METHODISM IN WAIPUKURAU.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 82, 16 March 1922, Page 3

METHODISM IN WAIPUKURAU.

EFFORT TO ESTABLISH CHURCH.

The proposal to erect a Methodist Church at Waipukurau was advanced a further stage yesterday, when* the Rev S. Laurie (general secretary of the building committee) and Rev. T. R Richard (superintendent of Hawke’s Bay) visited the town to make furthci ‘inquiries into the prospects and ascertain what opportunities offered for tin success of the project. A conference with the local trustees was held an>i the position fully considered. In the evening a social gathering was held in St. Mary’s Schoolroom, ami Mi E. A. Goodgcr presided over a fair attendance. The chairman welcomed the visiting clergymen, and emphasiseel the need for a Methodist Church in Waipu kurau, and the scope offering for use ful work. He pointed out that Methodist adherents coming to the district were al present driven to ally themselves with some other wote lost to Methodism. With the development of the district, and the prospect ahead there ought to be room for the Methodist Church. Sites were being inspected and as soon as it was demonstrated that a church was needed a building suitabh to present requirements would be erect ed.

Rev Mr Laurie mentioned that when the Methodist Mission was started ii Now Zealand a century ago/It was not intended to dispossess any church, bill it was thought that there was room fol the activities of the Methodist Church. In celebrating the centenary of the church this year it was decided to mark it with a policy of aggression and pro gross without doing harm to anyone, amplifying the dictum of the founder that the church was the friend of all and enemy of none. The move in the direction of establishing a church in Waipukurau was not to interfere with the work already being done by others, who had been more enterprising, but they could not overlook the prospects oi the future in the district. The statistics supplied showed that the town had a great future and there would be room for all religious activities. There were difficulties to be faced in starting where churches were established, but the build ing committee was sympathetic. The funds available were limited, and the

(needs were many and clamant, but if the help given "was not. as substantial as was expected it was not because the committee was unwilling. The committee expected to receive additional fund? during the next eighteen months, and it was hoped the centenary fund would amount to £45,000 of which £<Booo would be devoted 1o building purposes. A great deal depended on what was done locally, as it was useless putting money into a scheme that did not have local support. “We want to help a live cause, and not bolster up a dead one,” declared the speaker. If the local people saw their way to make a start with a church building the commit tee would bo prepared to help to the utmost of its ability. Rev. Laurie went on to refer to the courageous -spirit behind the first IMothodist missionaries. Samuel Lee and his wife, to the Maoris in their days of Cannibalism and savagery;and indicated

the eood work that had been accomplished bi the intervening years. Rev Mr Richards addressed the meeting and hopnd that success would attend the local effort. Recitations wore given bv Miss Major.

a nia no forte selection by Mrs Freeman and a humorous reading bv Rev. Neal Supper was provided, by the ladies.