A JUBILEE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14917, 16 March 1914, Page 8

A JUBILEE.

CELEBRATIONS AT ADDINGTON METHODIST CHURCH.

INTERESTING ADDRESSES.

In 18<>4 the lato Mr George Booth, who, with his wife, had come to Mew Zealand from Sunderland in the sailing vessel Zealandia, founded the Addington Free Methodist Church, which, by the Methodist Union of 1890, became tho Addington Methodist Church. The Free Methodist cause in New Zealand was pioneered by the late Mi George Booth, but it was at Rangiora where the Booth family settled in 1859, and not at Addington, that the first church was established. The Adding ton Methodist Church has always prospered, for it has never been without its band of earnest workers, and many of its ministers wero men possessed of great influence and special gifts. Tho three services yesterday reflected the healthy stato of tho church. There were largo congregations, and the services were bright and inspiring. A PRACTICAL RELIGION. In the morning, the Rev. W. Ready, formerly of Christchurch, and now of Auckland, preached a very interesting address from Nehemiah, chap. 6, v. 11 "Should such a man as I flee? And who is there that, being as I am, will go into the temple to savo his life? I will not go in." Referring to the work* of the late Mr George Booth, the, preacher said that many other noble institutions had been established by a lay agency. The Methodist Episcopalian Church of America was founded by Barbara Heck and Philip Embury,* who started the church in a room with of four. From such a small beginning had risen a church whoso adherents numbered nearly four millions. Then the late Edward Reed had established the Bible Christian Church in this city. A layman also founded the Methodist Church in South Australia. Tho speaker went on to refer to the devoted work in Addington of Mr John Brown, Mr T. Cutler, anu Mr T. Thompson, who had given tim. sympathy and money to tho Methodist cause there. In the Addington Church they taujjht, like Nehemiah, a practical religion. The religion that ws>« always singing of what a joyful thing it must be to rest in Heaven insteau cf thinking what a happy thing it was to labour on earth, was riot the religion of those men who had established the Addington Church. The duty of tho Church, he considered, was to keep an even balance of religion—love of God and of man, earing for the Txjlitics of tho world as well as for the service of God. The best way to worship God was to serve ouo another. FOR THE CHILDREN. In the afternoon, there waea special service for the children, at which the Rev. Mr Ready also preached. He took his text from Acts, chapters 27. and 29—"Then fearing lest v;o should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of tho stern, and wished for tho day." Tho anchors, be said wore thoroughness, fidelity to principle truthfulness, and faith in Christ. THE EVENING SERVICE. The Rev. S. Lawry, ex-president of the Conference, was tho preacher at the evening service. He took his test from Isaiah, chap. 25, v. 9. Ihiring the course of an impressive sermon, ho dealt with the subject of the jubilee and bore testimony to the spiritual force exerted during many years by tho Addington Methodist Church, which stood for truth and righteousness, and was a centre of instruction and consolation to a long succssion of members and adherents. He urged his hearers, however, not to be content with a grateful retrospection, but to pay attention to the present and the future. To-morrow evening the jubilee will be celebrated by a reunion, at which /the speakers will include the Rev. Canon Bean, St. Mary's, the Rev. J. Mackenzie and the Rev. S. La wry. On Wednesday there is to bo a jubilee "love-feast," and on Sunday the jubilee of the Sunday school will be