PASSING OF PIONEER METHODIST MINISTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40034, 3 December 1929, Page 2

PASSING OF PIONEER METHODIST MINISTER.

THE REV. PETER W. JONES.

The Rev. Peter W. Jones, a retired minister of the Alethodist Church of New Zealand, was found dead in his chair at. his residence in Feilding yesterday evening by Rev. Fred Copeland. Deceased, who was 85 years of age, lived aione and as he was absent from Church ion'Sunday, f lic Rev. Copeland was prompted to go around to his home to see if he was well. It was then that the late minister was found to. have passed away. • The late Air. Jones came to New Zealand in 1876 as minister of the old Primitive Alethodist Church and was stationed in the Man awn tu circuit. After two years here, he, was transferred to Auckland hut returned to Alanawatu again one rear later.

During subsequent years, the deceased clergyman ministered at Greendale, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Timnru and Feilding. It was at the last mentioned circuit, in 1901, that he retired permanently and took up his residence in the town. He continued to take part in church work and was present at the Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu Synod, held at Hastings i?i November,, jvhdre he participated in the debates and interested the members with many reminiscences of the early days in New Zealand. Deceased was twice president of the conference of the Primitive Alethodist Church, holding that office in 1886 and 1 in 1899.