WESLEYAN HOME MISSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 902, 18 October 1881, Page 2

WESLEYAN HOME MISSION.

The annual meeting in connection with the above mission was held in the Wsbleyan Church, Masterton, last evening .and was fairly attended. The Rev John Dukea presided, and was supported on the platform by the Kev Samuel Griffith, a young Minister from .Wellington, the Eev W. G. Thomas, Mr 'Gordon, and Mr Baumber. The meeting havii.? been opened with the usual derotioiial exercises Mr Gurdon read the report of the mission work for the past year. This showed that the annual income of the Society amounting to nearly £3.000, maintained Maori missions at Hnkianea, Kaipara, Raglan, Wellington, and Canterbury, supported three Scandinavian missions which ministered to over eight hundred persons, and gave occasional help to weak circuits, town and city missions, besides contributing towards the training nf Ministers. Last year the Masterton Circuit contributed a sum of £ls 3s 3d to the fund, about £9 of which were raised from juvenile offerings. The choir then rendered very effectively'"How beautiful upon the Mountain."

The Bev W. G. Thomas then aavo interesting reminiscences of New Zealand missionary heroes, and concluded by t\■pressing his opinion that the Church had plenty of vitality in it, and that the section of it at Masterton was particularly healthy and vigorous. This address was well received and frequently applauded.

The choir followed with "The Life Boat," the part singing being espeeially excellent.

.■The : lev Samuel Griffith, who was next called upon, expressed his appreciation of the manner in-which he had been lieieiyid in Masterton. r He did not care

but standing before them as a " deputation " it was incumbent upon him to address them, though he did not intend to make a "big speech," The object ef the ■ Homo Mission was to spread the knowledge, of Christ and make the Church process. The Church, he held, was going forward, although occasionally they might fancy that its wheels were revolving more slowly or stopping altogether. Some desponding brother might now and then think this, but a review of the Church, a/' a whole, incontrovertibly proved tnaCn was progressing. Still, the time had not yet come for the Church to sit down and count its victories. It was etill under marching orders! If only one soul in the world were unsaved it would be the , (ju duty of the Ohurcb to rescue it. He did not care to stand up and speak without a definite object. He was wont to regard himself as a marksman, and his mark that evening would be to give them a clearer idea of individual responsibility in church work. Those who talked most frequently worked the least. They wanted less talking and more working in the Church. Let them put criticism on one side, and do the best they could to take part in any work that was doing. How were they to Work ? In answer to this question he recommended them in the first place to sst an example by their own good lives. The world was not going to be converted by Church organisation, however necessary in its place such machinery might be, it must be converted by the individual power—the silent, subtle influences of individual holy lives. Church work would not be successful on any other foundation. In the second place he commended the priaching of the gospel, pointing out that the duty of such teachings was not coufined to the pulpit, but it was incumbent on every Christian man to bear his testimony. The third means ot promoting church work lay in prayer. His own experience as an individual gave him daily increased confidence in the efficacy of prayer, This was a power put within reach of all for the extension of God's kingdom. The last means he would allude to were the means which were humanly necessary for the extension of church work. He hoped the Mastertbn Circuit would do as well for the fund that year as they had on the preceding one. The Chairman bore testimony to the fact that his people were wont to give what was necessary, and he had no doubt of the balance required being forthcoming. [After the collection had been taken up he announced that it exceeded by a few shillings the sum required.] The Choir then sang "Where are the Gleaners."

Mr Bamber then gave one of his characteristic addresses, and the Chairman, as far as time allowed, gave the audience an earnest and able address on the characteristics of the Church and of church work, which brought a very successful meeting to a close.