EAST BELT WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2282, 26 July 1881, Page 4

EAST BELT WESLEYAN CHURCH.

The Wesleyan Methodists of Christchurch met yesterday at three o’clock on the site of their new Church about to be erected on the Bast belt at the corner of Worcester street, to witness the laying of the foundation stone of the building by his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. There was a large attendance, at least 500 persons being present. The Rev. W. Baumber stated briefly the object of the gathering, and the choir having sung the 900th hymn, the Bov. J. Gillam read a portion of scripture, und the Rev. J. Aldred engaged in prayer. The Rev. W. Baumber then said that the next business was to lay the foundation stone of this their new Church, the want of which was greatly felt. Ho was glad to say that they were enabled to erect the building with very little debt attached to it. He had great pleasure in asking the Mayor of Christchurch to perform the ceremony.

The architect then handed a silver trowel to the Mayor. At the same time a sealed bottle was placed in the cavity of tho stone, containing a parchment on which was inscribed the names of tho Mayor, of the ladies who would lay three memorial stones, circuit ministers, trustees, architect, builder, copies of “ The Wesleyan,” PHB3S, and “Lyttelton Times,” a plan of the circuit, and specimens of the current coins of the realm.

The Mayor having ipread the mortar, the ■tone was duly lowered to its position, and hia Worship declared the atone to bo well and truly laid in the names of the three persona of the Trinity. Ho remarked that the new church when completed would bo an ornamental feature in the locality, os well aa supplying a great spiritual need. Ho would not in the presence of the many ministers of religion he aaw present make a rot speech, but he must say it was a good sign when the small churches had to be so speedily replaced by larger buildings, and he desired to thank them for the honor conferred upon him in asking him to lay the foundation stone of a building whore men would be taught their highest duty. After thirf three memorial stones were successively laid by Mesdames Eitchie and Mouldey and Miss Martin, the first on behalf offthe congregation, the second on behalf of the trustees, and the third on behalf of the Sunday schools. At the conclusion the Eer. W. Baumber presented each of the ladies with an elegantly bound copy of the Bible and Wesleyan Hjmn Biok. The Bev. J. S. Smalley then engaged in prayer, and the choir sang the 903rd hymn. The Eev, J. Taylor, chairman of the district, then ascended the stone, and gave a brief outline of Wesleyan Methodist doctrine, referring in feeling terms to the sad castastrophe to the Tararua, which had placed him in that position. The Eev. James Buller followed with an epitome of Wesleyan Methodist polity, stating that the Wesleyan Church contained sixteen millions of adherents. Wesleyan Methodism was a mighty stream which could be traced up to small beginnings, and was noted by the utter absence of party strife. At pre-

sent they had in the colony 70 ministers, 167 churches, 14,000 Sunday scholars, and close on 40,000 adherents. [Cheers.!! Offi o rcvgentleman concluded with several facts from tho lives of John and Charles Wesley. Rev. W. Baumhcr stated that in Canterbury they had 17 ministers, 45 churches 4500 Sunday scholars, and nearly 12,000 adherents.

The Bar. J. Crewes then offered prayer, and tho proceedings were closed by the Bov. Charles Dallaston pronouncing tho benediction, Tho Iron el, which was of solid silver, was manufactured by Mr G. T. White, of Co lombo street, the handle being of ivory. It boro tho following inscription :—“ The founds'. on stone of East Belt Wesleyan Church, laid 19th July, 1881, by J. Gapes, Esq, Mayor of Christchurch. Presented by James Goss, builder.” Mise Banks presided at tho harmonium.