DUNSANDEL METHODIST CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 4

DUNSA NDEL METHODIST CHURCH.

DEDICATION SERVICE

, The official opening of tho new .Methodist Church at Dunsandel took place on tho Thursday afternoon. A largo gathering of people representative of different denominations and different parts of the district, assembled to witness the ceremony. The church, which has been built in the Gothic style of architecture, is a very handsome building, nnd it is certainly' a lasting monument to the enterprise of the Dunsandel Methodists. An up-to-date acetylene-gas plant has betSiT installed to provide the lighting. > The contract was carried out by Mr Hugh Brown.

.Shortly lifter 3 o'clock the Jtbv. T. |A. Jonghin, tho circuit minister, called upon Mr G. Lill, one of the oldest Methodists iv tho Dunsandal district, to open the door nnd declare the church open. With a few brief remarks, in the course of which he expressed the Kre.lt pleasure ho felt at being called upon to assist in a ceremony that had been long looked forward to, JPlr Lill opened the door," and.leading the way into tho church declared the building open for worship. The dedication servico was then held inside, the church being well filled. The service was conducted by the Re*/. Samuel Lowi-y, assisted by the Revs. T. A. Joughin and It. W. Jackson. Suitable hymns and an anthem were sung by a strong choir, Miss Sheat prosiding at the organ. At.-"i o'clock a tea meeting was held at the Town Hall, which was followed by a coueert. The Rev. Mr Joughin, who presided, said he was very pleased to see such a large gathering to show their goodwill towards the Methodists of Dunsandel. He was pleased to be able to say that there was a decline in the birthrate so far as religious sects were concerned. Tho trend of publio opinion was in the direction of unity, and lie looked forward to the time when they would all unite and form one common power for the furtherance of Christ's kingdom. Mr Joughin apologised for the absence of the Kov. C. H. Laws, chairman of the district.

A good programme of anthems by the church choir, songs, and recitations, was given, and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. An overture was played by Miss Sheat, songs were contributed by Mrs .Simpson. Misses Johnston, Rudd, Lill. Jouchin, and; Messrs Bonda.l and Sherriffs. and recitations by Mr Armstrong. The accompaniments were well played by Misses Joughin and Johnson. Sandwiched between the musical items were several short speeches. Mr 0. Sheat. treasurer of the Church Building Fund, and a trustee of tho new church, said that people of all denominations, without exception, had given financial assistance, and ho wished to thank them very heartily. The contract had been lot at £728. and he expected that the extras would bring the cost of the building up to about £800. £o far ho had collected £000 ]7s lid. and they would require another £200 to clear off the debt.

The Rev. Mr Jackson congratulated the-Methodists of Dunsandel on having built such a handsome church. He looked upon tho establishment of a church in any community as an event of great .significance. He warmly complimented the Dunsandel peonlo upon the fact that during the last five vearfi they had contributed about £1400 towards tho building and repairing of churches. < Tho Rev. S. Lawry offered his congratulations not . only to the Metho"_ists. but to all the people of Dunsandel, on tho opening of the new church. It was of some significance that there should bo fstieh a largo gathering that eveninn. to celebrate the oneninc. He hoped it was an indication of the manner in which they would support the church in the future. Mr Lawry then _avc a history of the progress of tho Methodist Church, disproving tho statement", made that according to the last census the Church had not made the same progress as other churches. The Rev. Mr Keen, of Springfield, added his congratulations, and tho meeting dispersed.