THE PRIMATIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1197, 17 February 1880, Page 2

THE PRIMATIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

' The ceremony of laying the four corner stones of the Primitive Methodist Chapel at the corner'of Reed and Eden-streets, took place last evening, and was attended by a large number of ladies and gentlemen, representing various denominations. Amongst those present were the Revs. A. B. Todd, H. Dewsbury, and J. H. Lewis. The building, as we have previously mentioned, has already been commenced, and we may now give a brief statement as to what it- will be like when completedThe size of the building, which is to be of Oamaru stone, will be 21 feet by 40 feet inside. Across the front end will.be thrown a wooden partition, forming, two small vestries and a lobby, which by the opening of doors can at any time when necessary be thrown into the building, so as to utilise all room. The contract price for the building alone is L2BO. The contractors for the masonry work are Messrs. Given and Watson, arid for the carpenters' work Mr. J. Robertson. Though the building is comparatively a small one, the Primitive Methodists are hopeful that ere long a larger building will be necessary, arid have wisely secured a site large enough for a,more commodious building. ;

: The ceremony was opened with.singing, prayer, and the reading .of a- portion of scripture, the work being divided amongst the ministers present. The Rev. Mr. Barley, the pastor of the congregation, then briefly explained the object of the meeting, and produced a bottle-containing a written paper in connection with the ceremony, copies of the Nprth ptagp Times and Oamaru Mail, and' a coin. He. mentioned : that he had heard of corners "being blown up for the sake. of the money deposited beneath them, and said that the coin placed in the bottle was only a threepenny piece, so that it would .not be sufficient to pay for the powder-should any person seek to remove the stone in order to abstract the money. J He then read the document, which was as follows :

i "- The first public service in connection with the-Primitive Methodists in Oainafu was held on October 10, 1877, by Mr. W. H. Puddicombe and Mrs. S. Goldsmith. A society was formed; and service was conducted in the Waitaki Hall. A short while after this a small hall in Wear-street was taken, and after that the Waitaki Hall "again. This latter place being cut into two offices, another move became necessary, and the lecture hall of - the Mechanics' Institute served us for two Sundays, when the Courthouse was secured, and there we: worshipped until the erection of the present building. Charles Edward Barley was the first Primitive Methodist minister stationed at Oamaruy arid he was sent out from England, arriving here oh October 8, 1878.": ;He concluded by calling upon the Mayor to lay the north-east corner stone, ; -The/Mayor, in addressing tho assemblage,': said that although he did not consider,it a part of .his official duty to take ; part in the ceremony, he had consented to do. so partly because the Rev. Mr. Barley had assured him that it was customary at Home for mayors to take part in similar' ceremonies, partly because he knew that the Primitive Methodists were axi important branch of the Christian church,.and partly out of respect for the Tie'vi' Mr. Barley/ 'He said it' would bo; a matter of gratification to members of the connexiohi arrivingw from" Home to find 'that a branch of the church had been established in Oamaru, and that it was under such a good pastor as Mr. Barley.

The Mayor then proceeded to lay the north-east corner stone, and in the name of the Almighty, the Great Architect of the Universe, in whose praise, honor : and jglory the.building was being erected, declared the stono to be well and truly laid, aiid hoped that"He would bless the undertaking. Mr. Hislop, M.H.R, having laid tho south-east corner stono, spoko at some leiigtli.. He remarked that men's minds were ias varied as their outward forms, and it was therefore not surprising that different .constructions were placed upon different passages of Scripture, and that there were different denominations of tho Christian" church. He looked upon the Primitive Methodists as the embodiment of a certain phase of thought, and for this reason he had consented to take part in the ceremony. The Primitive Methodists formed a large body at Home, and he .respected them because;they,jy,ere the first to educate the masses. Mrr Sumpter then laid tho northwest corner'stone, and,'referring' to' l tlie fact that Mr. Barley had called upon~him,to do,so as Chairman of the Harbor Board, said that as the works of tho harbor were of great importance and value-to-the district commercially, so was that Ijeihg undertaken that day of value in referonco to the moral well-being of the community. He hoped that the building that was b.eing erected would be another means of helping to, farther the proper observance of the day that had been set apart by a beneficent Creator as a holy one, and that people would remember the advice given to them not to forsake the gathering of themselves together qn the Lord's Day.: He observed that, tho corner stohes represented only a small building, but sometimes small -beginnings had great endings, and he hoped that before long they would be called together to perform a similar ceremony in : connection wit!} a much larger edifice. He concluded by again' expressing his sympathy l with tho work in which they were engaged, and declared the &tone well laid. , Mr. J. ,JEL Mijligan then laid the Northeast corner stone, and said that when,the children of Israel passed, the Red Sea they were commanded to gather :stones and raise them into a pile to commemorate'tho event. The work they were engaged upon was somewhat ; similar. The Primitive Methodists'of Oatnaru had had their Red Sea and their Jordan to cross in' their struggles to obtain a suitable building in which to meet for worship ; and their journeyings from one place to another. He. congratulated them upon the prospect of having , ere lorig a building: of their own—a local habitation as 'well as A name. He said it was customary in Canada, when a new settler arrived, for all the old, settlers to turn out and welcome him and assiat.in erecting his log hut. He hoped those present would act in the same. spirit by assisting the connexion in their-erection of a church.

A collection was then made, £15,2b 6d being the result. « v - v ; The Rev. Mr,. Barley-thei* addressed the assemblage, giving a . history of the origin and progress of the connexion. He said that the' Primitive , Methodist munity originated v ' Hy" ; 'tlte ■ 'Werfleyan Methodists turning out of their coiinoxibn two or three earnest, Godrfearing men, whose "zeal," they thought,, was according to knowledge." This happened in 1808, and because the men' in question had attended camp meetings, which had been held at the various places' to counteract .-the evil influence of wakes and fairs. The people who were brought, to through the agency of these then were advisoa. + 0 join : the Wesleyan Methodist Church. muov»«4i, om so but some would not, and the spiritual care of these fell upon the leader of the movement, H. Bourne. Ten ; members formed the first class of Primitive Methodists in 1810. When the first yearly meeting was held in 1820 the numbers had reached 7842 ; in 1821, 16,394 ; and in 1822, 25,218 —being an increase in two years of 17,376. The work commenced by them had grown and multiplied until that day there were over 180,000 members, 1100 ministers, 300,000 Sabbath scholars ; and new churches for the worship of God have been put up by them at the rate of two per week for some years past.. They took the ; name of Primitive Methodists because they worked on the lines of the first. Methodists. In matters which are for the blessing of the people (especially temperaince) they"have always been in the front rank. The rev. gentleman concluded by thanking' tho gentlemen who had performed the ceremony of laying the corner stones, .and all present for their attendance. The Revs. Messrs. Dewsbury, Todd, and Lewis each delivered short addresses congratulating the Primitive Mbthodista upon the prospect of soon having a place of worship; and wishing them God speed with their work. : : The proceedings were brought to a close with singing and prayer. It is, we believe, the intention of Mr. Barley to call on the people of Oamaru to assist in the erection of the building, and so soon as the collection for the purpose has been completed to publish tho list, including particulars of collection made at yesterday's ceremony.