CENTRAL MISSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 6

CENTRAL MISSIONS.

SYDNEY'S EXAMPLE TO WELLINGTON, INTERVIEW WITH REV. W. G. TAYLOR. "Tho General Booth of Austrlaia" ia a namo which has been given to tho Rev. W, G. Taylor, founder ami superintendent of; tho great Contral Methodist Mission of Sydney. "A unique man, \vho lias founded the biggest thing of its kind under tho South' ern Cross," was tho tribute of a Sydney official. Mr. Taylor arrived in Wellington last night by the Main Trunk line from Auckland, and was soon giving hints to those who aro about to form a Methodist Central Mission in 'Wellington, in accordance with tho decision of tho recent conference. Tho local project gives a special interest to Mr, Taylor's work in Sydney, which bo described to an interviewer last evening. A Comprohonslvo Work. Tho mission founded by Mr. Taylor ia 1884 is believed to have been tho pioneer of all the Central Methodist Missions. Tho East Knd Mission, London, was commenced a year later, tbo ltev. S. F. Collier's great Missioa at Manchester dates from ISSG, and the West London Mission was inaugurated by tbo llev. Hugh Prico Hughes in 1887. Tbo Sydney Mission colebrates its silver jubilee this year, and arrangements have just been made lor tho Governor-General, Lord Dudley, to preside at tho annual meeting in tho Sydney Town Hall. "Tho mission was started,'_' Baid Mr. Taylor, "in an old central church in the city, with practically no congregation, and no workers. It has developed into tbo largest forward movement mission work in tho Southern World. Our work now central in tho great Lyceum,' tho property which we owo to tho generosity of tho lato Hon, Elxmczer Vickory, M.L.C., and which is said to bo the finest block of mission property in tbo world. Valued at £60,000, the property lias been leased to us by tho trustees of Mr. Vickery's cstato, and in tho year 1915, tho centenarj year of Methodism in Australia, tho building will bo handed over in feo simple to tho Chnroh, Tho building occupies an area of 30,000 square feet, faces two of tho principal streets of the city, and contains a central hall seating 2500 people—full every Sunday niglil—a subsidiary hall'usod for week-night meetings, and about 120 largo rooms availablo for all kinds of social, philanthropic, and religious gatherings. In the social department wo make up 120 hods for mom ovory night; wo have an orphanago for waifs and strays, with nn average of from 30 to 40 inmates, two roscuq homes for fallen and friendless girls, containing 60 bods in all, a seamen's mission, which has been running; for 20 years, an evangelists' training home, for training yoiing men for missionary and other work, and a training homo for deaconesses. Our income is between £5000 and £6000 a year, nnd wo conduct about 8P meetings every week of 'ono kind and an> other. I have d, working staff of 300. Wβ givo strong prominence to wcll-organiscd open-air work, and every Sunday night, from six o'clock till seven, in the shadow of the Town , Hall tower, wo have a street oongrega* tion of a thousand men —tho largest bo vices of that kind in Australia." Origin and Rapid Expansion.

When the mission was started, its pro motors had no' precedents to guide them, and no committee to worry them. Confer, nncc gave them an absolutely freo hand. Conservative church-goers objected to the street meetings, and tlio freethinkers of tin city, then a serious force, objected morf actively. Two of tlio largest theatres of th< city were then crowded every Sunday night, mainly bv working men, and they gave the- mission a lively time. The police recognised the advantage to them of Air. Taylor's work, and vcro among Hie earliest' friends* of the institution. In 18S6 th« congregation had outgrown the old halL andithe Centennial: HallVseatins 1800 pooplej was erected in its place, at a cost of £30,000. The Stamen's Mission Branch was started in 1880 with n seamen's missionary arid stall in charge, and in 1904 a now hall and plan? wore opened. The Evangelist Training Honij dates from 1889. and n Sisterhood, whore between 50 and 60 "sisters of ihe people" have been trained for philanthropic Work, was iiv Rtituted in 1890. In 1903 the Hon. R Vickery handed over to the mission the Balmain Helpi»2-Hand Mission Hall, erected and equipped by him at a c6st nf nearly £3000, which is now a vigorous branch o. the work. In 3893 grew up the Children'! Homo, and in 1897 saw the inaueurution of a medical retreat for dipsomaniacs, where it is claimed that hundreds of alcoholic victims havo been permanently cured by tho akilfif scientific! treatment adopted. Thu annual report of tlio mission gives a list of fifty agencies under its control, grouped in throe division l —'/evangelistic," "social and philanthropic,'' and "educational and general."

Hope for Wellington. As the result of information gained at tta meeting which lie attended Inst evening, in connection with the project of a Wellington Methodist Central Mission, Mr. Taylor snya that ho is most favourably imprcssod with tho prospects of establishing such n work. He has not the least doubt that if the mission is properly managed, and with a suitable man as superintendent, there will bo seen beforo lons in' Wellington a repetition of the kind of work being carried on by the Rfiv. A. R. Ednar in Melbourne, and Mr. Taylor in Sydney. Mr. Taylor will giro an address on tha work of tho Sydney Mission in the TaranalU Street Schoolroom to-night.