THE WESLEYAN CHURCH IN OTAGO.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 327, 4 February 1874, Page 3

THE WESLEYAN CHURCH IN OTAGO.

The annual gathering in connection with the Wealeyan Home Missions was held in Christchurch on the 29th ult. From the report of the proceedings given by the "Lyttelton Times," we make the following extracts : — The Key. T. W. Rigg, Dunedin, said that Otago had recently been separated from this very wealthy district of Canterbury, and the latter had gained by it, for Otago was the most needy part of the original district. They had always needed more in that Province than they could raise, and he would be glad when there was only one general fund, and something like equity observed in the matter. — ( Sear, hear. ) 'J be Wesleyan Church was \ery feeble indeed in Otago. In Balclutha, Lawrence, and other places the number of members ranged from 10 to 40. Now, how could they imagine a minister being supported by 10 members, or even by 40, and that to in some instances with large debts to contend~against ? He hoped that under these circumstances one common fund would be established, and the money distributed where there was the greatest need. The Key. F. W. Isitt, of Balclntha, said they had heard what the Home mission was ia New Zealand and in Tasmania in th early days, and he would now tell them a little of its position now in Otago. He was essentially a Home Missionary minister, and he must confess a hungry one, for he must tell them that he calculated every member of the Church in Otago had a debt of £10 on his head, or going further, that every member of the congregations, man, woman, and child, had a debt of at le«ist 20s each upon them. There seemed, indeed, to be an inclination in the Province to boast as to which circuit had the largest debt, Brother Beck, when present at the opening of a new church at Lawrence, a short time ago, had remarked that the church at Milton was a finer one than that just opened, hut if it were, he could only say that while the Lawrence people were up to their ears in debt, those at Milton were altogether under water in this respect.— (Laughter.) He must tell them that when he went to Balolutha there were only fqur members of the \ hurch, and they had succeeded in bnilding a place of worship which cost £400, though not without leaving a debt upon i* „ c — ; - " r "" ta . *">»'- , i?...i tjcaa wiped off, and now they wanted to build a parsonage. A new church had been built at Milton, and for this £600 had been raised last year. If, however, £200 were taken off for a minister's residence, £300 for the church, and something for furniture for the minister's house, there would not be much left for the minister. He (Mr. Isitt) might therefore, well come before them and say he was hungry. Otago really needed pity in Methodistic work. The few who were ministering there could not overtake the work that required to be done, and he feared that they could never do much in ( )tago. He, however,' remembered the visit of Itev. Goo. Scott to Sweden and was strengthened. On his first landing this minister was taken to the shore, and ordered away on the peril of death ; but he remained, and the seeds sown by him took such good root that when he visited the place twenty years afterwards, instead of being driven away, he was met by the people and ministers en masse with great rejoicing. Good Methodist work had been done there, and such work was to be done in Otago. He hoped the day would come when other parts of the Colony would cease to look upon Otago with an unsymphetic eye, and every aid would be extended to it, thus fulfilling the Law of Christ.— (Applause.)