CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3032, 31 October 1908, Page 7

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

An important meeting was held in the Congregational Church on Thursday night, for the purpose of forming the Church membership. The Rev. J. R. Glasson, in the unavoidable absence of the Rev Hind, M.A,, took the chair, as representing the Congregational Union of New Zealand, and read several telegrams -conveying greetings to the Church and Minister from the St. Clair Church, Dunedin, the Dunedin District Committee of the Union ; the Auckland Union Committee, and from the Rev C. Hodge, of Adelaide, S.A. (Mr Hodge's father.) After the sinking of a hymn and prayer, and the reading of the Scriptures, the chairman called upon the Rev. A. M. Aspland to deliver an address on the "Minister and his Message." The . chairman then received the Rev. Hodge on behalf of the Union by the right hand of fellowship as Minister of the Church, and delivered to him an address. In doing so he suggested that it was necessary to-day for a minister to cultivate the affirmative spirit. The critical spirit was dangerous enough.but the negative spirit was worse. Men are not saved by theology old or new but by religion. ' There was a difference between one's own experience of the rsdemptive power of Jesus Christ and the mere terms in which one tries to define that experience. The chair was then vacated in favour of the Rev. A. Hodge, who formally constituted the Church fellowship. Mr Redman moved the first resolution committing those assembled to recognise each other as formally constituting a Christian Church. This was seconded by Mr H. A. Whelch. The names'wereithen enrolled. A second resolution was moved by Mr Hendry and seconded by Mr Bulpitt, "That we whose names have been enrolled as memoers of the Masterton Congregational Church agree to adopt the following covenant," the covenant being read by the Rev. A. Hodge, the people standing : "As a Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ now formed in this place, we enter into a solemn covenant with each other; declaring our belief in the Holy Scripture as the rule of our faith and practice; humbly believing that we are chosen and called of Almighty God our Father, redeemed of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Saviour, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost. By the grace of God we promise that we will, as far as we are able, engage in divine worship and observe His Holy Ordinance, declaring our willingness to be used in God's service for the furtherance of His cause, lor the upbuilding of His Saints in this most holy faith and for the salvation of sinners. We also will try to watch over each other in the Lord, helping, comforting, guiding, each other in all the ways We will pray for grace to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts-, that we may live soberly, righteous- i ly, and godly in this present world, ] looking for that blessed hope the glorious appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ." This was followed by an address from the Rev. W. A. Evans on the meaning and mission of a Christian Church. The address presented to Mr F. 1, Redman at the conclusion of the meeting was executed by Mr L. St. George.