MANAKAU.

Otaki Mail, 10 January 1919, Page 3

MANAKAU.

OPENING NEW CHURCH. A MOST SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. The Manakau Methodists and friends celebrated the opening of the splendid new ' ferro-concrete church on Wednesday night by the holding of a public gathering in tfic church. The spacibus building was filled to overflowing, among those present being a large number of visitors from Levin and Otaki. The function was a great success in every way’y ancl "was marked wit-h the greatest "enthusiasm. After the singing of the “Old Hundredth,” and a prayer by the Rev. Hedley White (minister in charge of • the circuit), Mr White made a few' very brief opening remarks, in which he congratulated .the Manakau people on having completed such a handsome and substantial building. Mr White referred to the fire which had destroyed the previous church at Manakau, and outlined the steps taken to replace it. The Manakau people had determined to ercet a building worthy of the town and district, and one that -would not bo . liable to demolition by fire. The finan- 1 eial position in connection with the ven- j ture was not yet quite clear, but the new structure had cost, approximately, £750, while the insurance on the old building was only £375. The friends had given generously to the object, and the present position was that there was, , r roughly, a shortage of £l5O. Arrange- ; ments had been made for a loan of £125 from the Church Building and Loan j Fund Committee, and it was hoped that j the proceeds of that night's function, ; together with the takings at a garden i party to bo held on January 29th, would • provide the balance. Mr White then j introduced the Rev. E. Drake, of Wellington (chairman of the Wellington district), to tvhom he handed over the control of the meeting. The Rev. E. Drake

prefaced his remarks by saying that a fire was sometimes a good thing, as evidently, in Manakau, it had led to their securing a much better church edifice than they had in the past. He heartily congratulated the Manakau people on having felt it incumbent to erect such a fine structure, which was a distinct credit to them, and he sincerely trusted it would prove a great blessing to Manakau and to the entire district. Men were telling us, said Mr Drake, that the church was played out, that it had lost its power in the world; but ho disagreed with that opinion, while admitting that the church fell far short ot ' what it should be. Just now' we were thinking about the outcome of the iPeaee Conference. We needed a strong Man to lead us out of the labyrinth, but j-MJOve all the world needed that God .as recognised as the Author and Father of all. Bolshevism v. Christianity.

Bishop Julius'had recently stated that , ’ the trend of affairs was in the direction ! of a fight between Bolshevism and j Christianity, and the speaker said it ccr- | tainlv seemed as though this was coming. He referred doprecatingly to the j cabled details of the Bolshevists’ prin- j ciplcs of free love and nationalisation of children, and said Bolshevism had no ! place for God; such audacious principles could not be dreamed of by Christians. The Bolshevists were endeavouring to build-up life without God. and such was not life at all. The speaker went, on to show what the church should stand for the duty of Christians as individuals and as part of a nation—and concluded a forceful, able address by stating that he prayed that in the church just opened at Manakau they might have the joy of knowing that men and women were being helped and made better, and that .God’s kingdom wjas being extended. Rev. J. H. Haslam. After congratulating Manakau on its beautiful new' church, Mr Haslam (of Levin) said he did not share the pessi- ' mism that obtained ,so widely just now ■ with regard to the power of Christian- j ity in the laud, but was optimistic enough to believe that Christianity was , doing much greater things than was I generally supposed. Some people de- , clarea that our'soldiers who were returning showed a hatred to Christianity. He declared that this was noi true. The great majority of the soldiers respeeted their padres, and showed great respect for the good, the beautiful and true. It remained now for the chuTch to help these men to better things', and in order to do this, thwy must get in touch with the men, and with the wrrld. The church’s raisscor. was never so important as it was to day, i and a great deal depended or. the atti- 1 tude of the church in the greatly altered conditions that now obtained as a rwnilt of the war. Mr Haslam urged that we should make our creed as simple as possible, and j. et the true Christ spirt into | our lives, so that we might help to make . bad men good and good men better. i Mr W. Alexander (Paraparaumu , home missionary) delivered a brief, ap- J propriate address, and Mr Frank Penn i (circuit steward) eulogised the efforts of the Manakau people in erecting such s, magnificent building, also speaking of j the influence of beautiful surroundings, j Capital Musical Programme. 5 A number of very beautiful musical items were given,, all being most heart- I ily received and much enjoyed. The , promoters were most fortunate in secur- 1 ing the assistance of Miss J. Knight, of Lower Hutt, tlic possessor of a ielightful, rich contralto voice, and'also an artist of no mean capability. Miss Knight sang “My Dear Soul,” “Still as the Night,” and “Indian Lullaby’ (encore itemi, all of which were gems, and were iu#; appreciated by her fortunate hearers, f Mrs R. H. Billens, of Levin, who hat{f fso a very rkb, powerfed contralto voice, and whose enungM' tion is excellent, proved a popular performer. Her items were: “Would You Believe?” “Charity,” and “Mother Machrce” (encore), the latter being a particularly pleasing item. Miss F. Me? Cielland’s song, “One raising ifour,G with violin obligato by Rev. Haslam. " wps g pleasing item, much appreciated! qnd encored. Mr Howard Andrew sang f‘SUr of Bethlehcm”j Mrs BiidieOij

“Salaam”; both in. good style. Rev. Haslam gave a nicely-executed violin solo, and-Mr Frank Penn recited “Tho Fall of Wol-scy.” Mrs Howard Andrew supplied the accompaniments with taste and expression.

On the motion of the Rev. White, seconded by Mr Howard:Andrew, hearty votes of thanks wove accorded Mr ICofoed (builder), the trustees, donors of subscriptions, Rev. Drake for presiding and giving his address, Rev. Haslam for assisting at Sunday services;, all who had contributed towards the programme and with refreshments. Mr Andrew specially mentioned I Mr Kofoed’s services. That gentleman had been invaluable to the trustees, and it was largely owing to him that they had such a fine building. Mr Andrew also referred to the great assistance rendered ■by the Rev. Hedley White in niany ways.

and appetising supper was handed round, and the function concluded by the singing of the Doxology.