FATHER AND SON BANQUET

Evening Star, Issue 18334, 23 July 1923, Page 10

FATHER AND SON BANQUET

BIBLE CLASS FUNCTION. A father and son banquet in connection with the Otago District Young Men’s Methodist Bib!© Class Union was held in the Octagon Hall on Saturday evening. There was a largo attendance, the Rev. 0. S. Penrn presiding. Greetings were received from th Rev, B. F. Rothwell (president of the New Zealand Methodist Church), the Rev. George Brown (president of the New Zealand Young Men’s Bible Class -Movement), the Rev. E. P. Blamircs (young people’s organiser of the New Zealand 1 Methodist Church), the Rev. W. Oxbrow (ex-president of the Otago Methodist Young (Men's Bible Class Union), Mrs Mctson (president -of the Otago Methodist Young Women’s Bible Class Union), and from the Oamaru class. Mr E. G. .Sayers proposed tho toast of “ The Methodist Church of New Zealand.'’ lie said that Methodism in its early stages was looked upon with contempt, its members being regarded as hypocrites, prevaricators, and liars. To-day Methodism in New Zealand was one of the leading Protestant religions, and had a great future before it, but he looked forward to the time when all tho Clrristian Churches of the world would be merged into one—the Church of Jesus Christ.

Tho Re.v. H. E. Bcllhonso, who responded, said that the Methodist Church had every reason to be proud, ns it had over 70,000 in New Zealand. In proposing the toast of “ '.Hie New Zealand Bible Class Movement,” Mr E. J. King drew attention to the importance of the work of the Bible class, and said that of the 20,000 Bible class members in New Zealand 6,000 were in the Methodist movement. Tho membership had doubled itself in four years, largely owing to the great increase in junior members. Ho urged the young men to stand by tho movement, and do their best for it.

The Rev. W. Walker (late vice-president of the New Zealand .Methodist Bible Class Movement) responded, and extended an urgent appeal for unity in the work of the Church.

Mr M. J. Paulgcr proposed the toast of “Tlie Fathers.” He said that beneath tho son’s apparent thoughtlessness there was love and reverence. In most cases a boy’s ideal was his father, and his father looked to his boy to live no to Unit ideal. Mr B. F. Bennett responded, and a written response was read from Mr ,f. W. Patton, who was unable to be present. The toast of “The Pons” was proposed by Mr A. T. MTncloc. who stressed the point that the sons were the hope of Methodism. They had to romc-mber Unit, while (here were perhaps manv tinners that g.hey could do bettor than their- fathers, it was because the rocks in (lie river had now been charted. Mr T. E. Miller renlied.

“The Ladies" (proposed bv Air G. Adams and responded to by (lie Rev. B. ' Metsonl and “Our Sunday Schools” (proposed by Mr L. Merrier and rentier! fo K - Mr T. W. He.rr.er) were also honored, and items were contributed by Mcss’-s C. A. Martin (pianoforte solo). J. Patterson teongl, H. Blackwood (song’, and G. Wilkinson (recitation).