CHURCH EXTENSION.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 436, 27 December 1861, Page 5

CHURCH EXTENSION.

A public meeting was held at Kmx Church on Wednesday evening 18th inst, i'or the purpose of advocating the necessity and importance ot Church extension in the Province. Owing, probably, to the inclemency of the weather, the general attendance was not so numerous as was expected. The platform, however, was well supported with speakers, and some good stirring speeches were delivered on the occasion. After sin.iiinj? and prayer, the Rev. D. M. Stewart took tlia chair, and having offered a lew introductory remarks, called upon the several speakers to address the meeting. The Hon. J. H. Harris, stated that he had been r.'quested to say a lew words up m the " necessity of Church Extension," which meant the necessity and obligation of bringing gospel ordinances within the reach of all: and from whatever point they viewed the subject they would find it fraught with vital consequences to all. Whether they considered it personally or relatively, socially, morally, or physically, they would see that it was a subject in which they were all deeply interested, an:l which necessarily affected both the present and future welfare of the Province. He presumed that all would at once admit that there did exist a necessity for Church Extension, so that it would not be necessary to adduc arguments; he would, however, call their attention io a few facts which would seem to impress this conviction more deeply upon their miuds. Beginning at the northern part of the Province he found a large district in the neighbourhood of Oamaru, with a population of 300 or 400, entirely destitute of gospel ordinances. Occa sionally, indeed, a minister paid them a casual j visit, but they had no regular continuous sup- i ply. The people of the district were most anxious to be supplied, and it was clearly the duty of all who could render assistance to do so. Then there was the district of Moeraki, and the township of Hampden in the same condition, and many of the settlers would readily contribateif they could be supplied. Probably the best kind of agency for this district at present would be one partaking more of the character of a missionary than a settled ministry, as the people were scattered. _ Next there was Waikouaiti. This district, it was true, was in a better position than the former, inasmuch as it already enjoyed the advantages of the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Fenton, of the English Church. Still, there were many who did not attend his ministry, and who being Presbyterians, would, of course, much prefer a minister of their own denomination. For this district; with its widely scattered population, something should be done. He now came to Port Chalmers. Here, it was true, a minister had been settled, but, in the providence of God, he had been laid aside by sickness, and it is much to be feared that at least for a lengthened period, he would not be capable of resuming the duties of his office; so that they would have to do something for Port Chalmers. Coming now to the city of Dnnedin —the centre, as it were, of the population, it was true that they were more highly favoured than other parts, but even here there was a lamentable deficiency, which would become apparent in a moment if they would just compare the number of the population with the amount of church accommodation. The population of the city at the present time, could not be far short of 6,000; and the number of settlers in the immediate neighbourhood— say within a distance of four miles—and who "were dependent upon Dunedin for church accommodation, was at least 1000 more, making a total of 7,000 souls. Now, to provide these, they only had at present Church accomodatiou for about 1,900 souls. So that even here, in Dunedin, the " necessity for Church Extension was abundantly evident. Then there ■was the Gold Fields, with a population of 15,000, and not a single stated minister amongst them, unless, indeed, there was one of the Roman Catholic Church. They had occesional services, it was true, but the district was large—extending over some 20 miles or more, and it was therefore impossible for the persons sent up to speak to one tenth of the people. Doubtless the subject was a difficult one to deal with, but the necessity was abundantly apparent, and they must be prepared to meet difficulties in the discharge of dut}\

Mr. James Paterson had been requested to offer a few remarks upon "theduty ofengaging in the work." He thought it was a duty they owed to themselves, their country, and their God ; and this ought to be sufficient to induce all who knew the truth to respond as one man to the call now made. If they did nothing to remedy the evil, they and their children would suffer. They should do something at once to prevent the people from lapsing into indifference as to their religious duties. If there was no accommodation—no ministers to preach—the people would lapse into carelessness, and it would be much more difficult to bring them back to a due appreciation of gospel ordinances than it would be now to prevent them from falling into that condition. Now, as this Province had become their "home," and so all their sympathies were centered in it, it surely became a duty of the first importance to attempt to prevent such an evil as that referred to.

Key. W. Bannerman spoke in illustration of the topic assigned to him—"The privilege of engaging in the work of Church Extension 3" One of the objects of the present movement was to afford accommodation to their fellow men to engage in the worship of God, and so as to enable them to fulfil one of their most solemn obligations; and surely if it were a privilege to assist men in obtaining a supply for their temporal wants, how much more was it so to aid in the supply of their spiritual. Another object was to increase the number of true spiritual worshippers; in fact, to save souls—to " pluck them as brands from the burning;" and to be instrumental in rendering such a service was a far greater privilege than that of conveying secular good, inasmuch as the effects produced would extend their influence throughout eternity. There was a Still higher privilege ; by engaging in the work they became co-workers with God himself in the very highest department of his gracious operations, "By a \\;ord of liis mouth he called the earth and the heavens into being, but in accomplishing the salvation which it is now their object to extend, God himself was said to « work." The Spirit of God was engaged in the same work, and in it the angels took delight; so that the privilege before them was jiothing short of acting in sympathy with angels, and of working in company with the I nune Jehovah. There was, in addition to all this, the privilege of enjoying j n their own souls the satisfaction and joy which doin." .rood 1o the bodies and souls of men always brought with it. J °

Mr. T. B. Gillies expressed his disappointment, notwithstanding the weather,at not finding the meeting larger than it was. He thought Jhis nn indication of the appropiiatness of The topic about which lie had been called to speak • jbe topic was—" The :einporal advantages de' jivable by the community from a spread of tht {iOfjiel" and tiie sinalliuss of the nieitiiv yrovitl that the object for which they had met

been called to leiv.i the locale of a new gold field, or to hear lnw their public burdens might be lightened, or the revenue increased, there would, doubtless, have been a far larger attendance; yet, in the gospel they had a mine of gold of far greater value than all the g >ld of Otago, and the world. If thj public were duly sensible even of their temporal advantages they would ba more anxious to disseminate its influence. He would not put this forward as the principal motive, but still regarded it as a motive that might properly be appealed to. One respect in which " temporal advantages " to the community accrued from a spread of the gospel was a dimiii'itioi of crime. The prevention, suppression, and punishment of crime at the present time, cost at tlu rate of 15.3. per head of the whole population, while not one fifth part of that amount was raised for the propagation of the gospel. If more were spent in one direction, less would be needed in the other. He thought they should not be satisfied till they had as miay ministers of the gospel as they had policemen', foi they were the great moral police force of the community, and when the experiment was tried they would find that crime was more effectually suppressed by Bibles than B itons. Again, it would have the effjet of preventing poverty, and diminishing drunkenness, and thereby a saving to the community would be effected. Then, again, it would be the best safeguard of their civil and religious liberty, preventing them on the one hand from spiritual despotism, and on the other from the tyrrany of the mob. He regarded religion as applicable even to politics. All classes of the people should be permeated by its influence, and in order to this he would advocate the spread of the gospel, and hoped they would take the motto of Glasgow, and ad >pting it as their own, say—" Let Otago flourish by the Preaching of the Word."

llsv. W. Will offered a few remarks, illustrative of the "Spiritual advantages derived from engaging in the work." One of the objects sought to be obtained was to draw the minds of men to a true estimation of their spiritual necessities and advantages; and all who engaged in the work would find a reflex influence for good upon their own souls. Just in proportion as the Church became concerned about the spiritual welfare of others, did her own prosperity increase. This was a work in which every individual member should en-

gage. Mr. Gillies said that he had been asked to say a few words on—" The means to be employed ;" and, in order to illustrate this, he would remind them that, in the language of their forefather, the Church was a " Church militant," and uas to wage war against the world, the flesh, and the devil. They had a great " Captain of Salvation," and it became them to follow Him and stand up for G-od. They must give no quarter to the wicked one till the whole of God's rightful dominion was restored. But as in every great battle, there was not only the great leader and the common soldiers, but also subordinate officers, so it was in the Church of Christ. Having enumerated the position and duties of the several " officers " and " common soldiers," the speaker concluded by urging upon all the duty ot untiring labour and unswerving faithfulness.

Mr. W. R. Reynolds spoke briefly in illustration of the—"Necessary provision to be made;" and expressed his conviction that, if the Church of Christ as a whole entered heartily into the work, it would be an easy matter to find the necessary "means." If they would adopt the divinely-appointed proportion of giving, and each contribute "a tenth " of thoir

income, there would be no lack of funds. The question would occur—" How are we to collect it ? " He would enlist the services of the young people of the congregations as collectors; and he could assure tham, from his own experience, that they would find plenty of " amusement" in their work.

Mr. E. B. Cargill stated that he had been asked to show—"The ability of the community to raise the necessary funds," but that he thought it would be at once an insult, both to the understanding and pockets of the community, to attempt to prove it, as they all knew it well enough, so that what he had to deal with was rather the inclination than the ability. This was a subject that must sooner or later thrust itself upon them; for if the Church in the past Iml struck its roots deeply downwards, she must now lift up her head and extend her branches, or be overgrown by otners. Like every other great enterprise, expanse must be incurred, and it becams them to sit down and count the cost, and ask where they could get the money from. But about this he thought there wmld bz no diffi.ulty; they had only to present before the people a well digested plan, and the necessary funds would speedily be forthcoming. This subject should be fairly brought before each individual, and public meetings held for the discussion of the subject. The difficulty was noc to find the me.us but the men. They had heard much about the " Church Estate," and money would be forthcoming from that source; and he knew of no better object to which it could be applied than for the establishment of a Collegiate Institution of their own, that would afford facilities for the education of young men for the ministry in their own midst. Ilev. A. B. Todd impressed—" The necessity of earnest prayer to a sure success." He thought there was a danger of looking too much to the money, the means, and the men, and too tittle to prayer—that God would open the hearts of the people, and through their hearts their pockets also. Prayer was essentially necessary to render all other moans successful, and he trusted they would all recognise and practise the duty, which was both a duty and privilege. After again singing, the Chairman pronounced the benediction, and the meeting separated.