Feilding Wesleyan Church.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 97, 18 October 1894, Page 2

Feilding Wesleyan Church.

TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING. Yesterday afternoon the ladies of the above religious body, who had formed themselves into a sewing bee with a view of raising money for the building fund of the new Church, held a sale of their handiwork in the Temperance Hall, where a tea promoted by them was also held in the evening. In addition to the ladies of the sewing bee, numerons other ladies of the Church gave assistance in a variety of ways. Their efforts were so well crowned with success that upwards of two hundred persons sat down to tea, while all the articles offered for Bale were disposed of. The eatables were aligiTen by members of the congregation, and the trustees recognise the valuable assistance rendered by one and all. Thehandßome sum of about £14 was realised from the tea, while about £7 was obtained from the sale of work, totalling about £22, but the exact amount iB not yet known. At the conclusion of the tea a public meeting was held in the new Church, which was crowded. His Worship the Mayor, W. Carthew, Esq., ocoupied the chair, and, after opening the meeting in the usual manner with singing and prayer, he called Mr J. Cobbe, who read the financial statement, showing that the total cost of the new structure was .£542, of which amount £251 has been collected, of the £289 promised. They had received .£IOO from the loan fund (without interest) to be repaid in quarterly install \ ments, £80 was expected from that day's gathering. Thus a debt of £123 will be left on the Church, but the trustees hope to have it materially reduced, if not cleared off altogether, during the year. The chairman made a short appropriate address, referring to the opening of the old church and noticed that some of those who were present on that occasion were with them still, mentioning the names of Messrs Hughie, Cornish and Mrs Evans. , The Eev. W. Keall was the next speaker. Referring to sectarianism, he denied that it was an evil. He did hot profess to say nor did they claim that. , God tied himself to any sect. The , number of Christian sects in the world L were a sign of advanced thought. The , Methodist churches in this district were , dependant on the sympathy of others f who did not belong to the church and he thanked them for assisting so well. The . church must have vitality within itself '. or it could not exist and he concluded with an appeal to members to be deli* i gent. The Rev. W. H. Judkins read apologies from the Revs. G. Clements and A. , Innes Jones and Mr Kellow for nonattendance through unavoidable circumstances. Mr J. Bowater, of Sandon, congratulated the Feilding people on having j erected such a fine building. j Mr Sanson, of Campbelltown, said he i was amongst the first who attended, r service of any kind in Feilding. This was about March or April 1878, when he came over from Sandon with the Rev. 3 Mr Harper, and they found men busy at work on a Sunday. He was pleased the scene was changed. Mr Bishop referred to the good work done by early Wesleyans in Feilding and said their efforts were now bearing fruit. 3 The Rev. H. M. Murray, Presbyterian Minister, Feilding, made a short con* gratulatory speech. Captain Renshaw, of the Salvation Army, in making a congratulatory i speech noticed that where denominations were most friendly God's work prospered most. Mr A'Court also congratulated the Feilding section of the church. The Rev. W. H. Judkins moved votes of thanks to everyone who had assisted, ) mentioning the names of Mr Menzie's . (who thoughtfully sent a block for the convenience of ladies to mount their horses), Mrs Cobbe (for the pleasant surprise of the communion service), all workers who so kindly helped, the Campbelltown, Sanson and Feilding choirs, i conducted by Mr R. F. Haybittle with i Mr Moore as organist, ladies of the i sewing bee, everyone who assisted at » the tea, Mr T. H. James (the architect;, > with Mr R. Heald under him as builder, - the trustees, and the chairman. Mr r Cobbe seconded the motion which was I carried by acclamation. > The meeting closed with the benedic* I tion, which was offered by the Rev. M* ) Murray. > The collection realised £21157 d. i A strong choir under the conductor. - ship of Mr R. F. Haybittle rendered I several anthems in first-class style, Me I S. Moore presiding at the organ; Me > Morley (flute), Masters E. and A. Hay* > bittle (violins) forming an orchestra.