The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1928.

A COMMENDABLE SPIRIT. The local Church organisations are to he commended for the confident spirit in which they set about helping themselves as occasion demands; The parishioners here, as the records will show, have lieen no mean supporters of their churches. This commendation covers the four active denominations established locally now over .many years. When a disastrous lire overtook the Methodist community they set to work with a will, and in a comparatively short time, with financial aid from inside and outside, their edifice was soon restored to normal conditions again. The Presbyterians as was shown by their recent annual meeting, are helping themselves in a very creditable way. Their financial year was a success, and their fund for the Scots’ .Memorial Church is steadily, if slowly, mounting up. The Anglicans, ton, are showing a worthy sj>irit, and the erection of a large hall for purposes in connection with Churc-h work is a. very commendable sign of tlie times. Wo take it that this movement is a prelude to renewed activity regarding the new Memorial Church for which a consideiable sum lias now accrued. Quite the best and most practical evidence of congregational work in self-support, however is in connection with the practical completion of St. Alary's Roman Catholic Church which was dedicated in solemn form on Sunday last by t Bishop of the Diocese. St. Alary’s is now practically completed, and when it is realised that it represents an expenditure of between £9,000 and £lO.000, there is room for commendation for the good work and ready support, of the congregation. In recently provid ing for the considerable expenditure to complete the interior of the Church, the congregation showed a very generous net, for previously a lnrge sum

had to be found to carry the building to the stage it was. St. Mary’s Church is one of the striking architectural features of the town, and for a place of this size, wc feel sure it will hear comparison with the best. The donors may feel, therefore, that they have stilsseribed to some purpose, and that their contributions have gone to a worthy cause. Church work in this community entails a good deal of expenditure, and it is satisfactory to find that the money is given freely and from a sincere desire to serve a useful purpose. Our town is not a large one in any sense of the word, but thanks to the community spirit, it is able to emulate the works of a larger centre, and in respect to Church work and life, nothing seems lacking when the call is made to serve the purpose of the different organisations. It can ho well understood that in connection with organisation of the building fund for St Mary’s a considerable task and responsibility fell to the lot of the local clergy in charge. The successive priests, it can be seen, could not have spared themselves, and it is easy to understand that the work grew more difficult as the cost increased. Father Fiiierty. who has Keen in charge of the latter stage of the effort, will tool relieved, we are sure, that the task is at the present stage, and lie and all those who were associated with him, will he grateful for the help given. However, from a civic point <jf view, we consider it altogether creditable to the people as a whole that Church life is so vigorous amongst us. a lid the result indicates what can lie accomplished by interest and enthusiasm carried on in the right spirit.