BAPTIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 48, 12 February 1902, Page 2

BAPTIST CHURCH.

WILCOHI TO B«V. W. R. WOOL1T; : Tbb Gill-atraet Baptist Church was crowded to exceee last evening on' the oocasion of the welcome to the Rot. W. R. Wooley and Mrs Wooley. After ipraiia end prayer, that venerable father of the Churoh, the Rev. W. Drew, who occupied the Oburoh, gave a short opening address, in the course of Jwhioh he tendered to Mr Wooley a very hearty welcome to the pastorate of the Church.

A very cordial welcome was also ex-j tended to Mr acd Mrs Wooley by the Revs. S. S. Oaberne (Presbyterian), P. G Evans (Anglican), S. J. Serpell (Wesleyan) and J. Nixon (Primitive! Methodist), the threo latter all speaking of the good work done by .Mr Wooley on the Thames, and the pleasure it gave them to renew the friendship formed while co-workers with him in the goldfUlds metropolis.

After refreshments had been served round, the Rev. Drew having retired, Mr Arthur Ambury took the chsir, and oo behalf of the Sunday School, of whioh ho is superinteodent, weloomed Mr Wooley. Mr Hal Goodaere, as treasurer of the Churoh, on behalf of the lay portion of the congregation, also gave Mr and Mrs Wooley a very hearty welcome. The Rev. W. K. Wooley, who was very heartily received, thanked them for the very kind and cordial reception and the kind things that had been siid of Mrs Wooley and Massif. It was a great pleasure to come to live in such a beautiful town, and it ws extremely gratifying to meet his fellow-workers of all denominations on that platform. He was exceedingly glad to renew his friendship with such broad-minded men a* the Revs. Evans, Serpell, and Nixon, whom he had laboured with years ago. Much as he loved the Baptist Church he hoped the people of New Plymouth would find he was first a Christian, and then a Baptist. Reference had been made to the small congregation; but he hoped they were free from the spirit whioh actuated a brother who prayed that he was sorry the services were so poorly att*nd«d, but he was happy to s*y the Primitives were aa bad, and the Wesleyans a great deal worse. No doubt it wa< well to have some difference, but if they must have a fence between the churches, he hoped it would not ba of. barbed wire. He hoped ha bad coma in a spirit of humility, a apirit of love, a spirit of charity. He referred to the pressure brought to bear upon him by the Rev. Mr Drew to accept the invitation they had so kindly given him •o coma to Naw Plymouth, and he hoped to be one with them in serving and worshipping God. He hoped he would be made use'ul in this part of the vineyard, and hoped to preach the word of life, so that they would see and feel that salvation was full and free. He again thanked them on behalf of his wife and himself for the kind welcome extended to them that evening. _ During the evening a recitation was given by Mrs Bighw, and vocal selections by Miss aud Mr Ambury, and Mr C. H. White. Miss Drew presided at the organ. The Doxology and the Benediotion brought a ver/ pleasant gathering to a close.