THE METHODIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1922, Page 5

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

GROWTH IN NEW ZEALAND. CELEBRATION OF CENTENARY. NEW PLYMOUTH SERVICES. The centenary of the Methodist Church in New Zealand was commcmv-r--ated by special services at the WhiteDy Memorial Church, New Plymouth, yesterday. Last night there was a large congregation and a special programme was rendered by the choir and soloist?. The preacher, the Rev. W. J. Elliott, spoke on the origin and growth of Methodism of 100 years in New Zealand, and took for his text, Deuteronomy 8,2; “and thou shalt remember all the way which t! » Lord thy God led ;thee....;” and the 118th psalm, sth verse: “The lord answered me and set me in a large place.” In the course of his remarks the Rev. Elliott said they were profoundly grateful for the opportunity and ‘singular honor of commemorufing the arrival of the first Metho.l:s:s in Zealand. He paid a tribute to the zeal and adaptability of these representatives of the Christian faith in the remotest section of the British Empire. They had no Government’, no towns, or no churches, and recollections of this should remind the people to-day of what a beautiful country we possessed. Hardly any were sensible of this rich heritage. In territorial extent, in variety of climate, and the sublimity of its scenery it presented an ideal sphere for young and old. Our form of civil Government seemed to every citizen the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and a man was free to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience.

In illustrating the spiritual heritage built up by the heroic band who initiated the work of the ehureh in New Zealand the speaker dealt with the spread of Methodism from Australia to New Zealand. In 1817 the first church was established in Castlereagh (Australia), which recently celebrated its 114th anniversary. That one had now multiplied into 4600 churches and schools, and the score of church adherents had become nearly 700,000 for Australia alone. Among those colonists was the Rev. Lee, who rendered fine service to the whole community. Lee paid a visit to New Zealand, but subsequently, at the suggestion of the noble and heroic Samuel Marsden, Lee returned to New Zealand in 18*22, and established his mission a few years after their Anglican friends. He received the most cordial help from Marsden, and was soon supported by a small band of enthusiastic and self-denying helpers. The introduction of Methodism to Taranaki in 1841 was next touched on by the speaker, who mentioned on the work of the Rev. Creed, an early missionary. He also recalled that the Rev;. H. Turton, who labored hard for a period of ten years, made a journey of 100 miles from Aotca (in the south) to New Plymouth, occupy Jng 16 days. The Rev. Turton was accompanied by %is wife and two children and took provisions and family belongings, twenty natives being hired for portage purposes. The first church was of raupo and the next was of stone. Few ministers in charge labored with more fidelity and zeal than the Rev. John Whiteley, the martyred missionary to whose memory the present church stood as an impressive tribute. The preacher quoted a resolution passed at a meeting in New Plymouth on the evening of December 15, 1898 (the day the memorial church was opened. Its‘text was “that this meeting heartily approves of the action of the Methodist community in connecting the church opened to-day with the revered name of the Rev. John Whiteley. The Rev. Whiteley, by his life and death bequeathed to the colony a name worthy of perpetual remembrance.” < The first quarterlv meeting in Taranaki took place in 1857. Now the chnreh had 2800 members, .">0 Sunday schools, 253 teachers,,*2soo scholars an 7000 attendants at public worship. The history of Methodism in New Zealand allowed what could be achieved by ener"v, faith and determination. To-day there were 4,(10 churches, 525 other meeting places, 1(11 schools, l«7 parsonages, nearly 2000 ministers, 51 home missionera, 783 local teachers, 20,670 members, 400 Sunday schools and <2 800 attendant. on public worship. “The , # £ th» church,” 6!lii tlie Rev " I

“with all its faults and limitations is an inspiring one and we should look back on it with gratitude.” At a recent conference in London it was announced that the Methodist Church within the Empire had ten million members, and there were 32 million Methodists throughout the world. It was the est Protestant denomination to-day. and it was a wonderful record on spiritual achievement, enterprise and progress since the time the Methodist ChnrA was originated by the Rev. John Wealev.