materially assisted. They were: organ, Mr S. Moore ; bass viol, Mr H. Bilderbeck; cornets, Messrs S. Andrews and i G. Haybittle; flute, MrMorley; violins, i Messsr £. Haybittle, W. A. Grace, ' Keall, Fagan, and A. Haybittle. The organ was kindly lent for the occasion by Mr J. Cobbe. Numbers of visitors from Sandon, Campbelltown, and other districts, attended the services, while dozens could not gain admission in the evening, owing to the crush. The collections for the day were : morning £5 9s, afternoon J. 26s 6d, evening £1 2s ; total, £15 7s 6d, which amount, with the collections from next Sunday's services, will be devoted to the building fund. On Wednesday next a sale of work and tea will be held in the Temperance Hall, and a subsequent meeting will be held in the Church, when the, ministers of other denominations iv the town will address those present. The Eroceeds from this gathering will also c devoted to the building fund. The Rev. Mr Lee, of Palmerston, will conduct services 'in the Church on Sunday next.