PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 502, 2 November 1909, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

JUVENILE MISSIONARY

MEETING

Despite the inclemency of the weather last night, there was a fair attendance at the Methodist Church on the occasion of the above meeting, which was held under the auspices of the Christian Endeavour Society. The chair was occupied by Mr M. H. Walker (secretary), some half dozen budding orators taking their seats on the platform, together with the Rev. P. J. Mairs and others. The proceedings were opened with a hymn, after which prayer was offered.' The Chairman, in a short address, stated that he had been connected with the local Methodist Church for upwards of 20 years. He touched briefly on the excellent work being accomplished by their missionaries at the various stations throughout the most uncivilised parts of tbe world, and impressed on his hearers the great necessity for more help in order to continue carrying out this noble work. He had offered prizes to the children of the congregation who were the most zealous in collecting for the Mission Fund, and the results had far exceeded his expectations. The speaker then called on the Rev- P. Mairs, who, in a few wellchosen words, pourtrayed the mission work in general and the wonderful things achieved by the earnest workers in their endeavours to christianise the heathen in the far off lands'and raise them to a higher and better standard of living. He eulogised Mr Walker for his generous donations of prize money in order to encourage the cnildren to collect for the mission; Mr Walker had also given three beautiful books to be presented with other prizes at the close of the meeting. Remarks had reached the speaker to the effect that the collecting should be confined strictly to the Methodist Church, but Mr Mails said the field was world wide, and they were justified in soliciting help from all sources ; the great work was the outcome of the girl and boy efforts in contributing to the funds of the mission. The first of the youthful speakers was Mr A. Rimmer, who spoke on the “ Chapel Opening at Sajolas. Central Africa,” and kept the audience deeply interested for some time as he described the native assistants at the .chapel building and the progress made so slowly but perseveringly, that it took five years to complete the brick edifice, subject as they were to privations and inconveniences as regards material, etc. Much amusement was caused as the speaker detailed the funny mannerisms of the natives of Sajolas. Miss Honore depicted in a clear and unfaltering voice the adventures experienced and hardships endured by a missionary and his young wife, confining her remarks chiefly to “An Ox Waggon Journey,” which was undertaken by the said missionary, and concluded with an earnest appeal to all to assist in every way possible to lighten labour of those toiling in the mission field.

The speeches throughout ‘the evening were interspersed with hymns, Miss Florrie Mairs presiding at the organ. Mr E. Cowley, in a most efficient manner, described a missionary’s visit to an Efik Queen in Central Africa. He stated that no one could deny that missionaries were among the best and bravest men upon earth, and were sometimes called to do heroic deeds, and also, naturally to associate with distinguished people. Mr Cowley observed that one of the Methodist missionaries ndw labouring among the Efik people, had related the story of his visit to one of the Queens in that country. He tells us, continued the speaker, nothing about being attired in Court dress, or driving in a fine carriage on roads as smooth as a floor, and through a beautiful well kept park—his journey to the Palace of the Queen was under different conditions altogether; for an hour and a-half he trudged on foot through the bush, under a hot African sun. Even when he got near the place where the Queen lived, there were no indications that the place was of much more importance than those where the common people lived. The Palace, indeed, Mr Cowley ejaculated, was only a mud hut, and the few people w,ho were round about it were not any different from those who could be seen in any other part' of the district. As the missionary approached he noticed that those who observed his - coming were for a moment startled and Pne coloured woman in a great hurry disappeared inside the hut. This, intimated the speaker, is a custom frequently acted upon by women in New Zealand when they have seen visitors coming that they were not expecting, and especially if the said visitors were rather, particular or distinguished people-! (Laughter.) The missionary, however, soon discovered the reason for the Queen’s hasty disappearance indoors, when she came out to welcome him ; it was not unfriendliness—she was delighted to see him —but the fact that she wished to meet him in evening dress, which consisted of coloured gown and huge head dress ; in other respects she was a fine woman indeed, quite queenly in her, own way, with her open countenance, tall, well - formed figure and dignified bearing. But there were evidences of superstition apparent—jars containing medicine placed at a distance in the forest, while the same mixture was on the door posts and ajoining ground—-the object being to charm

. away all evil things, seen and un- ' seen, evil spirits, bad men, wild beasts and isnakes, .etc. Mr Cowley concluded his remarks by stating that by and by when the poor, Africans hah been taught to worship’ God they would put away all these horrible superstitions and trust for safety in Him Whom we trust, and Who has promised to be with His people qt all times and in every danger that threatens them. Other juvenile speakers were Misses Knewstub and Cooper, who were listened to attentively trhoughout. Mr H. Smith, in his address, proved to be a fluent speaker of no mean order, and entertained bis ' intent listeners with a somewhat lengthy and most interesting account of mission work 1 all over the world, and instilled into the minds of those present the large amount of labour still waiting to be done, but which could only be accomplished by each of us as an individual doing his or her share, according to the means given us. Mr Smith, in conclusion said that Christ was the greatest of all mjssioners, and to Him we must look for guidance. Mr Huntly, in his tically happy and, smiling manner, detailed several anecdotes in connection with mission work, both amusing and pathetic in turn, and held the undivided attention of his audience while relating his narratives. At this juncture the Chairman presented prizes to the following • collectors, in order of merit; Masters R. Coker, A. Bullard, W. Walker, Misses . E. Rimmer, T. Knewstub, E. Langley, Masters Clif. Podmore, Louis Read, Roy Coley, L. Johnson and Willie Howe. As a result of the children’s efforts, and an additional £2 collected by himself from visitors to the town who had called at his shop, Mr Walker, as Secretary to the Missionary Society, was enabled to forward on to the Treasurer at Auckland the sum of £l7 13s id. ’ At the conclusion of the meeting the Rev. P. J. Mairs moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, the speakers and collectors, which was seconded ' by Mr Coker. The singing of the doxology terminated the proceedings.