WELCOME TO THE REV. DR. GERVASE SMITH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5294, 14 March 1878, Page 3

WELCOME TO THE REV. DR. GERVASE SMITH.

A fitting welcome to the Bev. Gervase Smith, D.D., representative from the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference to the Australasian Conference, was given last evening. A tea-meeting was held in the Dixon-street schoolroom at half-past six, which was largely attended. Afterwards the assemblage adjourned to the Wesleyan Church in Mannersstreet, which was well filled. The Eev. Dr. Smith, accompanied' by a number of clergymen and laymen, ascended the platform, and the proceedings were commenced with, devotional exercises, Mr. David Lewis being appointed chairman. The Kev. Mr. Eeid, in introducing' Dr. Smith to the meeting, said it was a proud day in the history of their Church when they had to welcome so eminent a person as their visitor, who was one of the ablest and most estimable ministers of the Wesleyan Church. He had been appointed by the British Conference to represent that august body in the General Con- ' fereuceat Sydney, and was making a tour of this colony, so that he might, by personal inspection, see what was being done, and be, able to offer such counsel as he might deem fit. A quarter of a century had elapsed since New Zealand was represented by a person from the English Conference. At that time Dr. Young visited the colony, but did not call at Wellington, although Mr. Boyes, who travelled overland from' Auckland, came here. It was a rough experience that time, and caused him to remark that to do it once was a sin of ignorance, but to do it again would be a sin of presumption. With intervals of 25 years between these visits, they could not accuse the Home Conference of undue meddlesomeness. These missionaries were largely instrumental in training the heathen aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand in the walks of civilisation and Christianity. They might as well question the reality of Apostolic work as doubt the fact of the conversion of the Maori race. Fifty years ago this country was inhabited by unmitigated cannibals, and the Gospel ha 1 emancipated their slaves. He (the speaker) had stood by the death-beds of Maoris who were now in the glory of God he had no doubt. (Applause.) The Maoris had been supplied with Bibles printed in their own language ; schools had been established, and_ they now enjoyed all the advantages of civilisation which had been introduced by these pioneers of the Gospel. British colonists had come out and benefited by those missionary labors, having been enabled to open up a beautiful country. Such were the homes they had made here that if they were allowed to go back to Fatherland and have their passages paid few would accept the offer. (Applause.) The missionaries took the spiritual superintendence of the colonists, and he had been requested to ask Dr. Smith to tell the Home Church that they were fully alive to the benefits derived from the spiritual provision made in the early days of the colony. Now they were on an independent footing, and he trusted Dr. Smith, having fully investigated their condition, would not say anything to pauperise them. They did not want any money or outside assistance, although there was a disposition on the part of New Zealand Methodists to have too many ministers, in which he considered there was a danger. With regard to the laity, they had perfect confidence in them, but they were more conservative than the ministers, and would not assume the full extent of their powers. Methodism was a mould which turned out men, and he advised them to follow John Wesley, who regarded the world as his parish, and they need not be afraid of doing too much. He hoped their system would become more powerful. They rejoiced in the progress of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, because of its increasing success; they' rejoiced in the extension of its foreign missions, and in the munificent arrangement which had been made, to give 50 or 100 now churches throughout the metropolis of Britain, and they rejoiced in the liturgy and the hymnbooks. He concluded by offering Dr. Smith a hearty welcome to Wellington. (Applause.) Drl Smith said he was glad to have the opportunity of saying a few words to tho meeting under such circumstances. . The colonies were very much like the old country, not only when regarded methodistically,but in other ways. As he looked at the faces of many of those before him he fancied he. had seen them before. In the steamer which had brought him from the South there were no less than seven fellow passengers who had belonged to the circuit from which he came, and it was a great gratification to him to experience the old home feeling of being amongst friends. He was glad to see a venerable .man ur the chair, because he bad heard it whispered that ripe old age was not appreciated here, but he found that was not true. .It reminded him .of. a sentiment, expressed one day by an Irishman to him in Toronto, “I <3o assure you, sir, that one half

of the lies told about Quid Ireland are not true.” (Laughter.) He was_ exceedingly pleased with the <jloquea.t,,3pe£ch j mada by Mr. Keid, |and -would duly suppose they were more self-controlled in their hands and feet here,: for hiidMr.Eeid made that speech in England at Exeter Hall they would, < have had to send for joiners- to -examine the roof. There was something about ,the New Zealand; waters ■ which wanted tanking- after. He had travelled all the way from England to Melbourne without an hou’rs indisposition, but since he had travelled in their bits of steamers on the New Zealand coast he had suffered very much. At one meeting he still felt the nausea upon him, and alluding to. his troubles on the sea, said that if he left the Methodist body he would not become a Baptiat. Ah old gentleman who was present-was horror-struck, and exclaimed “ Oh my, surely you don't mean that. Dr. Smith asked hiin his name, but the gentleman replied “Fish/’ and no further explanation was required. His impression was that Methodism would go on here as it had gone on in England, only much better. They were not going to have any revolutions,' but they wanted to adapt Methodist machinery for larger and better work than had been done. There were reciprocal duties existing between laymen and the clergy, .and by each doing their own work they would earn the blessing of God. No one must try to bring new connectiorialisrn or independence' into -Methodism. Congregationalism had- a great deal to do in this, and also in the old country, but it must not have a position in Wesleyan Methodism. There were duties and privileges which must be maintained in the work of carrying out church government. He thought their late. Conference hiid sanctioned two or three principles contrary to Methodism. Maintain your principles, but adapt them to the fullest extent to the work and circumstances of the time. The fundamental principle of Methodism was to bring the world to Christ.. He hoped they would continue to be independent, as heavy demands had been made on the Home society ; but if they >vere weak, and required assistance, they would receive it. He related au incident' where in one place he had been requested to help a church by sending out a Methodist minister having his passage and outfit paid. At the door of that church on Sundays there were fifty carriages, and the owners of them were jointly supposed to be worth a million of money/ There were many difficulties which Methodists had to contend against at Horae which did not exist in the colonies. In the old country laborers had been turned away from their employment, and shopkeepers compelled to leave the district, because they, belonged to this persuasion. He alluded to certain fallacies propagated by ignorant people with regard to Methodism, and quoted a remark he once heard used by Mr. Spurgeon, to the effect that no Methodist could get into Heaven until he got his brains washed. The Eev. Dr. Smith then, addressed some appropriate words to the young. His remarks throughout were listened to with marked attention. ; During the evening the choir sang some of Sankey’s hymns in a very pleasing manner. The proceedings concluded with prayer.