NEW CHURCH AT MORNINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 104, 3 May 1926, Page 11

NEW CHURCH AT MORNINGTON

FINE LOCAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

On Saturday a new church arid Sunday school building was opened at Mornington. The church is picturesquely situated on the Kidgeway, 650 feet above the sea level, overlooking Island Bay and Berhampore. On the west it confronts Wellington's main mountain ridge, the highest point of which, Mount Hawkins, towers 1650 feet above Cook Strait. The building is of wood, lined with rimu dado, with carrara fibrous plaster walls and ceilings. It contains a large porch and two' vestries, which will be used as classrooms. The building was erected in two months by voluntary labour by Mr. A. C. Stewart, of Dunedin, assisted by a band of willing helpers. The Mayor of Wellington and the Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs?. C. J. B. Norwood, were present; also the Deputy-Mayor, Councillor Luckie. At 2.30 p.m. the Rev. D. S. Rollings led the company in the Lord's Prayer. Mr. F. T. Bast, the Sunday school superintendent, then opened the door, and the building was soon thronged, many being unable to gain admission. Mr. Henry Ivory, president of the Central Auxiliary Baptist Union of New.. Zealand, who was chairman of the meeting, congratulated the Brooklyn and Mornington friends on their enterprise in erecting such a fine building. He deplored the absence of Bible teaching from the public schools, which made Sunday school work the more necessary. Mr. F. J. East said that they commenced work in Mornington four years ago in the little school (the use ■of which was kindly granted by the Brooklyn School Committee), witli twenty scholars. They now had seventy, on the roll, with six teachers. He had been teaching children for fifty-six years, and continued in the work because he believed nothing was of greater importance than training the young in the knowledge of the truth of the Bible, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He appealed to the parents to help the work by encouraging their children to apply themselves to the lessons week by week. The Mayor thanked the company for the cordiality of their welcome to the Mayoress and himself in their mountain suburb. He was impressed with. the new building and its fine appointments. And its erection, he. said, spoke well for the spirit of the people who had co-operated in the achievement. The most important thing in life, which gave citizenship its value was character. And religion was the chief force in the production of character. The Mayoress and himself had great pleasure in attending.and participating in their happy proceedings. The Revs. F. E. Harvy and R. Stewards also spoke briefly. . . Mr. G. W. Niven presented the financial report, which showed the total cost of land, building, and furnishing to be a few shillings under £1000. Towards this they had received in donations £449—with promises of £30 yet to be realised. They had a mortgage of £400 at 6% per cent., nnd hoped to raise the remaining £121. Tho offering amounted to £47 14s. The Brooklyn Baptist Choir rendered *,v.'o anthems during the proceedings. An enthusiastic meeting closed with refreshments provided and served by the ladies of Mornington.