DIAMOND JUBILEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1927, Page 11

DIAMOND JUBILEE

ST. PAUL’S METHODIST CHURCH. (Contributed.) It was fitting that Methodism should make her appearance on the West Coast at a time when the mining boom was creating such widespread interest. Methodism had made some of her finest contributions to the welfare and progress of Britain at a time when the coal mines were in the earlier stages of their development and it was amongst the miners, too often in those days neglected spiritually, morally and socially, that her finest and earliest achievements were accomplished. Since those days Methodism has continued to be very largely a Church of the working people, and has in this work met with such magnificent success that to-day she is able to claim that in all her various branches, her roll call in membership and adherents makes her the largest Protestant Church in the English speaking world. While in N.Z. Methodism, now a United Church, is not the largest of the denominations, her contribution to the moral, spiritual and social welfare of the people gives her the right to a large place in the history of our Dominion. The second church to commence missionary enterprise in these Islands, following hard upon the arrival of the Church of England Mission, Methodism has through 105 years of service proved to be a Church kith a mission for and a message to the people. The opening of the work on the Coast over 60 years ago—the first minister was stationed at Hokitika in 1865 —was a step in keeping with the traditions of her life. The coming of such large numbers of miners created a challenge, the Church heard and responded. Down through the years her ministers and people have striven to maintain the high standard of service set by the early Methodists; the long roll of men stationed at Greymouth includes some of the finest Methodism has produced, men who in those hard, strenuous days did not spare themselves in their work. The Diamond Jubilee Services, which are being celebrated to-morrow, fitly crown 60 years of strenuous service on the Coast, and we hope, will usher in a new period of activity and usefulness in the community.