NEW BAPTIST TABERNACLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4353, 26 April 1884, Page 4

NEW BAPTIST TABERNACLE.

Laying of the Foundation Stone,

The foundation stone of tho projected Baptist Tabornaole at the corner of Karangahape Road and Upper Queen-street was laid on April 14, with becoming impressiveness, and in tho presence of a very large concourse of people. Everything seems to have conspired to render the ceremonial as effective as possible. The weather is gloriously tine, and tho gala character of the day, with the appearance of the city en fete, of course deepens .the effect produced by the assemblage of a vast multitude of people in their best attire. Still further attraction is imparted to the scene by the grouping of tho Sun-day-school children on graduated tiers of seats, specially erected for their accommodation, in close contiguity to the scene of action. The young and talented paator of tho ilock looks elated over the inauguration of a work that will undoubtedly servo as a monument to porpetuato his name and memory in Auckland, tho people appear joyous and enthusiastic, and the whole character of the affair tends to show that it marks an epoch in the history of tho Baptist communion here. In common with their frionds and coadjutors of other sections of the Protestant Church, they have passed through many vicissitudes, endured frequent trials, and overcome numerous difficulties beforo emerging from their nonage as a church. In their- earliest stage of existence as a recognised congregation, they " roughed " it with henrty geocl-will, disdaining neither the use of a sparo auction mart, nor tho tawdry products of aprimitivo theatre for the purposes of public worship. As they grow in numerical strength and worldly wealth, this haphazard and makeshift kind of accommodation became no longer tolerable, and the nucleus of the present Baptist Church at tho cornor of Wollesloy and Chapelstreets was built, to be followed in a few years more by tho addition of a school. The familiar wooden pile has stood thore for more than a quartor of a century, and many of tho children who formerly received instruction in Its school now assist to guide tho dostinios of tho Church, while noarly all tho sturdy pionoora, " after life's fitful fovor," havo gone to thoir rest. Succeeding tho Kov. Mr Thornton, tho Roy. P. 11. Cornford ably and tenderly prosided over tho congregation from its precarious infancy to its lusty youth ; and tho Rev. A. W. Wobb modified its character with an infusion of his ownevangolicalzeal; but both pastors havo been eclipsed by their youthful succossor who nows fills tho pulpit. From.the advent of tho Key. Thomas Spurgoon tho Church entered upon a coui-ho of rapid progress, both in membership and in spiritual activity. Tho reputation of the father, of course, was an adventitious oloment of groat potency in tho young minister's favour, but his own sterling qualitios and unquostionablo talonts rondcr him quite independent of any such extrinsic recommendation or support. Ho took tho religious community by storm, and still retains his hold upon it, whilo into hiR congregation, then suffering a rolapso from prolonged revivalistic oxcitemont, ho breathed tho healthier spirit of a whole-souled and susstained dovotion to his Master's causo. Vory soon tho old building proved inadequate, even when supplemented by tho adjoiuing school, to contain the eager crowds of worshippers, and tho Choral Hull was taken as an experiment for tho evoning norvico. Many regarded tho result as very dubious indeed, but now even tho Choral Hall fails to moot tho demands of space levied upon it. To Mr Spurgoon himself is duo the inception of tho Tabernacle project, and than himself no one has more powerfully contributed to bring its feasibility within tho rangoof accomplished facts. Hisardour in tho work has been unflagging, and his exertions have beon laborious. At tho vory outset he declared with characteristic plainness that he would nevor preach in the now cditico until it was ontirely free from debt, and to tho consummation of that end ho has been directing all his energies, seconded most cordially by his people. They have, through their deacons, bound thomsolves to tho minister's resolve, and already more than half tho necessary funds havo been raised, while a considorablo portion of the balanco is promised. Tho total cost is estimated at £12,000.

A full description of tho proposed structure has already appeared in theso columns, and it is unnecessary, thoroforo, to recapitulate dotails which must bo fresh in tho minds of our readers. Suffico it to say that tho building is to bo of brick, upon concrete foundations, and faced with plaster, whilo it will soat a larger number of people, porhapSjthan any othor church in Auckland. A verso of tho Doxology having boon sung, Dr. Kondordino delivered a brief address.

Upon tho platform were assembled tho Roys. T. Spurgeon, R. F. Macnicol, (.'. Carter, Robertson, Woolley, Fairbrothor, Whytock, 6. B. Monro, Bavin, T. Ifamor, and Messrs 8011, S. 11. Matthews, Dewar, Chambors, Gaze, Kelsey, S. Brown, Shalders (Baptist deacons), and James Edmiston (Secretary to Building Fund Committee).

After the singing of a hymn by tho Sun-day-school children, (under tho leadership of Mr Rountree, and tho singing of another (viz., " Thou Who Hast in Zion Laid "), by the wholo assemblage, under the conductorship of Mr Theo. Cooper, son., prayer lias ofl'orod up by the Rev. Thos. Spurgeon. Tho rov. gentleman then addressed the assemblage, and in tho cotirHO of his remarks read out the following declaration, a copy of which on vollum wae sealed up and placod under tho stono —"Built upon tho foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himsolf being the chief corner stono—2 Ephesians, v. 20. For tho worship of Almighty God, and for the proclamation of tho Gospel, the foundation stono of this Tabernacle to bo known as " Tho Auckland Tabornacle " in connection with the Baptist denomination was laid by Dr. T. Kenderdino on Easter Monday, April 14, in the year of our Lord, ISS4, being tho 47th year of the reign of Her Mtijesty Queen Victoria, His Excellency Sir Wm. Jervois being Governor of tho Colony, Pastor of tho Church, Thomas Spurgeon Deacons: Samuel Brown, Fredorick Battley, Edmund Bell, Alexander Dewar, Chas. Gaze, Chas. IKelsoy, Richard B. Shalders, John Chambers (treasurer), Scoring H. Matthews (secretary). Sunday-school|Super-intondents : Frederick Battley and Gilbert S. Ilountreo. Architect of the Building : Edmund 8011. Builder: James J. Holland. Building Committee: Ehe above-named deacons, with Chas. Blomfield, Edmund Ellingham, James Edmiston, John W. James, and Isaac Watts. Amount of tender for oroction of the building complete, £B,239.—Auckland, N.Z., 14th April 1884." Tho following articles were sealed up along with the declaration :—A Bible, Constttution of tho Church, last year's Church report, photograph oi the Wellesley-streot Church, photograph of tno present paster, complete set of the "Tabernacle Builder," Monday's " Herald," Evening Stak, and " Free Press," papor contaiaing hymns sung at special services on Sunday previous (Easter Sunday). Mr Spurgeon then presented to Dr. T. B. Kondordino with a suitably inscribedsilvor trowel tho gift of the Wellesley-streot congregation. The doctor laid the mortar, and the stone having been lowered to its place, lie tapped in the orthodox manner with a gilt mallet and declared the stone to be well and truly laid.

The Rev. Thomas Spurgeon expressed tho great happiness which he felt on tho occasion, and his hope and belief that it was but the prelude to something better and blighter in the future, viz., the opening of the Tabernacle. They had been driven by stress of numbers to erect it, and it was scarcely necessary to tell them that thoso numbers were increasing every week. They were determined, if posslblo, to open the new building freo of debt, and to complete it without liability. To his mind, it was a disgrace to a Christian community that there should bo any debt upon their place of worship. His congregation were ondoavouririg to set a now fashion in this respect, but it should have been spt long ago. Tho rev, gentleman then went on to enumerate the articles placed under the foundation stone.

Dr. Konderdine, after performing tho ceremony of laying tho stone, delivered a brief address, in the course of which lie stated tho great pleasure he felt at Mr Spurgoon's resolvo to havo the Church opened free of debt, and his agreoment with him in thinking that the tolerance of debt upon their Churches was a disgrace to Christian communities. He was sure that tho true and whole Gospel would be preached in the new Tabernacle, and he warmly congratulated all who were interested in its erection.

The Rev. J. Robertson also tendered his cordial congratulations to Mr Spurgeon and the Wellesley-street congregation. The Rev. Mr Carter pointed out that thoro were cases in which a church might legitimately remain in debt, and therefore deprecated any wholesale condemnation of the practice. Still, tliero were Church debts which should not exist at all.

Frofesßor Aldis remarked- that many speakers, when sailed upon for an address, avowed themselves unprepared and yet spoke elaborately, whereas he generally prepared what he believed to be an elegant speech,- ?nd yet failed to deliver it. Ho went on, however, to belie the latter statojUjnt by gjying ft capital address, in the

course of which he pointed out that the true temple of God was tho lowly, humble, and pure heart. The Revs. Woollcy and Fairbrother also spoke. Mr Spurgeon then laid a cheque for £35 upon tho stone, saying that the bulk of the amount was made up of marriage fees. Other offerings wero mado until tho total reached £3SB, and it was subsequently still further supplemented. Tho proceedings closed with the Benediction.

The Solroc,

The celebrative soiree waa held in the evening in St. James's Hall, a considerable number of people proceeding there direct from the scene of the afternoon's ceremonial. In consequenco the hall was half filled by half-past five o'clock, and tho tea commenced about six. There was a tremendous throng of guests, and the exigencies of spaces rendered neeossary thoir division into three or four relays. The trays wero supplied by tho ladies of the congregation. After the tea the public meeting was opened with devotional exercises. Tho church choir, under the leadership of Mr Theo. Cooper, .sen., were ranged upon tho platform, and scats there woro also occupied by the Revs. A. Reid, T. McKonzio Eraser, R. F. Macuicol, \V. S. Potter, A. Fairbrother, D.Whytock, and Mr Thomas Peacock, M.11.R.