THE METHODIST CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1937, Page 6

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

From the earliest days of New Zealand's settlement the Methodist Church has been one of the vital factors in its progress. Its first missionaries were men of sterling character, imbued with a very deep sense of the value of their work for civilisation and for Christianity. Men like Samuel Leigh, T. Bnddle, John Hobbs and J. Buller had the true spirit o£ the pioneers; they faced danger, discomfort, isolation and privation of every kind with a fortitude unmatched in either civilian or military life, and they won the confidence and respect of a fighting race by their indomitable pluck. The annual conference of the Church now proceeding in Auckland is a challenge to memory, and that the progressive spirit of Methodism is still dominant has been shown during the course of the discussions on Church polity. The Rev. F. Copeland, in his presidential address, gave the timely reminder that the spirit of daring and initiative in the individual is as essential to-day as in the past, and that there is a danger that social security may become a source of moral and spiritual degradation. These grave words should be pondered upon by many of those whose moral fibre has so weakened that they are prepared to cast the whole burden of their support upon their nearest neighbours.