METHODISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 30 October 1914, Page 3

METHODISM.

j TAR AN AH COUNCIL. A meeting of the Council of the Taranaki Methodist ministers was held on Monday at Hawera. The following were present: New Plymouth, Rev. A. B. Chappell, M.A., Rev. C. H. Olds, 8.A., and .Mr. J. Nelson; Waitara, Rev. J. \V. Griffin; Inglewood, Rev. Mr. heatherston; Stratford, Messrs Reader and Harris; Eltham, llev. If. White; Opunake, Rev. R. B. Tinsley; Kaponga, Rev, P. Rands; Manaia, Rev. W. Rowe; Hawera, Rev .T. G. Hammond and Rev. li. 0. Blamires; Patca, Mr, Bridgman; Douglas, Mr. Aker. Most of the business was of a routine nature.

A welcome social was tendered the members of the Council in Wesley Hall on Monday evening, when there was a large gathering. Quite an enjoyable social was spent. The Rev. I, G. Hammond gave an interesting and instructive address in which he took his hearers back to the early days, and described many of the encounters amongst the Maori people before Chirstianity was preached to them. Mr. Hammond, in the course of hi s remarks, said that the Methodist Church in Taranaki had a history whi-jh it might be proud of, and he praised the noble work of the pioneer band of men and women who had come to Taranaki to win the people for Christ. He regretted that nothing had ever been done in this district to perpetuate the memory of these early Christian workers. Mr. Hammond, having interestingly dealt with<' the early history of this coast, went on to refer to the first missionary among the native people of this district in the person of Wiliiam Naylor, who, having accepted the faith of Jesus Christ, went to the people in the north and there did good work. It was between 1837 and 1840 that William Naylor returned to this coast and pleaded with his people to accept the teaching of the Gospel. There was a time when the Waikato natives used to come down and attack the natives near Waitotara, and Mr. Hammond related an interesting occurrence when, at the suggestion of William Naylor, the natives from Waitotara sent food to the opposing forces from the Waikato and bade them welcome. Tiie Waikato people were so overwhelmed that they accepted the hospitality of their foes, and after that there was never any further trouble between tHe Waikato and southern natives. Mr. Hammond said he wanted the people to hold in reverence the memory of William Naylor and others who had labored along this coast. In conclusion, he stated that he intended to chronicle the early history of the missionaries in the local paper, so that there would be a more permanent record of their work.

The Rev. Mr. Chappcll remarked that the province would be celebrating ita 75 years of Methodism next year? and lie hoped that the celebration would be a stimulous for future work.

The Ilev. Mr. Olds delivered a stirring spiritual address, in which lie said they wanted to get back to some of the grand old truth of Wesley. The success of Wesley's life was because of his faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.—Star.