PRIMITIVE METHODISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81893, 23 November 1906, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODISM.

NEW CHURCH STONE-LAYING. - A delightful afternoon warm Wild jiiglit, a goodly attendance, successlul service and a rattling good collection might lan-iy be taken as d good augury tor tne future of the, Henui liimitive Methodist Churcn build- '"«". the foundatioa-siouc of which was laid on Thursday afternoon by Mrs James Jiellring el .,' The huill {. i.ig is to be erected on the site of the old Hcnui Church, opened by the Kev. Robert Ward sixty years ago on a section facing the Devon-road, a stones throw from the Anglican Church. A few years ago the ancient structure was pulled down on account ol ,i„ age, the congregation having long before dwindled down to «"• The foundation-stone laying ceremony was performed on Thuis- . The Rov. Nixon, in charge of the circuit a„d mlliist „ , jt lh( , yucefl _ sueet Church, conducted th c gati'er"'ff;, , Tne Kev. Doherty, PnmiUve Methodist minister at Hcnui, and tne Rf-v. Iteming, of E.tham; thc Rev. ooliey, lNew pi yn j outll Ml . c _ K President of the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand; and Adjutant Macaulay, of the Salvation Army, also took part. ■He choir winch led the singing was conducted by Mr E. A. Gu.diufff Mk. cinvM "f orya, " St ' and M« Runweie AH Hail the Power," "This anrT-n T ? ee "' Fai,h " e Lay," is Jesus Christ Her Lord," and pravk,l u ~A Macaulay, the , Iu calin 8' upon Mr C. E. Belll<!!f\° aUdress the gathering, the Rtv .Nixon .remarked that tint was e hud foundation-stone laid by l»c Chirch in three, yeara, a record unique m the of 'n™ £a , I , nmlllve Meihodism. This Church had been founded b ™ ]aym^ and 1 was pleasing ,o see that y a T ay : man had risen to u le position of P?e--dent of the New Zealand Conferthc M old B He, nßW ' Speakin ff I,s ono ol ■ «,,„, , . Ul c COD ««S'aiion, rather : than a ho . dol . of hj offi ' ofTT ?** imo tha W first > v' dl \ Hc toki "ow the : hist Primitivo Methodist sermon in , 1 c district was preached in the open" who b -d '° ia ! e Rev - R"bcrt Ward, : ' hitt,' t , , dd cnwd £rom »oolc , Ituitokr bridge m Devon-street, Now 1 Plymouth. How he chose Te HeCi ■ ** 'lie site for his church and iZ. . S .and the members carried^ •" 1 llonl lllt t" ls '' ™ their 1 WOI W»P- Passing on through the . 27 0 the Rev. Charles Waters . ie Rev Green, and the Rev. Long • »P«aker came down through tfei i »" 3 ° 1 ,t' i V ' UC i dIS ocated lhe wor king of - tl« church. It was outside tho li„ e ot safety, and.services could not be ueld here on account of the Maori disturbance. Years afterwards the old building was enlarged, and ihe speaker mentioned tne names of Messrs Charles Hamblyn, Henry ; ftwbal' Gllb ert, Bassett, a „d Moyle, who worked for their church , and with their iiyes defended hearth and home. After the war came a time of depression and the Rev. Joseph Long W as compelled t« c'osa Hi.- church. His last sermon was preached to a congregation of one. 1 »?"W°n ed that congregation," said Mr Bellrmger, "and the preacher became so enwrapped in his theme hat 1 believe ho forgot 1 was his only listener. ' Three years ago the peo"ple realised .the necessity for the reestablishmcnt of a free church at Henui. Friends helped uob.v, and it seemed, there would be a return of the glory of the old times in the old church, preaching the same old Gospel. Mrs Bel'ringor then declared the "stone well and truly aid." The Rev. Benning, in a short, impressive speech, referred to the spirit which | characterised 'the former church workers, who had laid the early foundations in this district. He urged his hearers to "build according to the pattern showed Time ';* the Mount," in building up the spiritual body of the Church. The Revs. Nixon and Doherty returned thanks to those who attcn "ed and after the benediction afternoon' tea was partaken of on the lawn at Mrs Penny's residence, which was the parsonage in 0 den times. The new church building, being erected by Messrs Pikett and Wilkie, will comprise a main building 33ft x 25ft, two smaller roams at the -rear--Bft 6in x 7ft. Thcire will be a front porch. The height of the stud is 16ft, and 19ft in the ceiling C'ear. The contract price is £287, and the seats will probably increase this fig- ' urc to £320..