WELCOME SOCIAL

Evening Star, Issue 17032, 1 May 1919, Page 2

WELCOME SOCIAL

AT TRJNITY METHODIST CHURCH. Last evening a welcome social was tendered to the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, the new minister of Trinity Methodist' Church. There was a large attendance, of members .and friends, and Mr E. Rceevear presided. Mr Rosevear said that on Monday evening tho northern end of tire parish had extended a welcome to the Rev. Herbert Ford, and that -night they were assembled to suitably welcome Mr and Mrs Pratt and family. He would assure Mr Pratf; that in coming -amongst them ho was coming among a loyal people, and he believed that that coming would be pleasing to himself and to the people he had to minister to. It took more than one man to make a live dhurcih, and if they wanted Trinity to be a live church they must be live workers. Ho wished also to assure Mr Pratt that he had a set of office-bearers that was only wait-in" to be led. Mr D M. Miller (circuit steward), Mr H. Chapman ('superintendent of Sunday school), and Mr -S. Lawn (choirmaster) also made addresses of welcome to Mr Pratt. Mi* W. Per.rase (church, steward) reviewed the position of the church financially for the past eight years. During that period they had spent on -an average of £230 per annum in improving .the chui'fh He welcomed Mr and Mrs Pratt and family. The Rev. C. Eaton said the coming of the minister was, in his opinion, a matter of the profoundest moment to a congregation. It was a- great thing to have a new voice and ia new minister, this being recognised by the late Rev. C. H. Spargeon. He was personally delighted, that Mr Pratt had come among them. He thought it would prove an excellent thing for this City. He knew that Mr Pratt could wield a facile pen, and he knew that that pen would be used his. Master. On behalf of the Central Mission, he extended a hearty welcome to Mv Pratt. The Rev. Mr Pratt, in reply, thanked those present for their welcome. He referred to the establishment of Methodism iu Otago by the Rev. James Watkin in 1840 and the traditions they had behind them. Those were the days of testing for tho Church. Now and grave problems had arisen. The social question was up for settlement, and the only test of their religion that would be regarded as adequate was its applicability to- the solution of that question. The demand for economic justice was the outcome of a burning sense of social maladjustment. It was a demand that the Church nvufct rot ignore. These were days of change, a-nd upon the principle of change their Ines were built. Change- was not always welcome, but it was in reality the proof o£ the presence and impotency of life, which was ever robing itself in new forms. Without change there could be progress and no history ; but the human mind could never be content with change alone —it demanded a principle of permanence, and that was found in the unchanging Christ. At bedrock the social task and the task of the Church wera one, not the creation of a new order, but the creation of new men and women. Mr Pratt enunciated his conception of the .Christian ministry and of the function of the Church, and emphasised the reciprocal relation of pas+-;>r and people. Neither he nor they alone emild do aJI the work that was needed, but together they could cop© with the task. He begged cordial cooperation, and asked them to gird him with their prayers. Songs were given by Mrs M'Donald, Miss Baird, and Mr H. Blackwood, and Miss Rosevear contributed a recitation. Supper was served by ladies of the congregation.