METHODIST HOME MISSIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 2

METHODIST HOME MISSIONS.

SOME CHANGES SEEN. r Weather conditions considered, Rev. T. G. Brooke had reason to be gratified with the audience that met him at the Thorndon Methodist Church last evening to hear the story he had to tell regarding the needs of the settlers in the back districts of New Zealand and the work amongst the Maoris, and tho relation of the Methodist Church's Home Mission and Church Extension l'uud to those branches of her activity. The president of the conference (Rev. T. Fee) presided, and introduced Mr. Brooke to the meeting. Beginning with reminiscences of deputation work in Central Otago, the speaker took his audience in imagination right through that district, and then transported them to tho country at the back of the Taranaki district, telling pathetic instances of the loneliness and solitude of those who had gone out into the forest there to carve out homes for themselves. He urgod on those who weve more favourably circumstanced the need of some self-sacrifice to help on the home mission work. Feeling reference was made to the murder of the Rev. John Whiteley, at White Cliffs, which place "and distriel the deputation visited during tho hitter part of February of this year, while he was stationed in New Plymouth. The Maori work of the church also received some attention, and its needs were eloquently urged. In the custody of the superintendent minister of the New Plymouth circuit is tho original baptismal register, and it showb that, while isolated baptisms of European children are recorded, in the early forties, those of Maori infants arc much more numerous, page after page being filled with native names. A tribute was paid to the tenacity with which Rev". T. G. Hammond 'had remained at his ipost in Patca, in the face of almost insuperable difficulties caused by the alienation of the sympathy of tho natives by the Taranaki troubles. Since the deaths of Tc Whiti and Tohu tho prejudices against the teachings of the missionaries were breaking down, and the people wore returning to those beliefs winch they held before the outbreak of hostilities. A remarkable instance of the difference this awakening was working was noticeable in the treatment accorded to Rev. Robert Haddon. It was related how, when Mr. Haddon was appointed to assist Mr. Hammond about nine years ago, while he was away preaching at another settlement, his wife and children were evicted from their home, and he returned to find them homeless. The Wellington Conference raised a fund to build a house for Mr. Haddon, which his family has outgrown, and now the natives themselves have set aside by deed ten acres of the best land in tho district for his use during his lifetime, and a gentleman has given the freehold of a half-acre adjoining on which to build a residence. These were signs of the change of opinion coming over the native race, and tho church was pleaded with to be ready to s,tep in as the doors of the different settlements were opened to her. The chairman proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Brooke, which was carried by acclamation, and the meeting closed with the Benediction.