OPENING OF THE NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, BLUE SPUR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 114, 14 April 1870, Page 5

OPENING OF THE NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, BLUE SPUR.

On Sunday last the New Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, at tho Blue Spur, was opened by dedicatory services, conducted by the jcircuit minister, the Rev. Mr. W. Keall, and the Rev. Mr. Marten, late of Waikouaitr. There was a large attendance, and very instructive and practical discourses were- preached.

On Tuesday evening^ a public, tea meeting was. held in the chapel, which may be characterised as the, largest and most successful meeting of the kind ever held at the Spur — indeed-, it is questionable if such a large and-pleasant gathering has before assembled in the Tuapeka. district, in connection with any. religious' body. The tea tables were laid out with great tasto and skill, and niany willing female hands were busy in. supplying the wants of the crowd of friends who pertook of the, dainties provided. So large was the assemblage that three different services of- tea were necessary before all were supplied.

After the tables were cleared away, the seats arranged, and a platform erected, the second part of the meeting was commenced.

The Rev. W. Keall occupied the chair, supported on his right by the Rev. Mr. Marten, and on his left by Messrs Matthews and M'Lelland. We observed friends of the Wesleyan cause from the Teviot, Waipori and Tokomairiro, several of whom, we were informed, had purposely come from these places to countenance and encoxirage their brethern in Tuapeka.

A hymn was sung-, after which

Mr. Keall addressed the, meeting at considerable length, in the course of which he pointed out the necessity of adherents of the Church being present at the commencement of the services, and the annoyance caused by those who came late ; they should come as much for the devotional part of the service as for- the sermon, for after all the sermon was the least important. The reading of the word of God too was not sufficiently valued. „ It was no,, light matter to hear it publicly read. It was a sufficient fact when that was done to show that ministers had no desire to monopolize it or to keep it a sealed book.* By its study there- was instruction in religious truth to be gained ; they would learn to know their privileges on earth, and the glories that awaited them in the world to come.. In building that house of prayer, they had accom-, plished a great work ; in fact the,re could be no greater! To contribute to such a work was, to a Christian, not only a privilege bui a pleasure, and it showed great wisdom. All the members of a church can be helpers in the work of God, and there are thousands of men who carry on that work as effectually as those who are appointed "to preach. The rev. speaker then drew attention to the following modes by which hearers could help the work, viz. : — Ist. By receiving the' truth, themselves ; 2nd. By earnest prayer ; 3rd,.. 8y giving of their substance with a goodjnotive ; 4th. Strong faith^in Chris!;; sth. Love to the cause. In concluding, Mr Keall stated that it was just twelve months that day since he first met "them at the Spur, bidding good-bye -'to Mr M'Nicoll. He felt happy to know that he was not to be separated from them for a time. He had^been very busy at .w,ork during his stay in the disiyict, as- they might imagine from the fact that he had. been preaching at the rate of 70 times a quarter. ' ■ •

Mr Matthews was then called upon to read'*the building report, -which showed the total cost of the building, ijacluding pujpit and- seats, to., be .£193.. Towards that amount £110, h#d .been promised, £70 of which had been collected by. Mrs -R/ Clarke, who deserved the hearty thanks of all the friends of the Church. Tlie tea meeting was expected to realize about ' £20, so that with a little more energy and work they might soon expect to have the debt cleared off. In reviewing the history of the Wesleyans at the Spur for the last ~SKyears, he could not but observe the rapid progress they had made, until at last they had^-roarjed the beautiful structure in which they^wßro-asgembled.

A hymn was sung, after which Mr Keall apologised for Dr. Copland's absence, which was unavoidable, he being on a visit to the Dunstan.

Mr M'Lelland was then called upon, and before delivering a very practical address made some humourous remarks. He considered the chairman of such a meeting an absolute monarch. He calls and they must answer. He was only informed on the previous day that he would be expected; to say something. Ho was supposed to be standing in the shoes of Dr Copland, but he was not going to attempt any such thing. He could not, however, refuse to say something, aa people at the Spur Avould think their old Schoolmaster was getting too big for his boots. As it was in his line he. had taken stock of the number of children in arms present at the tea meeting ; he counted no fewer than 28, so. he thought he might, without grudging, allow a dozen of the advanced scholars to go, down to the Grammar School eveiy year.

Mr Gilbert, of Tokomairiro, then followed by delivering a very eloquent address on progress. lie, referred to the early days of Tuapeka, and the rapid advancement it had made. Looking all round the world everything appeared to be stamped with the motto " advance, improve, progress." Th^Blue Spur, he was happy to see, was not behind in its progressive march ; and he was gla4 to congratulate the meeting on the success which was attending the Wesleyan 1 Church there. At Balclutha the Church was extending its boundaries ; the foundation stone of a building was to be laid on Friday with Masonic honours. In illustration of how Christians ought to go to work with a persevering spirit, Mr Gilbert related in a very forcible manner the story of the man with the fustian | jacket, who lost no opportunity of informing everybody with whom he came in contact, the various articles of merchandise which he had for sale, and thus gained for himself a business and a name,

The Key. Mr Menzies, 'of Lawrence, followed Mr Gilbert, and mad,e a few very appropriate remarks.

Mr Marten^ of Waikouaiti, also addressed the meeting at some length.

Mr. Keall, in bringing the proceedings to a termination, expressed his gratificatiop at the success of the meeting: They had had strong, meat and nqt milk and water, and he thought they would all be not only pleased but edified. Before closing the meeting there were some duties they had to perform in the way of votes of thanks. He. would call upon, Mr. James Nicholas to propose a vote of thanks to the ladies for thpir valuable services on the occasion, and upon Mr. French to, second the. motion, and" Mr. Cairey to support it. Thi3 being duly performed^ Mr. R. R. Clarke responded on behalf of the ladies.

A vote of thanks to all who had assisted in raising money for the building fund was proposed by Mr. Tonics, and seconded by Mr. Bentley. After a vote of thank? to the speakers and the chairman were duly carried-, the meeting was closodwith a doxology.

A collection was made made in t the course of the eveningj "when a sum of about £4 was realized.