MASTERTON WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5010, 26 April 1895, Page 2

MASTERTON WESLEYAN CHURCH.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES,J| The anniversary tea and public meeting in connection withtheaboye Chnrch was held last evening, and in spite of the wet weather the at-

tendance was large, and the proceedings enthusiastic. Pull justice was done to the abundance of .good things provided by the ladies, and at 7.80 an adjournment was made to

the Church,the chair being occupied by tho Rev. J. Dukes, and the Revs.

J. Ward (Wellington), S, J, Gibson (Greytown),and Robert Wood (Mastertou Presbyterian Church) occupying seats on the platform. ■ Tho Rev. John Dukes, after a few introductory remarks, called upon Jlr P. W. Temple to read tho annual report, after which; he said the rov. gentlemen present would give short addresses on topics of their own selection.

The report, as follows, was t&jn read:-

" Our first note to-night should lie one of thanksgiving to God for His pre' scrvinv care and sustaining grace, As labourers together with him, we arc brought 1 to another Anniversary, pnd are enabled to look back upon the year's work, if not with entire satisfaction, at least with thankfulness for comparative success. At the Church Anniversary we leave out of consideration Sunday School and Missionary operations, those agencies are dealt-with at their respective meetings, and we confine ourselves to a brief survey of local church affairs. After accounting for removals to the number of fourteen during the past year our membership now stands at 101, an increase of one on the year. Wc have also to report an increase of (i communi-' cants. This may not be commensurate with the efforts put forth, but surely sufficient to awaken gratiludo and stimu-

late us to aim at greater results. During the year the congrcgafcs, considering the drain upon iWfy removals haye kept up very well, Hero is eeiiaiuly room for improvement in the morning attendance, hut the averago evening congregation nearly fills the church. We would urge upon our pcMc a more faithful and regular, attendance at the morning service. During the winter when necessary, the church wiU be wauaed by the burning of the

I gas. Wo arc glad to report an improvement in the attendance at the week night service. This is largely owing to the interesting and profitable meeting con. ducted by the Christian Endeavour Society, ffc cannot speak too highly of this movement. It has already proved a great bless !, i{j to the Church, tor it provides a splendid training ground for Christian workers, and a suitable outlet for Christian testimony. The balance sheet about to be submitted, shews on current account that ■< after meeting all claims, we have reduced the debt by £sllßs lOd. During the past year we have not attempted the renovation of the parsonage, though it has been greatly needed, and this work cannot bo longer delayed. An iron roof must be placed there before winter, and thanks to the concerttojm- , lnitlce of last year, who liavejßost generously offered their serviceifagain tor the working up of foitnightly winter concerts, two thirds of the proceeds of these will be devoted to the parsonago rcnoyation fund and one third to Sunday school objects. Our bestthauks are due and arc

hereby heartily tendered to Miss Williarasorgauist, Mr Eoagey couduo- * tor, and to the elioir for their efficient and devoted services during the past year. We cannot close this repoii without , referring to the loss this church hn* sustained during the year by the removal of a brother beloved, who nasscd very suddenly from earth to Heaven last September. As superintendent of the school and local preacher lie served the Church well, and we greatly miss his genie I face and waim brotherly grasp. As this is the last year _ that our present minister can remain with us, wc earnestly hope that there will be hearty co-operation with him amongst the various grades of workers, so that this may proa the ' most successful year of his miWry. F.W. Turnip Secretary. April 25th 1895."

Mr Temple tlion moved the adoption of the report, the motion being carried unanimously, The Choir at this stage rendered, the selection, "Before Jehovah's AwfulThroue." The Rev. R. Wood, said lie was very pleased to be present tlmt eveniug. He regretted lie had not been present at the school anniversary gathering, but had work to do elsewhere. Had he been present per- ' haps he might have made some pungent comments on things that liad been read and said on that occasion. He was a man of peace—except when called upon to fight Ho believed in living at peace aj)d that tho Christian Churches should not,, fire into each other's ranks. Someone had been saying in the ffiairarapa, that the Methodists werllot in line with the Presbyterians. But he would read from tho minutes of the late Conference at Nelson, which showed that they were perfectly agreed upon the necessity and advis- v ability of imparting religious instruction in their State schools. If he understood tho position of the Methodist Conference, it protested against denojninationalisra, hut wished to see the no-God Bystem of their present State Schools done away with. They wanted the, ' Christianity of Christ recognised, and a young nation could not bebuilt up in auy other way. The Conference recognised this and pointed out that it was a " much needed ■ reform." Secularism had reigned in the Victorian public schools for twenty years, and it had now beon' j pronounced to bo the moral degradation of Melbourne. A non-conform-ist had protested strongly, preferring secularism to the tyranny of State churchism. He had therefore collected careful statuses to refute Bishop Moorehonse'slpiutemeuts. But what'did he find p. Why,. that it was fully borne out, and year ! by year Victoria lmd sunk morally lower and lower, offences' increasing in a startling" manner amongst native > born■■■ Victorians. What had been thrust clown their throats ? That by making people intelligent they became moral But' tho facts, proved otherwise. The factwas over-looked that man was a complex being, .'and. '.unless the moral nature was cultivated, the intelligence and . intellect which had been disciplined, might be turned to all evil purposes. Some time ago he (Mr Wood) had, been talking to a prominent police ?" official, who told him . that ; what saddened him, was-to. see a father applying to a Magistrate, .that his son, aged twelve, might be committcd to an Industrial School, as beyond- restraint! Let'the 1 Bible < speak in the Public Schools ! When he . heard people talking, Taiout a oible lesson being no good, without being expounded, he thoughkkwas like taking a candle to see tHKun. Let God speak to the hearts!/the •children. They were brought up in ■a- land: of'Bibles,- tindwhy'should God's.Book •; be boycotted ££e ;b4- v? ' lidved God" was .' angry' at' this national sin, 1 The 1 great .Anglican body had now 'dropped the banner of X

donominationalism, and bad fallen f. into Hue with the Methodists and Presbyterians, and said, give us the Bible in our schools. V The Rev. Mr Wood sat down amidst applause, and Mr Dukes, referring to the resolutions of the Conference, said Mr Wood had T put tho matter very clearly. Tho Conference agreed that a suitable text book was necessary, and that religious instruction should bo imparted, but it was meant that the text book should be in the hands of the seliool-maßter. If the two evils \ of denominationalism and secularism were before the Conference tochooso from, to a man they would vote for secularism as the lesser evil, he was sure. Tlioy had smarted too long under the hoof of a State Church in tho past. Tho Conference had never debated theadmission of Ministers of * different denominations, but merely agreed that tho introduction of a text book was necessary. He was glad, however, to see they were Retting closer on tho subject-, and to&elioved that within two years they * - ould have the Irish Text Book | in use in their schools. A Christian i school-master should be as capable of giving religious instruction of this kind as any Minister, a man like Mr Jackson, of the Mastorfon School, and he was proud that they had such a man amongst them... (Applauso.) '. Miss Perry then sang " The Holy City," her effort being much appro--1 ciatcd. The Rev, J. Ward, the next speaker, said he was not a stranger to Masterton, and some years ago when working at Greytown, had the joy—which wasnofca joy~of coming to Masterfcon sometimes on a wet day. ( He heartily congratulated them on theimprovements to the Church,and on their excellent report. He had listened to Mr Wood with great Agterest, when dealing with a theme of great and presentimportance. Secularism wasagrowingevil. Mr Wood, supported by tho Rev. Mr Dukes, had voiced the feeling of tho country, that a text hook was required to be read in their schools; without comment, and as Christians they should all work together to attain this end. While thinking what he should say, the words had come to him "We are laborers together with God," He hoped every single Christian would respect these words and become a laborer; not ornamental but useful; and whenever they could do good—either to a man's body or soul—to never miss dispensing kindness and sunshino and doinif this good. He had heard it said that Methodism wanted l - working, it did not work itself. He had known churches whero the workers did not work together and the result was failure. Unanimity was wanted in the Christian Church if success was to be obtained. They were not only working for God but with God. PerfecJpn was attained by God and man, the gardener could say this and the Christian worker in a higher sense. When they had their fainting tits too, they should remember that God was still working with them. The worker for God also enjoyed most of Heaven while on earth. A man who tried to make a bad man good and a good man better, got very near Heaven, Referring to Mr Dukes' last year the speaker said he hoped they would unite to give their pastor a great send-off, full of good memories. (Applause). The choir then sang the anthem, ./ "Oil sing unto the Lord," after which Mr L. Donald recited in a ' very able manner. The Rev. S. J. Gibson followed with an address, in which he said he had listened with intense interest to the previous speakers, He had a good knowledge of the Scripture )- «fext Books alluded to that evening, Wthey had been long in use in the Colony where he was born, viz,, New South Wales. He thought tho introduction of these hooks to the New Zealand Schools, would be a great advantage. The conscience clause gave parents the option of I saying that their children should or should not take part in the religious insttuction, but in New South Wales it was found that children of all denominations attended the lessons. After all, the teaching in schools would not do much good unless backed up by home teach- ' ing. Referring to Church work, the spesiker congratulated the Masterton Wesleyan Church on its annual report, Christians should do their duty on every occasion of life. At the ballot box it was necessary, and the Christian who gave a vote for „ anyone who would uphold the drink traffic, for instance, was not doing iEduty, There wero persons who wild not 'pass a public-house, and therefore it was necessary to take it out of their way. This was Church work and practical Christianity. Let each rise to his highest position j and do his best. (Applause). Another anthem-"I am Alpha and Omega "—was rendered by the , choir, after which Mr C. E. Daniell moved several votes of thanks to the visitors, speakers, etc. The Rev. Robert Woodthenmoved a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, speaking in very complimentary terras of his work. . The Rey. J. Ward added a tribute in seconding the motion, which was carried by acclamation. The meeting then broke up after singing the Doxology. We must not forget to mention >- that a very important part of last evening's programme-that of presiding at the tea tables—was ably performed by the following ladies of the congregation Mesdames Coradine, Cresswell, /iSiiniell, Donald, Elliott, Wander, W/atthows and Pragnoll, and tho t Misses M, Gillespie, Perry, and Williams. Several others lent their assistance.