STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 291, 1 May 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER,

METHODIST UNION

A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.

/here was a good attendance at the Union tea" in the Regan street Methodist Church on Tuesday evening. The public meeting held subsequently in the Lroadway Church was not as largely attended as might have been expected « a gathering arranged to celebrate ii°i vT ,?{ V' 6 Primi t''ve Methodist ami Methodist churches, and also to welcome the new minister, the Rev E Bandy, to the circuit. •Mr. J. Masters, senior circuit steward presided, and in extending a welcome to the Rev. Bandy, referred to the all-im- . portant question of union, which had been consummated after a great deal of effort exerted in the conferences, synods and quarterly meetings of the sister churches. Was union going to benefit the church and the 1 work of God as a whole? he asked. The answer to that question depended on the people themselves Unity, they were told, was strength; but numbers did not necessarily , mean unity. Unless the people were ready to pull together, and put forth united effort, the union could not result in benefit to the work of God, and all the labor expended would have been in vain. It was only natural, he said, that there should be little hindrances to perfect union, but some of the little corners would have tp he,-knocked off on both the other more obstinate ones must ( .be allowed to wear off. Then in dty> time would come real union, bind blessing, Concluding," he extended a hearty. >racome,.to the Rev. Mr. Bandy, hoping- that his stay in Stratford wouid ; be a happy one, and his ministry a success. ! }

| -Air. J. B. Hine, M.P., also addressed the meeting. He shortly reviewed the j; great progress of Christianity, and pointed to the fact that no martyrdom was now involved in a declaration in favor of the faith. Those days had passed, j and he could see no reason why people should not work openly and earnestly for the benefit of God's church. As an Anglican, he tendered his hearty congratulations to the Methodists upon the union of their churches. There were now six and a half million members of the Methodist Church in the world, and over twenty-five millions of adherentsstupendous figures, which he hoped would < increase. Some day he trusted there would come a move to unite still more of-the. church, and, he, as an Anglican, would say to the 'Methodists, "Come along." There had been for centuries too great a tendency for -sects to break away, but he hoped that the Methodist I'nion indicated a turn of the tide, and that instead of cleavage there would now he more united action and more unions consummated among the churches. He wished the united church every success, and welcomed the Rev. and Mrs. Bandy to the district. Congratulations and welcome came j also from the Rev. j. Pattison, minister in charge of the Presbyterian Church in j the Stratford district. Touching on I union, he said it reminded him of a marriage, and a very great and import'ant marriage this was. It had set him thinking of the possibilities of a larger union, a larger amalgamation of Christian forces, the joining together of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches. Whilst differing on what were really minor matters of doctrine, they were all doing the one work, and all recognised the one Jesus as Saviour and King. The nearer they drew to Jesus Christ the nearer they would be to one another, and this remark he commended to the notice of the newly-united congregations. Mr. Pattison pleaded for mutual recognition among the church workers, for mutual fellowship, and mutual co-operation when tackling such subjects as temperance, Bible-in-schools, or Sabbath observance. They could, he said, pray apart if they chose, but they should fight together. He also advocated a conference to so arrange districts that the present undesirable overlapping in some districts would cease, and with it the rivalry and starving salaries. Mr. C. E. Bellringer, formerly president of the Primitive Methodist Conference, also spoke. He claimed to be one of the oldest members of the church ' present, and as such welcomed the new ,worker.in this field. As a local preacher of over thirty years'standing, he pleaded for help for the ministers, a word of encouragement now and again, and the recognition that a minister's work was ofttimes such as taxed a man to the utmost.-, He was optimistic over the union just effected, and wanted all concerned to be optimistic, too. The Methodist Church had a great work to do, and it would do it better as one body than in two sections. It would be the fault of the people themselves if there was not complete fusion and if the work of the church were not immensely furthered thereby. He believed the time was coming for a union of all the evangelical churches in Xew Zealand, and tor the establishment of a national church.

The Rev. Mr. Bandy made a very happy speech, introducing himself and his wife, and telling the people what he had done and what he hoped to do with their help. Cradled in Methodism, reared with the songs and stories of the old Methodist Church ever in his ears, he was a Methodist through and through. He considered that the genius which had guided the two churches to this grand union would, now united, prove a power for righteousness such as this beautiful land had never known. Three characteristics of Methodism he hoped they would never lose sight of. They must hold tightly to the facts of experimental religion; cultivate the gift of speech, as was being done here in the Christian Endeavor Society, in order that they might express their thoughts concerning the deep things of God; and never be too modern or too scholarly for a "revival."

A good musical programme interspersed the speeches, Mr. Kirkman accompanying the choir and some of the vocalists, and Miss Hopkins the other performers, whilst the Rev. A. Reader conducted the choir. The items we're: Song, "Down the Vale," Mr. Xelson; recitation, "The Farmer's Story," Mr. Piurnard; sons. Miss Moon; quartette, "Watchman, 'What of the Xight?"; Misses Kveriss (2), Messrs. T). Everlss and Nelson; violin solo, Miss Hopkins: song, "llosanna in Excelsis," Rev. Reader: anthems, "This is the Day," and "Send out Thv L'urht," by the choir. The singing of the Doxology and the Benediction! pronounced by the Rev. Reader, brought the union thanksgiving services to a close.

A record attendance of Foresters on Tuesday evening elected Mr. .7. W. P>. Jones as secretary, in place of Mr. Pamdle. wlio recently resigned. At Tuna tlie other evening there was a very well 'attended soc'nl to farewell ■Messrs. Dixon and PleWs. Mr. Dixon is oil' (o England ''for gocl," and Mr. Plows on holiday. Mr. Dixon was pro-

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Rented by Mr. Archer, on behalf of the settlers, with a handsome dressing-case. Mr. Kichiirdson, of Stratford, was the pianist, and Mr. Simmonds played for extras, Messrs. Leatham and Jones were M.C's. Songs were sung by Messrs. Hawthorne, Tristram (encored) and Williamson.