METHODIST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 6, 28 June 1928, Page 6

METHODIST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

Good congregations attended the Methodist Church anniversary service's. on .Sunday week last.. Rev E. S. Harkn.<\ss, of ffataitai, preached in the morning, the choir, finder the leadership of Mr.. R.. V.. Shearer, rendering the anthem "The Everlasting Strength" (Harris). The evening anthems were, ' • The Heavens are Telling" (Haydn), anxl "He Watcheth Over Israel" (Mendelssohn), and Mrs. Gibb sang the solo "How Amiable are Thy Tabernacles." Rev. C. H. Olds, 8.A., preached on the subject, '' Why Go To Church*" The Church, he said, is criticised for unattractiveness, pettiness, insincerity and hyprocrisy. There are far better people, it is said, outside the Church than many of those inside. The Church, however, is a society of Christians in the making. It exists largely for the development, of Christian character. We should no •more find its members' perfect than to find the inmates of a hospital sound in health. The great majority of its people, despite their faults, are honest triers. There are some hypocrites to be found in Churches, but in what society are they not found? It is of their very nature to creep into such an institution. Meanwhile their presence should no more deter the sincere worshipper from attending public worship than the presence at a good <con- ! cert of those who attend merely for I show or for other unworthy motives ! should prevent the true lover of music I from feasting his soul. On the Tuesday evening, despite the bitter cold, a fair number of members attended the congregational social in Wesley Hall. The annual report, presented by the Trust secretary, Mr W. Walton, referring to the year's developments, mentioned the purchase of a site at Upper Hutt and the erection on it of a Church removed from Whiteman's Valley, the purchase of a site and the erection of a church at Waiwhetu, and the enlargement and renovation of the Taita Church. The Trust treasurer, Mr C. E. Crawford, presented a statement with regard to the financial position, of Waiwhetu. Over £300 has been raised towards the cost of the site and building, and schemes are in hand for liquidating the greater portion of the remaining debt on the building during the next twelve months. . '

Rev. E. P. Blamires, General Secretary of the Young People's Department of the Dominion, gave an interesting address on the relation of the Church to the youth of to-day. He stressed the importance of holding our young people for the Church during the critical years of adolescence.

During the evening musical and elocutionary items.were rendered by Mesdames Mitchell and Johnston, the Misses Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Orr,% and: Messrs Surtees and . Muir. (2). Supper was handed round" by the ladies; and a very pleasant evening ended wit&.t&e.; singing of/ the PoxologyVv :