A CHURCH JUBILEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 11

A CHURCH JUBILEE.

METHODISM AT TAT TAPU. SATURDAY'S CELEBRATIONS. The Methodists of Tai Tapu, their numbers swelled by many Visitors from near and far, wore favoured with glorious v/eatbor during the week-end for the celebration of.the jubilee Of the church in the district. The first church building was opened on September 23, 1866, and the. jubilee celebrationis were opened exactly fifty years later, on almost the same ground, which has been beautified by judicious treo-planting. The services were held in the church, which replaced the original building in 1832. , The congregations wcro large, and the exercises marked, by unusual fervour. A pleasing feature was'the presence of several members or the original congregation, and numerous descendants. '':,'. . The Rev A. C. Lawry, president of the Methodist Church, presided over the initial gathering on Saturday afternoon, when the church was crowded, and many listened from the porches and doorways to the which, opened with the singing of the first. verse of the National Anthem, and then tbe "Old Hundredth." The Rev, W. B. Scott, of Springston, ' offeredprayer. , The presentation of ,a Bible ana hymn-book to the Rev B. Metson, superintendent of the circuit, on behalf of the church trust, was made by Mr W. E. Peryman* The Bible, he explained, was the original copy of the Scriptures subscribed for and presented to the churcrTby the Methodist families of Tai Tapu fifty years ago, and had been rc-bound by the members of the Bible Glass. At the invitation .of Mr Peryman five members of the congregation stood, these being a remnant of the original subscribers. The hymn-book was the jubilee gift of the present Sunday school children. ■!"■ : '. •; Mr Metson returned thanks, and said be hoped that the two volumes would, be used for many years in the Tai Tapupulpit and would be remembered grate-' fully as the gifts of loving hearts. The chairman delivered an eloquent address, congratulating the Methodists, past and present, upon , the success which' had attended their evangelical efforts in the district. They had gathered at Tai Tapu, " the place of the holy,, tide," for that, he believed, was one interpretation of the name. Probably the stream flowing through the district had in the early days 6erved to dram away the, flood waters of Lake Ellesmero, or had at the end of the dry seasons helped to inundate the land and restore its fertility, and the- Maoris therefore called it blessed. Drawing an analogy, he said that fifty years ago oame tbe first wave of a blessed spiritual tide, a. tide of religious influence/ and it bad enabled those brave men and women of the pioneer days to succeed and to earn the gratitude and the reverence of the present generation. Times were changing. To-day religious influences were to be seen at work principally in the country,, whereas up till the last century it was in the centres of population only that Christianity held sway. In conclusion he tendered the hearty congratulations and good, wishes'of the Methodists of New Zealand. . ;••.:•"' '■ _, . Mr T. Morgan, chairman of the Tai Tapu School Committee, tendered' his congratulations, on behalf of the educational interests of the district, explaining that from the date of its opening until the day came very many years later for the opening of a State school, the children of Tai Tapu received their secular as well as their religious education in the old Methodist Church building. „,,,,.!: Hearty greetings to the Methodist connexion from the Church of England were voiced by "the Rev F. B. Red* grave. He said he had recently been reading the early history of Canterbury, and it had been borne in upon him that, despite their hardships and privations, the pioneers" knew more real happiness than the mass of the people to-day. and this was attributable to the fact that at all times God had a place in the forefront of their lives. They thirsted for and rejoiced in the teaching of Christianity, and were glad to walk or travel in bullock drays for many miles in order to attend worship on the Lord's Day. whilst, despite the fact that they lived in whares themselves, they provided the best building in the district as God's house. Even with tho good roads and comfortable travelling of to-day, there was same good church attendance. The speaker added, that his experience of Methodism at Tai Tapu proved.it to be of the spiritual, strenuous and vigorous order, and he hoped it would continue so. The Rev S. H. D. Peryman, who entered the ministry from the Tai Tapu church, spoke on church and personal matters, taking as his motto, " That thou savest, say quiokly." Then followed the Rev W. A. Sinclair, another of the sons of this church, who recalled bis first connection with Tai Tapu thirty-seven years ago his conversion and his entrance into the ministry. He was glad to be back among the old friends, who, after all, were the best friends. He acknowledged a debt which he could never repay to the Peryman family, whose life hwtory might very well be written as the history of the Tai Tapu Methodist Church. He esnoci' M v mentioned the late Mrs Peryman and Mr W. E. Pei-vr man, Sunday school superintendent for the last thirty-five years. Mr John Barnett, of Leeston, told of the part played by his father, Mr Jacob Barnett, and the family in connection with the holding of the first Methodist service in Tai Tapu, fn Mr Barnett's house, by Mr John Silvester, m 1862. The name of John Silvester, he thought, should be emblazoned in this church building in letters of gold. The speaker was the original deputation

to the quarterly meeting at Christchurch to have Tai Tapu " placed on the plan," and his heart warmed as he spoke of the eager willingness of the members to journey to Tai Tapu on. Sunday to hold services. Mr Barnett waxed reminiscent, and paid warm tribute to the late Mr Robert H. Rhodes's, open-handed generosity, mentioning biff gift of the Methodist Church site. A very enjoyable part of the programme was contributed by a full choir under the baton of Mr W. E, Peryman. The anthems included " Now Let the. Gates of Zion Ring," "How Lovely is Zion," the soloist being Miss Parrett,, and "The Earth is the Lord's and tho' Fulness Thereof," whilst Mr H. E,;fi.; Watson contributed the solo " A Sinner was Wandering," with vocal accompaniment. An adjournment was then made to the church grounds, where Mr R. A.. Forbes asked the Hon R. H. Rhodes, M.P., to plant the "jubilee oak." Mr, L'orhes congratulated Mr Rhodes upon the.good use he was making of his opportunities, and tendered the thanks of the fathers and mothers for his good work and his generosity in ameliorating the conditions of the men at tho 'front, a sentiment subsequently endorsed by the Rev A .. C. La wry. In conclusion' Mr Forbes handed Mr Rhodes a silver spade a& a memento of the occasion. After the tree was planted Mr Rhodes ' congratulated the congregation upon the steadfast faith of their predecessors and tho evidence existing or its continuance to-day. He trusted the work so nobly begun would flourish, and that even, the present commodious church would become too small, and that in. the'i near future there would arise a perma- ' nent church building of stone. " May this tree be as a tree of the Lord, full of; sap, and flourish, and last out many generations," ho concluded, amidst applause. - Tho Rev A. C. Lawry tendered thanks to all helpors, and tho services, closed with the Doxology and the Benediction. Then came the jubilee tea, during which a jubileo cake was cut with full ceremony by Mrs H. N.\ Tanner, who j was present at the original service and whoso children attended the first Sunday School in Tai Tapu. Mrs Tanner returned thanks for the honour of cutting the' cake, which was then handed round by Miss Peryman, Mesdames Morshead (Hawora), R. J. Fleming and Wall, members of the original Sunday School class. ■ , YESTERDAY'S SERVICES. The services hold yesterday were in ! the highest., degree impressive, and ! memorable. ■ " ~ There wag. a very; large congregation ; in the moiming when the Rey 5... Lawry ! preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon. . ' , In the afternoon there was'a good attendance, wh.eti"the service wa,s coil-,, ducted by Rev S'. H. I). Peiyma.i. The' preacher's subject was "Andrew, the, First Christian Scout." By illustration' and, anecdote , a tolling, appeal wa.«, made for. the consecration of love and service to Jesus,Christ. Several .anthems"were sung by tho choir. In the evening, tho church was crowded, and the prosident of the Methodist, Churchr(the Rev A. 0. Lawry),. .conducted ".-.the ' service. Greetings ..were read;: from Mr Ea Smith, Revs H. Ran-" ston,' J. H. Lochoro, W. Cannell.and Mrs and Miss Cannell. Special, anthem*, were sung bv a strong choir and orchestra, under the baton ,of Mr H. E. Peryman. Preaching from tho tost "No man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself," Mr Lawry spoke earnestly on ' the inr< fluenoe of personality and character. ' Reference was made to tho., honoured pioneers of the Church, whose good works still follow them. The sons and brothers at the front who are living* and fighting and dying for others, formed the t subject of an affectionate eulogy. Touching reference was made i* the Revs J. H. Luxford, J. Grigg, H.: L. Blamiros, J. Sullivan, A. ■Mitchell; and A. J. Seanier, all of whom had fered from wounds and, sickness, and to* the Rev J. Sheridan, who had laid-down his life on the battlefield. The» congregation was urged to consider the jporfect life and atoning death Of the Holy One, Who died not for Himself.