OPENING OF S. PAUL'S WESLEYAN CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1820, 6 March 1884, Page 2

OPEN ING OF S. PA UL'S WESLEYAN CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

The ceremonj. of o| emng the new Wesleyan Church at Cambridge, took place yesterday at 3 o'clock p.m., and was numerously attended by both townsfolk and country settlors of all denominations. The day wa3 generally observed as a halfholiday, all the leading places of business closed at 2 p.m., and the weather being all that could be desired, left nothing wanting to contribute to the entire success of the ceremony. For some time back the smallness of the old building, in Chappl-street, has been ) felt to be a drawback to the prosperity of the numerous and continually increasing body of Wesleyans in the district, and the enlargement of the old church or the building of a new one has long been contemplated ; but it was not until the advent of the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury, that the contemplated idea took definite and piactical shape, and now, thanks to the exertions of that gentleman and the building committee — Messrs R. Reynolds, T. Nixon, Jo«. Gane, G. E. Clark, E. B. Walker, J. Biidgman, and W. Tucker, an edifice has been erected, which, while affording the much-needed increased accommodation, is an ornament to the town, and a credit to the body to which it belongs. As will be remembered, the foundationstone of the new building was laid on the 11th of September last, by Mr J. 0. Firth, and on that occasion a very handsome sum was subscribed toward the cost of the undertaking. Since then the contractor, Mr George Smerdon, has vigoiously pushed on the work, and although, owing to the extremely unpropitious weather experienced during the latter end of last year, the contract time has been slightly exceeded, Mr Smerdon may be congratulated on having well and faithfully carried out his contract, and in a manner affording the greatest satibfaction to all concerned. The building, which is very pleasantly-situated at the corner of Queen and Bryce-streets, has been erected from designs by Mr E. Baitley, of Auckland. In style it is Gothic mainly, and presents a very handsome appearance. The length of the main building is 48 feet and the width 33 feet, and the schoolroom attached is 20 feet long by 28 feet wide. The church is estimated to seat about 250 of an average congregation and the school100m about 100. The total cost has been about £900. The porch of the church is approached by five steps, and is 11 feet by (i feet in dimensions. The front doors are of Gothic pattern, 12 feet by 6 feet. From the porch two half glass doors, glazed with best English plate glass, lead into each aisle of the church. On entering the church the first thing that strikes an observer is the handsome and elegant roof, which is painted a pale bluish tint and suppoiled by varnished principals, hammer beams supported b3 T turned stiuts resting on moulded corbels, and filled in with handsome carved woik. The tie rods are of extra stoutness and painted blue. The seats arc both elegant and comfoi table and are fitted with foot rails. The rostrum is in keeping 1 with the other work, with panels ornamented with quai trefoils and polished handrails. The communion rail rests on massive turned balusters, and the kneeling cushion is richly ornamented in crewel work, the groundwork of crimson cloth, embellished w ith a design of passion flowers, the wcik and gift of Mbi Jackson, of Onchuuga. The cover of the communion table is biinilarly ornamented, the work being done by Mr-> Dewsbnry and lady friends. Inside the communion rails and iosti urn the space is carpeted. The wiudows are gl.ued with rough plate glass, and ventilation is provided for by a large loin re in the gable end, and another in the schoolroom. The lining is vertical instead of horizontal and V jointjed. The whole of the work is of a .substantial character, the studs being G x 3 and 0 x 2 alternately. The Rev. H. R. Dcv>bbury and Mr Thomas Nixon acted ab clerks of the work during the contract. The opening services were conducted by the Rev Alexander Reid, chairman of the Auckland district, and shoitly after 3 o'clock the church was rilled. Spare benches weie ranged along the aisles, but even thesefailed to accommodate the congregation, several of whom remained in the school-room throughout the seivice ; the number present being estimated at between 330 and 400, among whom we noticed the Rev Mev.ib Dukos, of Hamilton; ()h\oi Dean, Te Awamutu ; Wnemu Patene, native ; W. Evans, Cambridge ; and H. R. Devsbury, pastor of the church. The sei\ice commenced by the congregation binging the Old Hundredth hymn, after which followed prayer by the Rev A. Reid. The choir next sang Jackbon's Te Deum in F, and after the fiist lesson had been read, the Jubilate, by the same composer. At the conclusion of the second lesson the hymn, " Pleasant aie Thy Courts Above," was sung. The preacher selected Ins text from S. Paul's epistle to the Romans, " Love ib the fulfilling of the law," and in the course of hia remarks, after dwelling on the comprehensiveness of the text, said that thebe two terms, love and law, each represented the factors in the most mighty and momentous problems in life — salvation from sin and education in holiness. The opening of this chmch would to a certain extent illustrate the meaning of love. Love is the desire for and delight in the welfare of others, so as to prompt us to an effort on their behalf. But some modification of this statement must be made. For instance, love to God cannot be denned as a desire for His wellbeing. Such a desire ivould be profane. Love to God manifests itself in the deep sympathy which leads us to spend and be spent in the accomplishment of His purposes. Law may be defined as that by which we are awaie of the conditions of being, of action, and of suffering. When law's prescriptions are honoured, the existence id a perfect existence. Law is the expression of the divine will, and the expression of His will must be perfect and beat calculated for the fulfilment of His design. Love is the active debire for and delight in the well being of others. Law pi escribes the conditions on which these objects can be secured. Love is the motive, law the method. Love is the steam power, law ifc the machinery. All God's laws aie intended by him for perfect working ; to secure this love must dominate. In accordance with the complexity of this beautiful mechanism we measure its importance. If love dominate, all is right ; if not, disintegration, dissolution, and utter ruin ensue. Witness the case of Adam's fall. Eve thought the apple met her tethestic taste, met her love of the beautiful, the true motive power was left out and the result has ever since been misery, and a terrific struggle being waged. We cannot tell where the effects of man's woik terminate in this universe. If love be the motive power, see with what majestic power man moves forward. Let me here, in passing, enter a brief protest against the distaste in the hearts of men against law, more especially the law of God, the moral law as being too exacting, and not giving sufficient scope. The expenditure of love benefits the donor more than the recipients. As S. Paul says in the espiatls to the Ephesians, " It Is more blessed to give than to receive." In this God has made us like himself. What a costly affection is love to a mother ; pain, toil, suffering, self-denial. No one but God himself can estimate the costliness of a mother's love. If you want to see love that is taught of God, see it in a mother's love. The philanthropist, by the expendituiQ of his means, has his own happiness increased a thousandfold by the happiness of those to whom he extends his bounty. Love is most emphatically the law of the Christian Church. We cannot imagine a race of bemgs in the universe on whom greater love has been expended than on our sinning race. It is unthinkable that God Almighty has done more for any race than he has done for man. Let imagination run riot, you cannot think of what mope ooiild be given thau His only-begotten Son. God commends His love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. If we allow God's love to go right through our whole nature it delivers us from the presence, power, and punishment of sin. The Church is successful according to the proportion that love obtains among its members. Let a church be wealthy, cultured, and active— -if the element of love is wanting, it will be powerlecs. On the qtherhand, if a qhuroh |a comparatively weak, popr in pocket, and regarded as illiterate, if love be there that church shall prosper, and fro™ i fc shall emanate a mighty stream of influence. To men, no matter of what qhurch, whose faith in JeeH? pquses in tjjero. th.c, spjfifc qf Jqye, iinpoislbie becomes eaay. How little in comparison in the amount spent in spreading the gospel with that spent in maintaining vast armaments. May God, in His goodness, give us the Bpirit of love, and in occupying such a handsome and commodious structure, may you be filled with love, and set a bright example to others. During the collection, the anthem "In Jewy is God Known" was sung by the choir, The service qonoluded with prayer. T^ie collection. "reaUsectlho sum of £15 2s 6d.

nectiou with tho opening took place in the Public Hull, and there was a very large attendance. The hall presented the festive appearance usual on such occasions, and the tables, it is needless to &ay, were abundantly supplied by the following ladies :— Mesdanies Medhurst, Pearce, E. B. Walker, Booth, Jones, Clark, Butler, Morgan, Martyn, senr., Caley, and Misses Alford and Henson. Trays were offered by several other ladies, but on finding that a sufficient number was already provided, the disappointed donois generously insisted on contributing the cost of the refreshments to the building fund.