PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4929, 9 January 1877, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

DISTRICT MEETINO. The following are the stations of the Primitive Methodist ministers as confirmed, by the district meeting yesterday:—New Plymouth, J. Standrin and J. Clover; Wellington, J. Dumbell and A. G. Jeynes; Auckland, first circuit, W. Tinsley; Auckland, second circuit, B.'J. Westbrooke ; Christcburch, W. Harris ; Invercargill, W. J. Dean ;'■ Timara, C. E. Ward; Manawatu, P. W. Jones. To be obtained Ashburton, J. Sharp; Thames, J. Nixon; Dunedin, J. Ward and one from England; Greendale, W. S. Potter ;. Oamaru, one from England. OBDINATION SERVICE. At the Sydney-street Church last evening the Rev. Josiab. Ward and the Rev. Joseph Sharp, who for some time .past. have acted as ministers on probation, were received into ful connection.. •; After the usual devotional exercises faai been gone through, , The Rev'.. W. J. Dean; invited,the candidates to state their experience, and express their opinions upon the ministry and the doctrines of the Primitive Methodist Church. The Rev. J. Wakd first addressed themeeting, giving a short account of his past history, from which it appeared that his spiritual life dated from his seventeenth . year, and that he had chosen the Primitive Methodist Church not simply! because his father (the late Rev. Mr. Ward of this city) had been a minister of the Church, but because he had studied its doctrines and polity,,, and found that they commended themselves to his judgment as being in accordance with revealed truth. The Rev. Joseph Sharp next addressed the meeting, at some length. He had first taken an active part in Christian work some ten years ago when in Chatham, and subsequently after much consideration, and in obedience to strong impulses, had studied for the ministry. In EBgland he had been engaged in different circuits, in one of which he had seen hard work, and received much encouragement. The hymn 574 having been sung, The candidates were interrogated by the Rev. Mr. Dean as to their steadfast belief in and firm resolve to preach the doctrines and

adhere to the discipline of the Primitive [ Methodist Church ; and the inquiries having been satisfactorily replied to, hands were laid upon the candidates, and the Rev. Mr. Dumbell, representative of the British Conference, led in prayer. The Rev. Mr. Dean then addressed a few words from Timothy iv. 10 to the newlyordained ministers. Having noticed the appropriateness of the words of the Apostle to the present occasion, he urged the young ministers to "take heed" to themselves, and whilst they "watered" other souls not to forget to "water"their own; to cultivate their mind so as to render themselves able to combat intelligently the rationalistic Bophistries bein# put forward in these latter days; to be-dili-gent, to be spiritual, practical, and to live in harmony with God's word. The Rev. Mr. St and ei k remarked that in this age of inquiry the Christian, ministry should put forth its best efforts to form an effective instrumentality in the carrying, out of God's scheme of salvation to man. Looking at the ministry in the aggregate in its relation to the world, he conceived the chief obstacles to its

thorough success were of a moral, legislative, and administrative character. Ihe first was the most important, and to the discussion of this point he devoted considerable time. More, he said, depended upon moral power in a minister than upon literary attainments. Not that he deprecated lenrning; on the contrary, he recognised it as a powerful aid to a minister—but learning was of no value unless the preacher were moved by the deepest piety. Enlarging upon his subject, he pointed out that many eminent linfuiats and philologists had dived deep into the° beauties of the writings of Isaiah and other inspired authors, but had failed to ap"l predate the lessons taught by the holy men of old. Speaking'briefly on the point of legis- """■- lative and administrative difficulties, he indicated that he had objections to a multiplication of single stations and long residence of ministers in particular circuits. He con- i sidered the Church would do its work better, were there to be fewer stations, each supplied by more than one minister, and changes more frequent. , The Borvice was-brought to a close by a prayer from the Eev.'Mr. Dumbell. ' This evening there Will be a public meeting at the Webb-street Church, over which Mr. James Taylor will preside. Addresses will be delivered by various ministers. "To-morrow evening there will be a public meeting at the Sydney-street Church.