METHODIST CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1081, 3 April 1913, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH.

FOUNDATION rTONF LAYING CEREMONY.

The foundation _stoe-*. laying ceremony in connection with the new Methodist Church in the Avenue took place yesterday afternoon, before a representative gathering of the public, including Methodists from Shannon, Palmerston N., Levin and elsewhere. Two marble tablets were erected, that on the eastern side by the Hon. C. M. Luke. M.L.C., late President of the Primitive Methodist Conference, and Vice-president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, and that on the west by G. H. Stiles Esq., late Vice-presi-dent of the Primitive Methodist Conference and local circuit steward. The tablets were inscribed with the. names of the above gentlemen and the date, April 2nd. The singing was led by the choir, and Miss Honore presided at the organ. The proceedings opened with the hymn, “All Hail the Power,” followed by an appropriate prayer by the Rev P. W. Jones (Feilding). Then followed the hymn, “The Church is one foundation.” The Rev P. J. Mairs (late minister in charge of the circuit) read the 22nd chapter I. Chronicles.

The Rev Mr Coatsworth, minister in charge of the circuit, briefly referred to the destruction of the old church by fire, nine months ago, and paid a tribute to the loyalty of members who had been compelled to worship under difficulties during the selection of a site and the erection of the new building. On behalf of the Methodists he welcomed the Hon. C. M. Luke, and referred to that gentleman’s active connection with Methodism and the esteem in which he is held, exemplified in the fact that he had been elected three times as President of the Conference, and since the Union the first Vice-President of the United Methodist Church of New Zealand.

Mr M. H. Walker, one of the trustees, handed to the Hon. C. M. Luke a silver trowel, suitably engraved, on behalf of the church, as a memento of the occasion and a mark of appreciation.

The Hon. Mr Luke, in declaring the tablet well and truly laid, expreseed his pleasure at being privileged to take part in such an important ceremony. He referred to his earliest associations with the Foxton Methodist Church and a visit he made when they worshipped in a little hall. He mentioned the names of the Rev Standrin, Messrs Port, Hughey, Howan, London, Gibson, Honore, Osborne, and last, but by no means least, Mr Stiles. All these had laboured loyally in the cause of Methodism in Foxton. He also referred to the fact that his brother, now deceased, had commenced his ministry in Fox,ton under the superintendency of the Rev Mr Jones, who was present with them that day. He made reference to the union of the two Methodist Churches, which united organisation was going to be a power for good in the Dominion. The time was coming when ther e would be a union of other churches. He referred to the agency of Christianity upon civilisation and the uplifting of the human race, tracing it from its earliest sources. He denied that Christianity, as stated by some, was choking the wheels of progress. This was disproved by the greatest minds. He prayed that God would bless the church aud those associated with it, and that it would prove a power for good in the community. He warned his hearers agaiust the wave of materialism that was sweeping over the country, and urged them to lay up treasurers in heaven and to remember that they were stewards unto God. He concluded by referring to the work of those who had been associated with the old church who, maybe, were with them in spirit that day. The new church was a finger post to heaven.

Mr Stiles was also presented with a silver trowel by Mr Walker, and the Rev. Mr Coatsworth paid a tribute to Mr Stiles’ work in connection with the church.

Mr Stiles, in declaring the tablet well and truly laid, said that he trusted their church would becothe increasingly a centre of spiritual life in this district. He desired to thank the trustees for the presentation just made and to assure them that during the past sixteen years his association with the church had been a happy one. He esteemed it a very great privilege indeed on behalf of the officials of the church to take part in the stone laying ceremony, and in doing so he took the opportunity of thanking Mr Luke for coming such a distance, and at great inconvenience, to assist in the stone-laying ceremony. The privilege of assisting in the erection of a church tor the worship of God was such that it should be regarded as of the greatest importance, not only to the individual, but to the whole community. He said an obligation rested upon the Christian people to provide a building wherein they could worship in such a manner that all might feel that it was their home. The Methodists in Foxton were commemorating a very great event, the building of a church, a building which, when completed, would be au ornament to the town, and he sincerely trusted that the good work that will be accomplished by it will be of such a lasting nature that it will leave its mark on this town for ever. It will be with feelings of the greatest satisfaction that we shall view the completion of the churchv 'J'Jiey now began to realise that

after many months of bard and anxious work, under great disadvantages, l ! ' will very soon be again able U assemble together in a f aiding that lendc itse '» tree worship. He said it is .. , ~omc nine rin ,e hr.w baa

tVU: ;:i isb'm I; HO lO h cm-"- destroyed by fire, a loss to them which was of very serious moment, and one which brought with it some very serious problems, the greatest of which was the site of the future church. It would be realised that the removing from a site which it had occupied for upwards of forty years was one that required careful thought. They all recognised that the land lately occupied by the Methodists had become very valuable, the sale of which would assist them to a very great extent in the new building scheme, and they had sufficient faith in the loyalty of their people to believe that they would follow the church wherever it was built. He said that during the time the meetings had been held in the supper-room of the Town Hall the congregation had stood by the Church loyally, both in their attendance and their giving, which fact had greatly lightened the labours and given heart to their minister. With the sale of the late site and the insurance on the church, after paying for the new site, a fund of /600 was available to commence the new building. The contract price of the church was .£9OO. A cheaper and less roomy, imposing and costly church could have been erected, but when they thought of the prosperity that surrounds this Dominion, that their homes and business places have greatly improved, what right had they to be mean in the building of a temple ot God, which should represent all that is beautiful and best in this world, and he believed that in this building they would more fully work out the plans of the Great Architect of the Universe. The building was not only for the present, but for the future. It was not simply money and materials, and the skill of the architect and builders that was required to build the church, bat a supreme faith in God, a faith in the continued growth of His Church, and a belief in the development of our town. The erection of the building expressed their faith in God, and gratitude to Him for allthe mercies of the past. He referred to the old associations connected with the building destroyed, and they would carry, the memory of them into the new one. In conclusion be spoke appreciatively of the kindly sympathy and, in many instances, practical help given by members of the various churches. A collection was taken up, which realised the sum of 16s 6d.

The Doxology was sung, aud the proceedings closed with the Benediction.

TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING

lu the evening a tea meeting was held in the Masonic Hall, commencing at 6.45 o’clock and at the conclusion of the same a public meeting was held. At the tea meeting there was a very good attendance and ample justice was done to the good things provided by the ladies of the congregation, who also were in attendance at the tables and saw that everyone present was well provided for. At the conclusion of the tea the tables were cleared away in readiness for the public meeting, at which the attendance was also satisfactory. The chair was occupied by the Rev. T. Coatsworth and the proceedings were opened by the singing ot a hymn by the congregation, Mr G. H. Stiles presiding at the organ. After prayer the chairman briefly extended a welcome to those present and expressed pleasure at the interest taken in the foundation stone laying ceremony. He was pleased to have present with him that night the Revs. Jones, Daniells and Mairs and apologised for the absence of several others who had intended being present but were unable to do so. He said that it was desired to raise a sum of during the day and he felt sure that they would not be disappointed on this score as the collection at the afternoon ceremony amounted to over ,£35 and no doubt the tea and public meeting would make up the balance. The cjioir, members of which occupied seats on the stage, under the conductorship of Mr H. Osborne, rendered the anthem “The Lord is my Light,’’ after which the Rev, P. W. Jones, ot Feilding, gave an interesting address, dealing at some length with the early days of Methodism in this and the surrounding district. Mr Jones was one of the pioneer Methodist ministers in this district. During the evening songs were contributed by Miss D. Signal, Messrs J. Buglass, A, Rimmer, J. Chrystall and Rev. Daniell, and Messrs Wrigley, Longworth, Buglass and Guilder sang two quartettes. The choir also sang the anthem “Praise the Lord, O . Jerusalem.” The accompaniments were played by Misses Signal and Honore and Mrs Wrigley. The Rev. J* M. Thomson, m.a. (Presbyterian), in a brief address expressed pleasure at being privileged to address the gathering and congratulated the Methodists on the finely appointed building that was at present in course of erection. He touched on the good work done by the Church and gave a little parable showing that there was a place for every branch of the Church, and all were doing a very good work. The Rev. H. Daniell (Halcombe) after congratulating the local congregation on the

progress they had made gave a brief address on the mission of the Church. The last speaker was the Rev. P. J. MLirs, who ex■j.r- , £ -ei pleasure t bcKj I 1 . .> Is ~na was

- rmv- ; 10 sec 1 i>. ;■ were p--..gassing. Tb.. mgating was

biought to a dn-jc by the pronouncing of the Benediction.