WESLEYAN CHURCH-PUBLIC TEA PARTY.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 99, 24 April 1847, Page 2

WESLEY AN CHURCH-PUBLIC TEA PARTY.

On Monday evening last, a Tea Meeting was held in iltc Mechanics' Institute, the proceeds of which were desigued to aid in the erection of a New Wesleyail Chapel, in Auckland, to be built of brick or scoria, thtf dimensions to be 70 feet by 50. A large company sat down to tea, amongst whom wo observed the newlyarrived Missionaries, the majority of the members of the Wcslcyan Society, in this place, and a goodly number of lricnds of other denominations. After tea a Hymn was sung, aud the Chairman, tnft Rev. Walter Lawry, General Superintendent, engaged in prayer. The Chairman then said, that the present Chape) had become altogether too small for the accommodation of such as desired to woiship therein; that building had been paid for, and there was now some £50 in hands, which would go to the new Chapel building fund. He believed they might venture to hope, that a plain sub-, stautial place of worship might be completed for a sum hovering about M llOO, and that one-half of the amount could be obtained by subscription, and the remainder borrowed, and, in time, liquidated by the pew rents. 'He thought, and he was sure they all thought, that they should not be free from a heavy responsibility, if they did not make an effort to provide room for those who wished to assemble with us for the purpose of Divine worship. A number of those assembled at that meeting, were friends belonging to other denominations of Christians. No doubt they were looking forward to the time when they should have houses of worship of their own ; and he, the chairman, could also anticipate that event with pleasure, and when that time arrived ho should J'eel hapyy in aiding them as far as in his power. The prosp:cts of the Colony had now become cheering; and those who could see farthest, considered the nativesno longer in our way, but helpers together with us. ' Such was the conclusion, he believed, of all those who governed mind in New Zealand. We desired to sec emigration, and a stream of military pensioners, ablebodied men, with their families, had begun to flow towards these shores : probably some thousands were now on their way, and when they came they would be subject to strict discipline ; and would, therefore, be emigrants of the right sort. They wero to be located in villages, chosen by His Excellonoy the Governor, who would do the thing well, for he was a, wise man, and knew how to govern. New Zealand, as a point towards which emigration was destined to flow, was not now in the same position as New South Wales where colonization had culminated. Sheep, wool, and tallow, as articles of export, had reached their hig h ground ; but in New Zealand everything had an upward tendency —and those who came here woujd, for many years to » come, rise with the rising tide of colonial prosperity. ' It is said of the Jews, that " the people had a mind to build ;" and we may hope, that our providential way is now clearly opening before us, aud therefore let u»' also have a " mind to build." The Chairman then called upon the Rev. T. Buddie, who mid— l do not think it necessary to make a speech after the statement made by the Chairman, who has placed the matter so fully before the meeting ; nor do> ' 1 think that things done under the influence of excite" ment are always done in the best way. It is much ■•, better to act from principle, in giving support (o any object that may be presented before us. Dr. Franklin * has given an account of the manner in which he was once overcome by the eloquence of WhitQeld, when, -prcachincjon b.elydf of aiiOrplian=houM he -w«« founding in Georgia. BFTFrcTiunot approve of tho objeot ; and though he had in his pocket some copper, a few pieces of silver, and fivo pieces of gold— " 1 silently resolved," said he, " that he should get nothing from me ; as he proceeded I tegan to soften, and concluded to give the copper ; another stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and determined me to givo the silver ; but he finished ao admirably, that I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all." So that the doctor gave not because he approved of the object, . but under the influence of excitement. He had a friend . with him who was also opposed to the design of the Orphan-house, and who, lest he should be induced to give, tdok the precaution to empty his pockets before lie left home. Before Mr. Whitfield had done preaching, however, he felt a strong inclination to give, and applied to a neighbour, who stood near him, to lend him some money for that purpose, who replied, " Any at any other time, friend, 1 would lend thee freely ; but not now, for thee scorns to be out of thy right senses.'* This friend preferred giving to such objects from com viction and principle, and not from mere. momentary , excitement, and this is the right way— let us fairly look) j at the object, and contribute towards it from right' I motives; aud first, wo should remember, it is for the < glory of God. This is the great object to bo kept in . "view. We propose to erect a house for God, where he may be worshipped, his truth proclaimed, his salvation made known, and where the perishing souls of our fel-low-men may be fed with the bread of life. Many wish to cat at our table, and solicit accommodation ; we caa* . not give it them in our present building, and want another for the purpose. Arc not their solicitations a call Of Providence for us to enlarge our borders, and make provision for them ? Can we neglect to do.to and be blameless ? I think not. To cat our morsel alone, and leave many around us asking for the bread of life, without making an effort to supply them, would be highly inconsistent with our Christian profession. Let us look, then, at our object in this light. And, I then, by erecting a large and substantial place of worship, we are not only helping the present generation, but generations to come, making provision for our children that may come after us. We are also benefiting the Colony, by promoting the spread of religion and morality, which arc a blessing to any people'; and I have no doubt the object will be approved, and will succeed. I quite agree with our worthy Chairman in his remarks, in reference to other Christian bodies, and I am sure I can give the right-hand of fellowship to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ. lam glad to ace so many friends belonging to other churches present on | this occasion ; it makes our meeting liko a little Evangelical Alliance Meeting. And when our friends shall need help in a similar way, I am sure we shall be ready to unite with them, arid aid them as far as we can. The Rev. James Ford then said, it is with feelings of peculiar interest that I rise to address you upon this interesting occasion. It is by the kind providence of Almighty Gjd that we are brought together, and I cannot but think that it is quito 2>rQvidential wo are brought' together at such a time : just when you are preparing lor a larger and more commodious place of worship. Not that I attach any great importance to ourselves, or to any thing which we may do or say in connexion witbs this object I know you would haye carried on the work, and have completed it, if we had never seen you, or if we had had nothing at all to do in the matter: but I cannot help thinking, that it is quite providential and opportune for ourselves : it creates an interest in our minds, after having been so long a time upon the deop wide sea ; it is quite agreeable and cheering to mix again with the people of God, <md especially in this sq*

cial manner, and in connexion with the accomplishment of so important an object, as the erection of a new and larger Chapel. Well, I trust our meeting together will be profitable', and should it tend in any way to advance the object you have in view, I am sure we shall be very thankful. I cannot help expressing the pleasure I feel, to find that the work of the Lord is so graciously and gloriously extending on the British Colonies in this part of the world. I said Colonies, for I refer to Sydney, and to Auckland. We went to Sydney, and there we found Chapels being erected, and Chapels being opened, and Tea Meetings being got up in connexion with those openings. We are come to Auckland, and here we find a larger Chapel required, and a Tea Meeting being got up to accelerate its erection. I conceive, Sir, that these are evidences of the truthfulness of the inscription on that Banner behind you, "The best of all is God is with us." I conceive that'these are evidences of an extension of the work of God among you. This is a state of things we love to see. Onward, onward ! is our motto. Progressibn,— prbgression is the order of the day : so it is in worldly matters, and it ought to be pre-eminently so in spiritual matters. lam thankful; it is so among other denominations of Christians, and I am thankful, it is so among ourselves. When our beloved General Superintendent first landed among you, it appears he had not more than a dozen persons to preach ta ; however, it pleased the Lord to bless his labours, and the labours of his excellent colleague ; many others were induced to come and hear the word of life, and your worshipping place became too small for your accommodation : you exerted yourselves and enlarged it, God has still blessed your united efforts, and now your present Chapel is become too straight for yon. Immortal men hang around you perishing for the lack of knowledge, but you cannot accommodate them in the"house of God, where this saving knowledge may be acquired. Numbers are around you in a state of spiritual death, and are desirous of coming to the house of God where they may be directed into the path of life ; but you cannot accommodate them. Many are hungering for the bread of life, and you have bread enough in your Father's house, and to spare : but you cannot find room for them to come and partake of it. The waters of salvation are flowing among you, and many are desirous of satiating their thirsty souls at these waters : but you cannot find room for tli« world arcund you, to come and drink at these living streams of life. Precious souls are groping their way in the dark, and arc desirous of coming to the light : but you cannot find room for them to come under its blessed influence. Shall it be so 1 This becomes a question of deep and solemn importance with us, shall it be so ? You have had the means provided for you, will you deny them to others 1 You have been brought unto a knowledge of salvation, and will you not provide accommodation for its communication to others I You have been raised from a state of death into newness of life, and will you not do something towards elevating the condition of others ? The glorious light of the Gospel has shone upon' your minds : and I "Will you, whose souls aie lighted, With wisdom ..om on high; "Will' you to man benighted, The Irmp of life deny?" Kay, you will not, I feel persuaded that you will "come forward to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." God requires it of us. It has pleased him to bless man, through the medium of his iellow-man. We have been blessed through the instrumentality of others, and others are to be blessed through our instrumentality. lam fully aware that God could carry on his work without our agency — without any co-operation of ours, but it has pleased him to put this high honour upon his servants, (for it is an honour to be allowed to do anything for God,) it has pleased him to put this honour upon his servants, to be co-workers together with him, in accomplishing his purposes in rcoonciling the world unto himself. And how can we aid his purposes more effectually, than by erecting a house for the performance of his worship— where his praises will be celebrated— his glory revealed, and his mercy, his' saving mercy, from time to time dispensed ! In tne accomplishment of this object, God will be glorified, and man will be benefitted. Let us then, my friends, dome up nobly in helping forward this ark of the Lord, let our pity and compassion for souls be influenced^and let our generosity partake of the influence. I have no doubt but most of us, or all of us, can do something, either by Donations or Weekly Subscriptions. I trust, Sir, that our Fnends will be disposed to-night, to assist nobly in accomplishing this glorious object. The Rev. Richard Amos then addressed the meeting and said,' the Chairman had defined the object of the meeting, and suggested the kind of remarks that were expected of his younger Missionaryßrethren. They were to dc brief— specific — and catholic. This should be the character of his (Mr. A.'s) observations. He was happy in beholding around him a respectable and cheerful assembly of Christian people, who had come together to forwatd the proposed erection of a house for God. It was to be a Wesleyan Cha.peJ, but friends of other denominations had come to show their fraternal affection, and help the common cause by their countenance and contributions. This spoke well for the religious feeling of Auckland, and augured well for the future advancement of Christianity in this rising colony. They had come together, and it became them to ascertain their true position. They should cherish a sense of obligation. They were under obligation to God; for having brought them to this land in safety ; for temporal prosperity, and religious privileges. Their gratitude muit be evinced by prefering Christ's glory to their own personal aggrandizement, and imbibing a more intense desire to erect a temple for Jehovah than a habitation of splendour for themselves. They were under obligation to those who had gone before them. He (Mr. A.) could not sec his respected General Superintendent in the chair, without calling to mind that the Rev. Walter Lawry was the first Wesleyan Missionary to Tonga, whither he (Mr. A.) was going, and that their chairman was one of' the first, if not the first, of their Missionaries to New Zealand, some five and twenty years ago. They were under great obligation to those who had borne " the burden and' heat of the day" in preparing the way, and breaking up the ground : building Chapels, Mission. Houses, &c. These persons were worthy of double honor; etnd they were to show their estimate of former labourer! by scattering the seed of the Kingdom in the same field of operation, with a glorious hopeful looking forward to the final "Harvest Home." Their position was one of responsibility. Others had provided chapel-room for them ; they must makt provision for such as should come after them. It was said in the Bible that "no man liveth to himself;" and that was quite true with regard to both good and bad. Consequently every individual in that meeting was unceasingly surrounded by an atmosphere of influence, and, whether good or evil, every human being who came within that circle of influence was mada better or worse ; it was their duty, therefore, to endeavour to leave the world better than they found it. Then, future colonists should bless them, and their children «bould grow up " a seed to serve" the God of their Father, "a generation to call Him blessed" when they had exchanged this world of shadows for the solemn realities of eternity. _ It was the duty of that assembly, who were blessed with the privileges and ordinances of Christianity, to stand forward and lay hold of the Gospel chariot, urging it on its way, till all mankind should it* its glory, and rejoice in its blessed progress.

The Rev. George Daniell next addressed the meeting in a very fervent and glowing speech, which we are sorry our space compels us to omit# During the evening, ahout the sum of £1 10 was added to the subscription list,