The Wesleyan Body.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 35, 16 March 1883, Page 2

The W esleyan Body.

THE NEW CaUROH.

TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING.

Most of those who attended the Memorial Service adjourned to the Church, where, a sub-stantial tea had been prepared . The Church m a very short time was filled, and a very enjoyable hour was spent over the tea tables. The public meeting was opened by the Rev. Mr Griffith giving out hymn No. 678, '* Come let os join our cheerfull song*, after which ho engaged m prayer. He then after a few general remarks introduced hiu honoured parent Mr W. P. Griffith to the chair. Mr Griffith on raising remarked that he liked the begiuing of things, perhaps better than the endings ; he had a feeling of unwillingness to part with an old friend. On this occasion he would not takft up much of their va'uable time. He spoke cheerfully of the prospects of. the new 'church, and of the fatherly pride he felt m his son being the Pastor of a church which had to enlarge its size. He wanted all to lend a hand, not one, or two, -or three, but all ; nnless there was a apiiit, of unanimity amongst them they could not expect to have sueces?. After some more general remarks he called on his son to give the financial statement. The Rev. Mr Griffith said that previous to the holding of their Bazaar, they were m debt to the amount of L 220. xMade up of the following items :— Mortgage on Property ... £100. Overdraft £70. Interest Insurance &c, ... £50. The proceeds of the Bazaar here amouuted to £189, leaving a defiency of L3l. The contract for building the new t church was L 432. Incidental expenses incurred L 25, total L 457. Against this they had received promises to the amount of L 43 ; balance goods from Bazaar, value L3O, on hand, L 35, total LI 13, leaving a balance yet to be made up of L 344. Th«y coull rai'3o a mortgage on tho building or MSO and this would leave LI 84, to be collected at once. We may here 1 state that the tota' amount m promises I snd cash received yesterday was nearly Ll2O. The choir then rendered the anthem " Thine O Lord". Mr Worker next spoke, he said he would like to correct a statement of the chairman to the effect that he (Mr Griffith) would not again visit New Zealand, he hoped Mr Griffith would find an opportunity to make another trip to the colony. He believed that m the future they would have vessels crossing the seas dividing New Zealand from the old country m the space of two weeks. Mr Dewabury, who was received most enthusiastically, said he seldo*n had the ple»sure of meeting with a more sanguine old gentleman than the one who had just sat down. He had heard that he once stated bis belief m telegraphic communications with the moon, he did not vouch for the truth of this ; he bad merely heard it ; however, he was des lighted to hear the expressions of unbounded confidence the chairman had m the advancement of New Zealand, and it gave him great pleasure to congratulate his son on being m a town which was progressing so much, and being the pastor of a church which required enlargement for the better accommodation of its increasing congregation. He would exhort the members of the church to let their pastor have their Christian help and sympathy, and more than that, their prayers ; not to expect more from him than he could give, to take him for what he ia, and not for what he is not He trusted they would really rally round him, and give him their assistance m the new sanctuary. Cards were here distributed amongst those present, who were requested to put down the amounts they would either give or collect. The anthem, "Jerusalem," was sung by the choir. The amounts received were here read out by Mr Griffith. Mr Taylor then spoke for a short time. He said ths last time he was honoured with a hearing m Palmerston he was not m jrood form, acd he did not believe he had improved anything since. He remarked he did not believe m purgatory, but bis definition of tta term would be a place where there was a tea meeting every night and a public meeting afterwards at which he had to speak. However he was glad to know that considerable progress had been made m the church m Palmerston. But at the preset time they wanted not merely theoretical sympathy, but practical assistance and help. He did not like debts, and, unlike a former speaker, ho was afraid of debt; 4 he never got m debt himself, and dri not like to see the Church of Christ m debt. This was a very Bpecial case. They should ask themselves how much could they sacrifice for the cause of their Lord, not | how much could they give without hurting themselves. He beieved m reference to their pastor, that he was a man earnestly policitous lor the welfare of his congregation, and hoped that the church would assist and hold him up, give him all the help m their power. He was young, and not so toughskinaed as some of them, bufc ha Vas earnest and worked hard for the success of the church. He expressed his hopes of success for the new church which had been started under such favourable circumstances, Mr Williams next addressed the meeting, he rejoiced at the signs of hopefulness which were manifestly apparent; he was glad to notice that the framework of the new church was larger than that of the old one. This augured well, it showed that progress was being made, and he had no doubt still more success would at:end their efforts. Christianity was not played out, but was making rapid strides, he believed it would play out heathenism . Mr Leary spoke for a ehort while, and the parting Hymn was then sung by the choir. Mr Griffith next relumed

thanks on behalf of himself and 'wife for the kindness shown them wailst m Palmerston, and called on Mr Williams to conclude the meeting oy offering up prayer . Although no votes of thanks were passed, we cannot allow that fact to hinder us giving a medn of praue to the ladies, whose nntiring efforts at the testable to p^.se, and the success which attend d those efforts, were manifest ta everybody. Mr Grace, too, had a hard task to pprfoim, but he did his doty manfully, and, we believe, he was satisfied with the ultimate result of his endeavours to make the meeting successful. Mr Hartley, too, deserves special mention, as he supplied those who had the pleasure of listening to his talented choir with a programme which was varied and difficult to render, with the members at his disposal ; but Mr Hartley succeeded as he usually does, and we hope his choir will enlarge, and that ho will rally a large number round him m the new sanctuary. The youthful organist too had no easy task to perform, and did her duty well . Miss Mowlem has taken no small trouble to assist the choir, and, has we are pleased to not'ce, succeeded beyond measure. .The success of the day's proceedings was principally due to the disinterested spirit of enterprise shown by Mr Griffith's father, who left nothing undone that might be done to render his son every assistance m his power both practically and otherwise. The happy results of his endeavours 'will long be remembered by the members of the Wesleyan Church m Palmerston.