OPENING of the NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, WAIPORI

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 178, 6 July 1871, Page 5

OPENING of the NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, WAIPORI

This church was opened for divine worship on Sunday, July 2nd, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. Henry Bull. The attendance was good, especially in the evening, when the church was uncomfortably filled. On the following day the tea and public meetings were held. The tea tables, at which there were three sittings, were presided over by Mesdames Clarke, Weatherall, Pillings, Wright, and Jones. The sumptuous and well-arranged fare, to which full justice was done, gave evidence of the judgment and forethought which the lady friends had exercised. The tables being cleared, the public meeting commenced, the chair being occupied by the Rev. H. Bull. The want of room to accommodate all who attended to listen to the addresses was much felt. The Chairman, after congratulating the meeting upon the success with which the

energetic .efforts of .the. Committee had been crowned, asked the Treasurer, Mr. James Wright, to make .the financial statement, from which it appeared that £123 10s fd had been expended, towards which, including proceeds of the opening services £107 0s 3d had been raised. The meeting was then addressed J>y Mr. Paul Ah Chin upon the religious history of China. The Rev. J. Menzies delivered an address marked by the sentiment of hopefulness. From an apparently feeble source a mighty, onward flowing stream proceeded. This was frequently illustrated in the history of the church, and, in a marked manner, in the '* holy club " at Oxford, from which Methodism took its rise. After Mr. Clarke, of the Blue Spur, had spoken, Mr. J. Gray, of the Port Chalmers district, delivered an eloquent address upon Christian zeal. This was followed by a neat address from Mr. Webber. Then, upon the motion of Mr. Pilling, the cordial and unanimous thanks of the meeting were accorded to Mr. J . Manning, of Dunedin, for his liberal gift of timber to the amount of £30. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies, and, upon the motion of Mr. Coverlid, to Mr. Booth, including the members of the choir, for his valuable service upon the harmonium. An interesting and well-sustained meeting, interspersed with music and singing, was brought to a close by Mr. Menzies pronouncing the benediction.