METHODIST UNION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14668, 17 May 1913, Page 3

METHODIST UNION.

LOCAL CELEBRATIONS,

Tho local celebrations in connection with tho consummation of Methodist Union have been marked by great enthusiasm and success. On Sundav last there was a general interchange of pulpits among the Methodist ministers and local preachers. At the Durham street Church the Rev. W. Laycock preached in tho morning and tho Ilev. S. Lawry, President of the Conference, in tho evening-

On Thursday evening a great united tea meeting was held in the Durham street schoolroom. Tho building was crowded to excess with several sittings at. thn...tables.. - The tables.-,were, provided by tho various Methodist congregations of tho city, the following contributing:—Durham street, East belt, St. Albaus, Addiogton, Sydenham, Richmond. New Brighton, Cambridge terrace, Central Mission, Linwood, Windsor, Clarence road, Edgew.iro road, Madras street, Woolston, Opawa. and Lincoln road. The tea provided an excellent opportunity for social rou.iion and must have dono not a little to introduce the congregations to one another and to cement tho union. Subsequently the spacious Durham street church was filled for the after meeting. The Rev. S. Lawry presided. Tho singing was led by a large united choir, drawn from all the churches, and led by Mr JR. Firth, F.11.C.0. In addition to familiar and appropriate hymns, the choir rendered tho To Deum (Jackson) and tho "Hallelujah Chorus." Prayer was offered by the Rev. H. E. .Bcllhouse (St. Albans)*, and tho Scripture was read by tho Rev. W. Laycock (Woolston). The following gave addresses:—Tho President of the Conference.- on "Tho Call to Evangelism in tlie United Church;" tho Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., oil "The Contribution of Methodism to tho Life and Thought of the World;" the Rev. J. Cocker, on "Methodism and Social Reform," and Mr H. Holland, Mayor of Christ-church, on "The Layman's Place in the United Church." Tho «(ldresse,s were all of a high, order, and the audience responded with frequent applause.

During tho evening tho resolution of thanks passed by tho recent conference to Mr J. A. Flesher, convener of tho Legal Committee, appointed by tho General Conference to carry out tho procedure to secure New Zealand independence, was presented to him by the President of the Conference. Tho resolution was suitably illluminated and handsomely framed, ana wes accompanied by a framed photograph of the First Independent Conference. The President, in making the presentation, referred in complimentary terms to Mr Flesher's gratuitous and able work in connection with thr» pn c sing of tho various Acts of Parliament in Australia and Xew Zealand necessary to assure independence, and to the great value of his serves to tho Methodist Connexion. Mr Flesher suitably replied. During the evening the newly published Souvenir of Union i.«ued by the Conference was on sale. The Declaration of Union, bein«r the formal document signed in Wellington by tho leaders of the uniting Churches and witnessed by his Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister of the Dominion, the Rpv. Drs. YoungTrnn and Morley, nnd others, was on exhibition and was the centre of much interest. The Union celebrations will conclude nexi wpek, when on the F-ilny nitrht a great "Young People's Gathering" will be held in the Durham Street Church.