CAVERSHAM METHODISTS

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 1

CAVERSHAM METHODISTS

DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS BANQUET AND THANKSGIVING The diamond jubilee celebrations of the Caversliam Methodist Church wero continued yesterday, when a banquet was held, followed by a thanksgiving meeting. There was a large attendance at both functions. The banquet was held in the church hall, which was tastefully decorated for tho occasion. The minister of the church, the Rev. B. J. James, presided, and there were over 200 members and adherents present. Following tho banquet, the ceremony of lighting the candles on the birthday cake was performed by representatives of families which had long been connected with the church, those taking part being Mrs A.Marrett (neeTurley), Miss Ethel Kennard, Mrs Brough (nee Thorn), Miss Coatsworth, and Mrs Crawford (nee Milburn). The cake was cut by Mrs F. Kennard, the oldest member of the church present, who was then presented by Mrs James with a bouquet on behalf of the women of the congregation. Proposing the toast of “The Pioneers of the Caversham Church,” Mr A. H. Harman, circuit steward, remarked that it was a band of 12 who first gathered together and decided to form a church at Kew. "Within six months a small building bad been erected, and the progress of tho little congregation had been steady. In those days the ministerial supervision had been not so thorough as was possible nowadays, and the burden had fallen upon the leaders of the classes and the workers. To them, as well as to the officials connected with the management of the church, the present congregation owed a great debt.

The Rev. S. Bailey, a former minister of the church, in reply, said he was deeply conscious of the honour. His memories of his residence in Caversliam were among tho richest of his experience. He had never forgotten the generous support and kindly sympathy of tho people. Ho had not known the actual founders of the church, but he could estimate "their calibre from that of their successors with whom lie had worked. He expressed the hope that the same spirit of moral conviction and practical activity would long continue in tho chdrcli. THANKSGIVING MEETING. Later in the evening a meeting was held in tho church, when ministers of neighbouring congregations conveyed congratulations and the Rev. C. H. Olds, the chairman of-the Methodist Church district of Oftago and Southland, delivered a short address. The Mayor of Dunedin (the Rev. E. T. Cox) was also present. The Rev. B. J. Janies again presided. On behalf of the citizens of Dunedin the Mayor expressed his congratulations to tbe_ Caversham Church on its diamond jubilee. It was a great thing to look back over a period of 60 years, he said, and if the founders could see the result of their labours and the beautiful church they would be justly proud and thankful for the blessings that had resulted. Ho was sure that the church would continue to flourish for many years, and that the jubilee would be the forerunner of many more similar celebrations.

The Rev. R. L. Fursdon, representing the Caversham Baptist Church, said it gave him great pleasure to congratulate the sister church on its achievement. The relationships had been very cordial and _ he recalled with pleasure that it was in a Methodist Church that he had received his first experiences in preaching. He admired the Methodist Church especially for the way in which it trained its young men in the" service of Christ. The Rev. C. M. Sullivan congratulated the church on behalf of the Caversham Presbyterians. The church that was not a challenge was a corpse, ho said, and it depended on the individual members of the church whether it was a challenge or not. He strongly urged the importance of individual activity in religion and of loyalty to the church of which one was a member. ■

The Rev. C. H. Olds, on behalf of tho Methodist churches of the district, congratulated the Caversham Church on its jubilee and also on the success which had attended the various functions. A jubilee was a time of rejoicing, but there was also some sadness in looking back on the struggles of the past and then in looking at the great problems of the present day. Yet, even in that, there lay the inspiration to recapture the spirit of the past. Observances and thought had' changed with the passing of the years, but the spirit of religion had not changed in essence. It was the same to-day as always. In spite of the darkness of tho present, he was convinced that there were evidences of a coming great revival in religion. Those who had heard Dr Kagnwn speak of the awakening of the East could not doubt this. Another indication could be found in tbo growth of the Oxford Movement. There was no reason, he said, why the spirit necessary in such a revival should not exist in their own church, and he made an appeal for a complete surrender to Jesus Christ. During the evening the choir, conducted by Mr Davidson, rendered an anthem. Misses I). Bailey and G. Merrett contribute! a duet, and Miss T. Paine sang a solo.