OPENING OF THE NATIVE CHURCH AT AWAPUNI.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1369, 16 October 1883, Page 3

OPENING OF THE NATIVE CHURCH AT AWAPUNI.

Till interesting and impressive ceremony of consecrating the new Native Church at Awapuni, was performed on Sunday, 14th instant, by the Right Rev. Bishop of WaiaSu, assisted by the Rev. Archdeacon Wilams, the Rev, Samuel Williams, and four Native clergymen. The building was closely packed with Maoris, and it was with difficulty a passage was made for the procession, As the chiming of the bell ceased at 11 a.m., His Lordship the Bishop entered at the west door, reading an appropriate psalm while proceeding to the chancel, the assistants responding with the alternate verses. Having reached the east, the hymn “The Church’s one Foundation,” was given out, and we were agreeably surprised at the hearty manner in which the congregation acquitted themselves, The usual service was then ?one through, the lessons being taken from st Kings, Bth and 12th chapter of Hebrews, and special psalms being substituted for those used on ordinary occasions. The Bishop then addressed the congregation as follows. From the words—“ A temple Which hath foundations, whose builder and Whose maker is God Friends and dear brethren, we are met here to day to consecrate this building to the service of Almighty r God, a very important ceremony for which We have Divine authority. God himself gave instructions on one occasion as to the building of a temple wherein to nianifest his glory. The Lora Jesus Christ recognised the Temple as his father’s house. But the glory M which that earthly Temple had was a glory which was to pass away, and the Temple itself was to be destroyed. Houses of God built with hands are but the shadow—the substance is Jesus Christ. I Although they called it the house of God, the real house of JGod was elsewhere. “ The temple of the living God,” says the Apostle Paul, “ are ye. Ye also are builded together for a house of God.” Church buildings are like the scaffolding, by means of which the structure is put up. The scaffolding is only meant to last for a time, and when the building is finished the scaffolding is removed. Houses of prayer are valuable in so far as they help to build up the house of God. I come here and see by the labor of your hands you have erected a house of prayer, and I feel thankful for the good v. jrk. The worth of the wont was to be measured by this. Will it help on the building of that house of God which is to Stand for ever. Will there be spiritual work done. I have seen in other countries temples on which an immense amount of money had been expended. They were built of costly < stone and marble covered over with gold, but the Gods that were worshiped there were idols. No spiritual work wm done in buildings such as those. Brethcrn, there was a time when you and your ancestors were in heathen darkness. But that time has happily passed away. What St. Paul sa:d to the people of Ephesus might now be said to you : “ Ye are no more strangers to the people of God.” I rejoice in seeing a Church erected in this place, as it is another proof of the happy change that has been wrought. There has been an outward change ; has there also been a spintal change. Do you really desire that this house shall be the means of build-

ing up a temple to the living God ? Look at the text and vou will find the first thing mentioned is the foundation. In both the Old and the New Testaments the Lord Jesus Christ is set forth as the foundation whereon '4r"the sinner may rest his hope. Look at Isaiah 28th, 16th verse : “ Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” And so in the 18th Psalm, verso 22, and the 108th Psalm, and 27th verse. Such is the word of the Prophets. Now hear the words of the Apostles as recorded in Acts 4, 12, 13, and also in the Ist Epistle of fit. Peter, 2, 4, 6. You see there how Prophets and Apostles bear witness to the great truth that Jesus Christ is the foundation. It was on him that they rested. Now ws are to be built on the testimonies of Prophets and Apostles. I want you never to forget that when you come here it io to have your faith strengthened in the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the faith of others wax feeble let yours be strong. Though

other builders reject this stone, you remember how precious it is. You have sung the praises of that stone to-day. Let your hearts ever join in praise of his glory. Let me say a few words as to what are the materials of

which the Temple should be built—St. Peter tells us that a company of believers form this Temple. Are you willing to be chaped by the Great Master Builder himself to become a building not made with hands eternal in the Heavens. The earthly builder brings his materials from various places, and they are all put in order. So for each one of us God has a place in his Temple. You, perhaps have been making plans for yourselves. God says, give yourself to him, and he will build you in. So this is the second thing— You are the stones of the Temple built on the foundation. Remembrance of this will keep you from evil. The third point I wish to notice is—Who are the dwellers in the Spiritual house. The Church is the house in which the Holy Spirit dwells—the habitation of God through the Spirit. Rememberance of this will strengthen us in our weakness. You may feel yourself unworthy to be called the house of God. Yet God dwells within you. Never forget you are part of the spiritual temple. God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. We are to pray to him and try to understand His holy word and the teaching of His holy spirit. We shall see them have the glory of our dear father’s spiritual house exceeds that of any earthly building. The earthly temple will last but for a few years—the spiritual one will en dure for ages, even throughout all eternity. The material for the Temple of King Solomon was brought from distant places, and was all fashioned before it was brought and pm to > gether. There was in that a wonderful light within the vale, beholden on to the Priest and that after many purifications. This was but an emblem of God him .elf. In the spiritual house there is no vale, no division. God himself dwells there. You and I look up with the eye of faith and see Jesus Christ stands there at the right hand of God. In the hour of danger look up, when in the crowded Church look up, when alone in your house or in the forest look up and you will always see the JSavicur, the precious corner stone, standing there. He is the chief corner stone in which we put our trust, and on him we hope to rest. Whosoever believeth on him shall be comforted, but whosoever believeth not shall be confounded. May our solemn act in dedicating this building to God’s service remind us of the part we shall have in his Kingdom. We shall then feel that our coming together has not been in vain. I rejoice to hear how liberally you gave yesterday towards the expenses of buildirg your Church. I want to know have you given yourselves first to the Lord. While willing to help in the erection of the earthly house, are you preparing for the spiritual house. In the afternoon Archdeacon Williams examined a number of candidates for confirmation. These to the number of 20, there being eleven females and 9 males, were afterwards invoted with the solemn rite of confirmation at the hands of the Bishop. Several Europeans attended the various services held during the day. We understand that about £6lO has been subscribed towards the cost of e. ing and carrying on the Church, which

it m»v be mentioned has been built and painted by Natives, and does them infinite credit. All who attended at Awapuni during the week have been made heartily welcome, and have also been fed on all the deliacies the Native larder could furnish, cooked and served up in real Maori fashion.