A POWER FOR GOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1922, Page 4

A POWER FOR GOOD.

Throughout the Methodist community of New Zealand there can be no sanctuary to which, clings mote of the fragrance of great work accomplished through sacrifice than the Whiteley Church in New Plymouth, where local Methodists celebrated last evening the centenary of their church’s establishment in this country. Offspring of that parent society founded in the Homeland by John Wesley, whom the British Prime Ministry recently described as “the greatest spiritual leader and religious organiser the English-speaking races ever produced,” Methodism in New Zealand began very modestly one hundred years ago. There —as now— Europe was suffering in its recovery from the strain of war. Then —as now—the whole of civilisation appeared to be in a state of flux. New ideas, new standards, of conduct and ideals of citizenship were in the melting-pot, and the future of civilisation could scarcely have borne a gloomier outlook. Yet at. this time the Methodist outlook was sufficiently comprehensive to determine the establishment of their church in what was then a country inhabited by savages, and where no civilised Power held any sway. “Wisdom is justified of her children,” and the humanising and elevating influence of Methodism (with that of other churches) has more than justified the faith which sent it here. Even to those who are not of its communion, it is obvious that in work accomplished, in material prosperity, in patient self-sacrificing leadership, above all, in opportunity for use of that moral leverage which is peculiarly the share of the church in shaping civilisation, Methodism in New Zealand is ■wealthier to-day than ever before. From its inception, too, the Methodist Church throughout New Zealand, and certainly in Taranaki, has -been fortunate in its leaders, and the standard of self-sacrificing devotion to duty of its ministers was never higher than today. All sections of the community gladly join in congratulations so richly deserved, and in the hope that the vitality of this great moral force will increase, and that its power of adaptability to meet the ever changing problems of an ever advancing civilisation will never be lacking.