METHODISM IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 242, 22 March 1915, Page 4

METHODISM IN TARANAKI.

WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. , REVIEW OP SEVENTY : FIVE YEARSYesterday's church anniversary celebration at Whitclcy Memorial Churchi had a unique character, as it synchronised with the simultaneous TaranaW ' commemoration of the Methodist missionary beginning of thriie-quarters of §. century ago. Large congregations afr. tended both services, despite the unpleasant weather. The choir rendered' anthems in pleasing style, and the congregational singing was remarkable for* its heartiness. . ' At the morning service the ministfcr of the church—Rev. A. li. Chappell took a general review of the period, preaching from the text: "1 have conquered the days of old, the years of'ancient times" (Psalm Ixxvii 5). After i&ing the fact that this locality fe fulT of spots made sacred by the happenings of the days of old; he describes those days as' days of discovery, enterprise; hardship, war, and roligious heroism. The enterprise of both missionaries and' settlers, their patient endurance of privations, and courage in, peril, and especially the devotion to religion "manifested' 1 by many of them, were enforced by telling instances. A glance tit the work of the 'earliest missionaries, whose work was more fully dealt with in the evening sermon, was followed i)v a tribute to the worth And work of Sergeant W. Marjouram, of the Royal Artillery, a Christian hero of a more recent date. His unexampled courage, instanced in his withdrawal of a burning eltarge from a spiked gun, was shown to have ■ been manifested especially in his unflinching and earnest work for the moral and spiritual betterment of his soldier comrades from his arrival until the day he was invalided home. "Honor to whom honor is due" meant ungrudging praiße to the men and women of former days, and reverent thanks to God for his unfailing goodness. Those early days were "days of. the right hand of the Most High." Iri this land, still at the dawn of history, there should be shown like courage and faith, while God should be made supreme King. The, service was attended By ft good muster of veterans, to whom the ipreacher made grateful references, at the Defence Rifle Club, arid of Boy Scouts. In a brief address to tlie Scouts, Mr. Chappell, who has been for years ai Dominion staff-officer, stressed the encouragement given by the conduct of tK$ old colonists to the holding of ideals embodied in their Scout oath and Scout law. At the evening service Mr. Chappell delivered a highly interesting review of the missionary achievements of the nioneer Methodist work of this province. A tribute to Samuel Marsden and his friend, Samuel Leigh <th« first Wesleyan missionary in New Zealand) led iip to a recital of the facts of the Taranaki mission, especially those connected with' the arrivals of the Revs. ft. Ironside, C. Creed, G. Buttle, J. Aldred, J. Skcvington, W. \Woon, H. Turton, and John Whiteley. The beginnings of primitive Methodism in the work of the fier. ItWard were described in detail. 'Tfia * facts of the Rev. J. Whiteley's murder were touched upon, the preacher declaring that members of the church associ- ■ ated with his martyr-memory wera pledged by it to honoi and serve his Lord and bless the land he loved.

We hope to publish a full roport cf this reminiscent,address.