KAPONGA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 17 October 1911, Page 8

KAPONGA.

OPENING OF ST. JOHN'S

CHURCH

[FEOM OUE OWN COEEESPONDENT-I

The dedicatory service in connection with the opening of the new St. John's Methodist Church, Kaponga, took place on Sunday. The Rev. (i. W. Spence, of PUmerstoii North, President of the Conference, conducted the service morning, afternoon, and evening, and the building was well filled, if not crowded, on each occasion. The morning subject was "Purification of the Church and of the individual," in the evening "Consecration," dealt with from the same points or view. The afternoon service took the form of a pleasant Sunday afternoon. The president addressed the young folk on, the subject of "Clean hands." Sister Nelly, of the Maori Mission, was also a visitor, and addressed the gathering. Sisters Bella and Huia, who accompanied her, rendered an acceptable duet in the Maori tongue, and musical it-ems were also given by Miss Cooper and Mr Reeves. A strong choir, under the able baton of Mr S. Long, of Rowan, assisted by River lea and Awatuna visitors, led the singing on each occasion, and supplied additional music, their rendering of Jackson's "Te Deum" heing especially very creditable and acceptable.

On Monday night a social gathering was held in the new building, and took the form of a sacred concert, interspersixl with addresses. Items were rendered by Misses Cooper, Ronald, and V. and 1 Robinsou, Messrs King, Home, Reeve and Scott. ■

Mr A. Lennox conveyed greetings and congratulations as head of the Presbyierian community. He emphasised the necessity for the putting of denominational barriers in the background in the face of present-day needs and opposition to righteousness. Every church in the district had been receiving increased support of late, and he believed and trusted this encouraging state of affairs would continue. .

Rev. TV. A. Burleyj-of Manaia, followed He deprecated the bad weather., which had prevented the Manaia talent on the programme putting in an appearance. He remarked on the good material for the building up of a live Church that was present before him, in the shape of numerous young people. He trusted the building would have hallowed associations for every one of them in the days to come.

The Rev. F. W. Boys, Hawera, assured the congregation that he ; in no way regretted the journey of 40 odd miles through inclement weather that had been necessary in order that he might be present that evening. To inspect the oeautifully finished stnicture they had erected was well worth that

trouble. He mentioned that the number of Methodist churches erected throughout the world this year was on an average equal to one per day; the &un rose every day on a new one. In New Zealand Jay on a. new one. In New Zealand alone the present year would see 20 new structures. He concluded his address with a number of happily-pointed remarks, in which lie briefly reminded his hearers of what a church did and should stand lor in these modern days. The Rev. G. TV. Spence congratulated the minister and officials on the successful end to their labors. He had just returned from a visit to the backblocks, and was happy in being able to state that even in those scattered communities nu-

merous schemes were afoot to erect buildings that would minister to the spiritual requirements of the people. Man was 'essentially a religious arimal, and he was persuaded that in spite of

much indifference things were keener to-day than ever they were. One thing pleased him. The increased material prosperity of individuals was also making itself apparent in the style of buildings that were now being erected. Many of the unsightly erections of former years were giving place to structures worthy in their architecture of the purpose for which they were to be used. Of such kind was the present building. After dwelling on the nsed for individual members to build their characters on similar lines, he concluded by expressing the hope that their church might be at all times a hivo of Christian industry, and never degenerate, as, to his regret, some did into merely a species of hospital for spiritual invalids. The gathering concluded by an explanation of the present state of the financial matters by the Rev. W. B. Scott, >vho presided throughout the evening, and a vote of thanks to all who had lent themselves to making a success of the work completed, moved by Mr R. H. Clement. Afterwaid those present were entertained at a sumptuous sit-down supper by the ladies of the church. The building itself is a handsome and commodious structure, the exterior being of concrete and wood, white with green facings, roofed with, terra cotta asbestos tiles, and suitable ventilators. The porch is a commodious one, partly exterior and partly interior. All the seating accommodation being in the centre, with the aisles at the sides. The wHole of the interior walls and roof is lined with stamped steel, the roof, cornice, frieze, walls, and dado, with the requisite moulds, ventilators, etc., being worked out in different designs painted in various delicato flat colors, artistically shaded off into one another, giving a very pleasing effect. The pulpit and reredos at the back of the building are also worked out in steel, with panels of various patterns painted in such fashion as to throw the designs into relief. The offerings in connection with the opening amounted to £20. The total income on behalf of the scheme to date is

£074, including £400 borrowed for five years at 5 per cent. The. amount ex-

pended to date it, £659, and the contract price was jCS9I 10s, exclusive of the furniture. The architects, Messrs Sanders and. Griffiths, of New Plymouth, have given every satisfaction, while the quality of worl-manship and material put into it by the contractor, Mr C. S. Walker, has elicited the highest praise from all concerned.