METHODIST CHURCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1941, Page 6

METHODIST CHURCH

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS IN WELLINGTON WORK OF PIONEERS RECALLED. INSPIRATION TO CONTINUED EFFORT. (Contributed). In May, 1841, two evangelists in the cause of the church whose name, Wesleyan Methodist, came from the great leaders in thought of last century, John and Charles Wesley, commenced the work of that church in 'Wellington. The Revs. J. H. Bunby and T. C. Hobbs landed there on the beach and held the first service at a spot which is now a bustling, commercial centre and the work so well begun in unpromising surroundings has never looked back. Last week the centenary was celebrated in a church well known to many in Masterton by a series of inspiring and educational services which were attended by thousands of Methodists from the Wairarapa and all the surrounding districts of Wellington. It was in every way a fitting celebration of a century of hard and unremitting work by men and women who gave much of their lives to furthering the Kingdom of God on earth. The path trod by those great and gallant people has seen a succession of obstacles overcome, so that those in whose hands is the torch handed to them by those who have gone may look forward with confidence to the future, proud of the task allotted to them. A feature of the gatherings has been the display of old documents and photographs of persons, places and things which, as it were, blazed the trail during the past hundred years. It served also to show the obstacles that had to be overcome so that the church might continue its work. This has been a real inspiration to all who have been present. The great services of thanksgiving last Sunday featured a remarkable spirit of encouragement and hope and a challenge to the people of the present to emulate the leaders of the past. The President of the Conference, the Rev. W. A. Burley, of Christchurch, was the preacher and gave the people a real unlift and inspiration when he called on them to follow the spirit, of the Apostle Paul in those stirring words: "Awake, thou that steepest and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” A valuable record of the gathering is a book containing the names of all who were present and this shows they came from all over the Dominion. The Rev. H. S. Kings and a corps of Masterion Methodists were among those who attended the celebrations. Tuesday evening saw a glimpse of old time Methodist life when there was held a real Methodist tea, followed by an organ recital and conversazione—actually a mingling of . the past and the present. A real spirit of camaraderie was in evidence throughout the gatherings.

Finally came a grand evening of music, vocal and instrumental, arranged by Mr H. Temple White and contributed by members of the Methodist choirs of the district. This reached a high standard and proved the fact that the Methodists have well maintained the music of the church in an age that suffers from the influence of radio and pictures. A feature of the work was the number of hymns and anthems used that were written by the Wesleys. On the Thursday- evening the programme included Arthur Sullivan s ”O Gladsome Light” (Golden Legend) and triumphal “To Deum,” Mendelssohn's “Hear My Prayer” and “O for the Wings," “I Will Sing of Th}’ Great Mercy" and "I Waited for the Lord” (St. Paul), J. S. Bach's “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” ‘‘Only be Still.” Massenet's "Meditation." a violin solo by Miss V. Blamires, a daughter of the Rev. E. O. Blamires, well known in the Wairarapa, and Sargent's “Watchman, What of the Night?” The services and celebrations featured all aspects of Methodist life and work and formed a series worthily presenting the centenary of a great Christian church. Very cordial and inspiring messages were given at the Tuesday's gatherings by the Anglican Bishop of Wellington, and the head of other Christian bodies, stressing the real need of a continued and everincreasing spirit of co-operation and brotherhood in Christian work in the world.