OPENING OF NEW CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20045, 29 September 1930, Page 5

OPENING OF NEW CHURCH.

Colombo street baptist.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADDRESS

The new Baptist Church, Colombo :;treet, Beekenham, of which the Rev. J. K. Archer (Mayor of Christchureh) is pastor, was officially opened on Saturday afternoon by his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe.

Mr and Mrs Archer welcomed His Excellency, who was accompanied by Lieutenant <T. C. Elworthy, E.N., at the gates, and the first company of the Christchureh Boys' Brigade and the Colombo street Baptist Girl Guides formed a guard of honour. As his Excellency walked from the gates to the church the large crowd assembled sang the National Anthem, and the contractor, Mr T. Delamare, presented his Excellency with a gold key, wherewith to open the door of the building. At 5.30 p.m. a public tea meeting was held and later in the evening there was a very large attendance, when representatives of the Protestant Churches gave addresses and offered congratulations .

Yesterday morning Mr Archer preached the first sermon in the new church.

Religious Liberty

"On such an occasion as this, in the heart of a city which owes its origin to the establishment, only 80 years ago, of a great settlement of devout adherents of the Anglican Church there fiy irresistibly to my mind thoughts upon religious liberty and all that it implies in the progress and enlightenment of mankind," said his Excellency. "In the Old Country it is not unusual to speak of those churches which are outside the Anglican communion and its State establishment, as the 'free churches,' The days are fortunately long past when, as in the case of the Pilgrim Fathers, devout Christians felt eompellod to leave home and country in order to obtain 'freedom to worship God.' Both in religious and in secular affairs there is to-day the utmost toleration, and liberty, is but little restrained in English-speaking countries short of blasphemy or sacrilege on the one hand, and anarchy or sedition on the other. But old-time persecution and intolerance had one beneficial effect, in that they caused men and women to band together in defence of principles which they held dear and submit to sacrifices and hardships which dogged tenacity to their principles called forth. These adverse forces not only produced steadfast co-operation and a sense of brotherhood among the devotees of oppressed creeds, but they strengthened individual character and buttressed religious faith.

One Effect of Persecution. "The weapons of spiritual warfare were not then rusty. They were kept bright by constant use. Men and women were all the more zealous beeaiiso tliey deemed their cause to be in jeopardy in an unsympathetic environment. There is no greater spur to •piritual steadfastness than human antipathy. On the other hand there is no more numbing spiritual; narcotic than human apathy, and this -often arises from too comfortable a sense of security or the achievement of what was •once the great objective. "A tree which has never felt the fury of a strong gale from a particular quarter develops little or no root growth in that direction and when (perhaps* once In 50 years) a hurricane comes from that quarter it is blown over through lack of sufficient anchorage. So it is with human beings. We are apt to atrophy In that part of our natural equipment which Is not at times put to a severe test. We are tqld that we are losing our teeth through eating too soft food, tl»at our' hair it becoming deficient through ignoring Nature's covering out of preference for those of human manufacture, and that even our legs may some day become atrophied through the discontinuance of walking in favour of mechanical, propulsion. Is not this equally applicable to our spiritual powers rnd our spiritual equipment! If the efacacy of ultra-democracy is nowadays challenged and deemed to be on (ts tiial a« the best medium of providing ' the greatest happiness of the /greatest number,' still more so, in their present state of serene security and equality, is the efficacy of our Christian Churches in advancing the Kingdom of Ood among the great restless masses of mankind. "Freedom alone will never secure virility and progress, either secular or religions. It may in fact hamper their development, especially if it induces self-sufficiency and militates against corporate activity and corporate enthusiasm.

Need for Discipline. "The City of Christchureh has lately been somewhat 'in the . dark.' Contrary to the spirit of its founders and its high traditions, it has lacked enlightenment, and all through want of water. Perhaps this hardly seems strange to those, including the Baptist community, who not only believe that true enlightenment flows from membership of the Christian Church.' but, following Divine precedent, employ water in admitting God's servants to it. Active membership of any organised Christian community brings increased individual stability and the confidence which flows from mutual sympathy and helpfulness, but it also involves discipline and adherence to a systematic code or rule of life. An undisciplined and aimless craving for so-called liberty—which is another name for license —Is one of the weaknesses of modern democracy, the source of much discontent and unhappiness, and incidentally a potent factor in emptying places of worship, inducing a demand for constant excitement and loosening the ties of domestic life and sometimes of conjugal fidelity. Without some, organisation and the gentle discipline which is its outcome, civilised human beings become little better than savages. Indeed, they are less happy and contented than savages, as education, which has been tho privilege of all of us to a greater or less degree, needs a discipline!! life for its full justification and the full enjoyment of its fruits.

"Just as water to be effective in providing power and light must bo compressed into a narrow channel and ultimately into a turbine, or other mechanical device, so also to make the fullest use of the powers and opportunities for good available to us all we need such concentration and regularised control as membership of a religious community provides. In fact, true freedom is the freedom of discipline and not of license. There is no more pitiable creature—-no more abject slave—than one over whom no restraint is exercised, either by himself or by others. There is a popular fallacy that unlimited pleasure provides maximum happiness. There is no greater error. "Work, with the self-discipline which it necessitates, is a far more certain and satisfying source of happiness. The fullest and most supremely happy life is probably that in which on the average at least four-fifths of the day is occupied with conscientious work,

honestly and faithfully accomplished, and the remainder with healthy relaxation of mind or body. And if that work is beautified or ennobled from being evoked by love of God or of man, its value as a source of happiness is greatly augmented. As the Rev. Dr. Chalmers Smith said: —

'Dusting, darning, drudging, nothing is great or small, Nothing is mean or irksome, Love will hallow it all.'

"And surely the work of the promoters of this great unselfish enterprise, which has resulted in the erection of Colombo street Baptist Church, has been inspired by the love both of the good Master and of those fellow-beings, young and old, to wliom in years to come it will be the means of carrying the good tidings of the Gospel and imparting the hopefulness and joy which radiate the lives of all those who faithfully accept the Divine message and allow it to energise and beautify all their daily activities. Indeed, not only is discipline an essential, factor of perfect freedom, but so also is truth —truth as derived from the best of all books upon which Christians of all denominations base their faith. As the poet Cowper says:—

'He is the free man whom the truth makes free And all are slaves besides.' Excuses and Pretexts. "Tt is often saicf that we are our own worst enemies. In no sense is this more true than in our reluctance to accept the sublime truths of one Christian religion, our readiness to find excuses and pretexts for differing from its accepted tenets, or in our lack of co-operation resulting from our membership of different Christian communities. Worldliness, scepticism, and infidelity are abroad in the world to-day, and because religion is not fashionable as it was in Queen Victoria's days, they stalk in our midst naked and unashamed. Are we all going to remain in our separate tents or tabernacles, emerging perchance at times to snipe at one another, when the common enemy is abroad, threatening to undermine the sound foundation, upon which not merely the Mother Country rose to greatness among the nations, but New Zealand pre-emin-ently of all her overseas Colonies, was securely established about a century ago? And surely nowhore in New Zealand itself was the foundation stone better and more truly laid than in Christchurch and Duncdin!

"If we cannot combine, at least lot us co-operate, and with the Bible in our hands and faith in our hearts, let us all alike keep the lamp of truth brightly shining in the dark places of this Dominion and of this City, and thus leave the world a little better than we found it, with health of mind and body radiant in many faces around us, and eternal hope buoyant in many human souls.

"You .are not to-day initiating the opening of a now church building, thanks to the persistent enterprise and self-serifice of many zealous members of your body. You are also about to colebrate the jubilee of your church as a religious organisation. I congratulate you all on both, and especially do I congratulate the Rev. J. K. Archer and Mrs Archer. The Chief Magistrate of this City is also pastor of this church, and in the latter capacity has materially advanced its spiritual utility and its prosperity. It is all to the good of the community at large that public men of varying outlook on the secular affaira of the nation should demonstrate clearly and courageously on which side they stand in.matters which concern its spiritual welfare. An Inspiring History. "In the inspiring history of 50 yeajs' work —conducted in fair weather and in foul—which is contained in your attractive souvenir programme, 1 learn with special interest—hailing as I do from Gloucestershire, vrhore Robert Baikes was born and laboured—that the Sunday School was the father of your original church 50 years ago. It is a significant fact which should always influence your church activities. It tends to remind us that 'the child is father of the man' and that prevention—whether of physical or. moral ailments—is better and more efficacious than their attempted euro. Upon the youth of this young nation its future fate —and to a large extent that of the great British Empire—depends. 'Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.' Let such training ialways be a labour of love and of loyalty to the Divine Huler and love and loyalty will ever be reflected in the attitude of mind of your future citizens alike in things temporal and things eternal. "I now formally declare your church open and earnestly pray that the 'blessing of Almighty God may ever rest upon all who worship and all who minister here to the constant uplifting of this land of promise and of great opportunity and to the advancement of true religion.

Dedication. Mr Archer expressed gratification at the presence ofTus Excellency the Gov-ernor-General, who had made a special journey in order to open the church. It was a kindness that was greatly appreciated, and thoy would also have been delighted had her Excellency been able to be' present, ho added, The choir sang the "Te Deum," after which an address was given by the Eev. J. W. Kemp, president of the Baptist Union.

Mr H. J. Francis sang the solo, "Grant us Thy Peace." Mr Archer said that the church was "in debt to the extent of £ISOO, but the amount had been lent to the church by one of its members, free of interest. The Eev. j. W. Kemp then dedicated the church, and a prayer was offered by its founder, the ftev. Charles Dallaston. Evening Meeting. At the evening meeting Mr S. T. Barnett, secretary of the church, said that there had never been a deeper spiritual life in the church than there was at the present time. He traced the church's history and gave details of its financial situation. Archbishop's Congratulations. Arehbishop Julius said that he esteemed it a very great honour to be invited to be present. Very often, when people were on contentious ground, they sought refuge in platitudes which were insincere, he said. The Baptist Missions were a witness to generosity, tolerance, and love. They were instruments of real good. The old days of intolerance, he said, had done- much batm. But a great deal of so-called tolerance meant sheer indifference. Some types of tolorance were more of a curse than intolerance itself. There were wonderful movements going on. Thousands of people were longing for a union of all the Churches. Scotland, with its great Presbyterian Church, had done a great deal. "If the Presbyterians can bring about a union, we can," he said.

In South India a union was coming about rapidly, and it was God's Will. A few years hence all the Churches would be much nearer one another. While there might not be complete "uniformity" there would undoubtedly be fellowship. Although there were several denominations there was only one Master, Jesus Christ, and as long as there was loyalty to God in Heaven all would be one.

He concluded his address hy offering congratulations to the church and its members. A Bed Letter Day. Mr Kemp said that it had been a red letter day for the people of the church. It was excellent, he said, to see that

they had broken away from Baptist traditions, in the practice of worshipping in barns and along back streots. They now had a fine church with the name boldly emblazoned on the outside. The Rev. E. T» Jones, president of the Canterbury Baptist Auxiliary, congratulated the congregation on its new church.

The Bev. Basil Metson, of tlie Methodist Conference, congratulated the church on achieving the completion of 50 years' history, and the dedication of a very fine building. The Kev. J. M. Stewart, of the Congregational Church, expressed his pleasure at being associated with such an important occasion as the opening of the new church. He offered congratulations, on behalf of the Congregational Assembly. On behalf of the Salvation Army Brigadier Burton asked God's blessing on the church and its people. During the meeting solos were sung by Misses Hilda Hutt and N. Lowe, and Messrs W. Bradshaw and J. Johnston. Miss Ailecn Warren was the accompanist.