PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2565, 7 October 1893, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

A social meeting was held on Thursday evening at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Geraldine, in welcome to the Rev. J. R. Hindes, who was recently brought from England to be a co-worker with the Rev. W. C. Woodward in this district.

The Rev. Mr Woodward, who presided, said Geraldine friends would not be behind Temuka friends in welcoming the Rev. Mr Hindes to their circuit, and he hoped that with God's spirit in their hearts and work much good would be accomplished by the Church. He spoke at length on schism amongst Christians, and urged his people to stick to the old landmarks.

Mr Amos Sherratt, station steward, cordially welcomed Mr Hindes, and said that 17 years ago they were struggling hard to keep one minister in two circuits, and now they had got two ministers in one circuit. He looked for further progress in the future. Mr Colin McKenzie, as a Presbyterian, welcomed the Rev Mr Hindes, and said he could heartily welcome any man whose heart was in the work of Christ. Mr Dalton trusted that the new minister's work would be blessed and the cause of Christ would prosper in their midst.

Mr Smith (Temuka) said that in their Brother Hindes they had a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, and he hoped everyone would take heed to what he will say and mend their ways, and their lives would be better in the future. Mr Wise also, in a few words, extended a hearty welcome to Mr Hindes.

The Rev. Mr Boys (Timaru) appeared for the first .time before a Geraldine audience, and in welcoming his brother worker entreated sympathy for him in his church work. This was Mr Hindes' first circuit, and the treatment he received in this district would go a long way to form his future career, for the first circuit made the man more than the man made the circuit. The Rev. J. R. Hindes, said he had been called to the ministry, and spoke of the pluck of his brethren in this district. He knew a circuit where with Gd balance to credit they decided to ca 1 ! another minister on the strength of it, but in this circuit they had done more than that, for with £'d odd in debt they had called out another man. Mr Hindes closed by saying that he was a Primitive Methodist born—his father had preached in nearly a'l the Primitive churches in London, and his brother was in tho African mission.

Mr J. M. Sutherland proposed, and Mr Taggart seconded, the usual vote of thanks to the ladies, the choir, and the Rev. Mr Boys for their assistance during the evening. At an interval in the meeting the ladies handed round coffee and cakes, and iuterspersed with the speeches the choir, with Miss Andrews at the organ, rendered some pretty pieces of music in a very creditable manner.