PAPAROA.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 217, 29 September 1893, Page 8

PAPAROA.

FOREIGN MISSION MEETING. The annual Foreign Mission meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Church took place on Monday evening September lSth. The Bev. J. J. Mather presided, being sup» ported on the platform, by the Rev. C. E. Davidson f Maung aturoto Congregational Church) and the Rev. Via. Horsfall, resident Anglican ministers. Mr Mather in his opening remarks expressed his pleasure at the presence of his brother minister. The chairman proceeded to read the account of subscriptions from the Methodist Church in New Zealand for the year, total ef which is £717 Is 4d. This is as increase of £l5O on the previous year, due entirely to the labors of the Bev, Dr. Brawn, who by lecturing in. the Colony etc., had greatly augmented the amount. The account of subscriptions in the Auckland district, and locally in the Paparoa Circuit, was also read to the meeting. The Chairman then called upon the Rev. Mr Horsfall for his premised address. Mr Horsfall considered it a pleasure (to be present to say anything for this great work. He referred to our Saviour’s command, ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,’ which applies personally t© each one of us. If a church is doing nothing to" carry the tidings of the Gospel to the heathen, in f®reign lands, that Church is dead. Though it isay not be possible to go ourselves, we must pray for the cause, andgive of our means towards carrying out the command of Christ. He himself had laboured amongst the heathen in Singapore, After giving instances of the worship of the natives of that place, he said we need to teach them that religion is somethin g better and higher than their heathenism with its abominable sacrifices and wor.hip of wood and stone. Rich blessings have been given to us, should we withhold them from others ? The Rev. C. E. Davidson was the next speaker. He recounted experiences among the red Indians of North America, of the Rev. E. Young, a missionary there, pointing out that when ths i savage became christianized, they as a natural consequence became civilized. He pointed sut that the heathens are always ready to accept the Gospel when it is brought to them. One of the chiefs of the Red Indians had said that Christians had been a long time bringing to their red brethren the good news of the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of man. The Rev. Mr Mather had intended giving an address on the ‘Japanese, ..but time would not permit. He gave, a humorous anecdote of a number of negroes, who at a.meeting held to further mission work, had passed the following resolutions. 1. All to give something. 2, To give willingly, 3. To give according as the Lord had blessed them. He hoped that those present would give in accordance with all the resolutions.’.

Mr Wilson proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers, which was seconded by Mr G. Cliff and carried by acclamation. The meeting closed with the Benediction.

In a future letter I will state the amount raised far foreign missions in the circuit for 1593, when this is made kndwn. It is expected there will be an increase on the total raised last- year.