METHODIST CHURCH JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 277, 24 November 1890, Page 2

METHODIST CHURCH JUBILEE.

The announcement of Jubilee meetings in the Wesleyan churches of the city and üburbß naturally prompts and calls for a retrospect of the work done by this eection of the Christian Church throughout the colony. It is, of couree, the Jubilee of the European churches that is now being•celebrated? but, back of that, the B ame Church

had for twenty years previously a mission history in these islands of which any community might 'dq proud. Early in the twenties euch devoted men aa Nathaniel Turner, John Hobbs, Stack, and others came to this then barbarous country for the purpose of evangelising the Maoris. In the nexo decade they were joined by the late Revs. J. Whitely, J. Wallis, and John Warren, all of whom became excellent native speakers. Just prior to those islands being proclaimed a, parb of the Queen's dominions, a further reinforcement was sent—Messrs Buddie, Turton, Skevington, Aldred, and Buttle coming in the ship Triton, the Rev. James Wabkin arriving from Australia. How these men and their coadjutors of a later date toiled to accomplish their mission is matter of history ; bub the success they achieved has never yet been adequately portrayed. In company with honoured missionaries of the Episcopalian Church, they laboured unremittingly until within a few years ; the Scriptures were translated into the Maori tongue, cannibalism was abolished, tribal wars came to an end, licentiousness was restrained, and slavery abolished. It is not too much to say that it was through tho missionary occupation thab the colonisation of New Zealand was rendered practicable. One outcome oi this missionary labour was the founding of European churches. As the immigrants from Britain arrived, the nearest missionaries felt ib incumbent to care for tho spiritual welfare of their co-religionists, and others who, without such care, would have been as "sheep withoub a shepherd." Thus in the year 1840 English congregations were established in Auckland and Wellington, and somowhab later in Nolaon and Taranaki, As othor settlements cr.mo into existence by the fosfcering care and financial aid of tho Wesloyan Missionary Society in England, ministers were sent to them. Moet of the pioneers in fchia work have long since passed away, bub the names of tho intrepid and manly Turner, tho sagacious Hobbs, the venerablo and iarsighted Walter Lawry, tho zealous and successful Buddie, and the equally-devoted Watkin, Warren, Buttle, Buller, Skevington, the martyred Whitely, mid tho patient Schnackenbcrg deserve to bo lovingly remembered. Two names still connect us with that early period—'the venerable James Wallis, who has resided for 55 years in the country, and John Aldred, who was honoured to bo tho first European minister in Wellington, Aleleon and Canterbury. By the labours of those men and their successors, Hided all along by onrnofib local preach era and zealous workers in other departments, the Church has extended throughout tho colony. It now nuroboje ■ 460 congregations, bus 20,000 scholars in : its Sunday-schools and 50,000 worshippers in its sanctuaries, while ona-t'fiinl of its ministers are colonially trained, and several of them native born.

There arc, wo understand, some still living in Auckland who remembor tho lirwb service in connection with the denomination held in a sawpib in Mechanics' Bay. How after awhile the few members secured a site in High-Btireeb, erecbod a church thereon, enlarged it, superseded it by a commodious brick building, enlarged that, are facts wellknown to many in middle life. In the cifcy and suburbs they have gone on ox ten din.l 7 until now thoro are fourteen churches with five thousand worshippors. In tho province also there has been an endeavour to keep pace with the expanding population, and ftlio flourishing coßpropjationpnt the Thames, Waikato, Frankliif, und in the Northern districts abtest the success. In former days, the denomination did much for tho promotion of education, by tho day-t'cliools in High-atreeb, Parnoll, and llobson-streeb, and the Queen-street; College. Maori training was also provided for, and is etill carried on ftb Three Kings under the ablo direction of the Rev. A. Reid.

The aims of fcWe Jubilee movement aye, we understand, rotrospscbivo, spiritual, educative and financial. Ib is thought advisable while there nre those who remember the whole pasb still living, to gather up and rohearea interesting incidents of the early days. It is reasonably believed that such a recital will stimulate the Mothodists of thie generation to imitate the einglenese of aim and the deep devotion of their fathers. By a frank and lucid statement of tho docbrinos and polity of the church ib is oxpected that a more ardent attachment of the members will be secured, and in tho thanksgiving fund means are provided for obtaining from young and old, a tangible expression of gratitude. The objecte to which the funds are to be devoted are Home Mission work and the erection of churches. Thoso should commend themselves to theadherentsof tho church. Already considerable sums have been subscribed in Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington, and Auckland Methodists, wo ara assured, will fall into line with those of other placoe.