A CHURCH JUBILEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 8

A CHURCH JUBILEE.

arETiiomsM at tai tapu.

CONCLUDING CELEBRATIONS

ADDRESSES BY 3HNISTERS. Tiic jubilee celebrations of the Tai Tapu Methodist Chureh were brought to a close last evening with a tea meeting and a public meeting afterwards held in the church. There were very largo attendances, the church in the evening being crowded. The Rev B. Metson, minister of the charge, presided over the evening gathering.

The chairman read letters and telegrams of greeting from the following: —Cornelius Griffin (Auckland), B. J. James (Balclujha), A. and M. Ashcroft (Nelson), J. J. Mather. (Auckland), E. Smith (New -Plymouth), Rev J. and Mrs and Miss.Cannell (New Plymouth), H. Rauston • (Kingsland, Auckland), and the Rev J. A. L-ochore (Oamaru). Mr J. Silvester, son of tho pioneer Methodist preacher in tho district, offered prayer. The Rev W. Lee in a brief address said that he was unfortunately unable to be present at .the opening of the first church in Tai Tapu, but fifty-one or fifty-two years ago ho preached the first sermon in. thedistrict at the house of Mr Jacob Barnett, and he had obtained much benefit in all his succeeding visits.' In looking back over more than fifty years- he was s€ruck with the great prosperity of the people. They had also a large measure of spiritual prosperity and had been stimulated to Christian work. The Tai Tapu circuit had done a great, deal for the Methodist ministry- They had cause to thank God for all He had dono for them. They also had a further call for increased service. There was never more need for personal consecration, Christian work aud increased prayer than at tho present time. Tho Church had largely lost the power of earnest, believing prayer of tho sort they used to hear. Many of the present prayer meetings wero spoiled by long harangues. Short, earnest prayers and strong vigorous faith were what the church needed to-day. Tho Rev W. C. Oliver, the first minister voted to the Springston circuit, recalled tho first Tai Tapu tea meeting forty-nine years ago. When he was in Spriugston they had only ten churches in Canterbury, and it was no uncommon thing to do one hundred miles during tho week, and they did all their riding in the saddle. The Rev S. Lawry said that he also had remembrances of Tai Tapu. He recalled the services in Mr Jacob Barnett's house and the prayer meetings during the week. The RevJ. Lee gave him his first ticket of church membership. He did nob think the former times wero better in many respects thau those of to-day. The people of those days were strong on public worship and had many household services. People camo long distances to worship, and at the same time they honoured tho local preachers more than was done to-day, and there were stalwarts—nay, giants—among tho ' local preachers of the early days. Local preachers opened the Broadfields and Springston churches and preached the afternoon service at Tai Tapu. He sketched the history of the various circuits, beginning with tho old Canterbury circuit. The old plans disclosed the fact that Tai Tapu was known as the Lower Lincoln Road, and class meetings wero held after the services. Methodism owed a great deal to Mr John Silvester, the pioneer preacher of the district, and to others of his type. Tai Tapu was the first church to form a choir, and it had always maintained a name for good church music. He trusted that with all their looking back on tho past the best.was yet to be, with the many opportunities that presented themselves and with tho memories, inspiration and example of those who haa gone before, they ought on their jubilee occasion to consecrato themselves to God and do their best to extend His kingdom to its utmost bounds.

The Rev S. E. Hill, Presbyterian minister of the district, and moderator of the Christchurch Presbytery, conveyed greetings and congratulations to his Tai Tapu brethren from the Presbyterian people of the community. It was good to cultivate the historic sense and remember how much they owed to the pioneers of tho religion of their forefathers.

The Rev A. C. Lawry, president of the Methodist Church, said the one great hope for the futuro was-the evangelical union of New Zealand, beca'ase the overlapping of the churches in the past was a disgrace. They must conserve their energies and build up one big Church. In the days to come, wlien super-Zeppelins would carry the mails from Christchurch to Duuedin, wealthy men would do their utmost to further tli© work of God in this country, and there would bo pictMre shows depicting the Gospels, pictures which would elevate.

Tho Rev W. A. Sinclair, secretary of the Methodist Conference, said his mind went back to the old days, because tho Tai Tapu Church, and particularly the Methodist Church, had meant so much for him. The Methodist Church was the largest Protestant Church in .the world to-day apart from the Lutheran Church. Its adherents numbered thirty million. It was in the Sunday school next door that he gave his first address; how he got through it he could not say. They had heard a great deal about what the men had done for the Church, but what about the women? They had suffered greater hardships than the men, and were now the best members of the Church. Ho urged a united aggressive Church, full of tho spirit of sacrifice, in which every man and woman was doing his or her bit. Tho Rev S. H. D. Pcryman said he had travelled 240 miles to attend the jubilee. He had often marvelled »t the way in which the people of Tai Tapu had stood their local preachers, at the patience they had exhibited. A vote of thanks to all concerned was moved by Mr T. O. Morgan, senior circuit steward, particularly to Mrs Anderson, who made the birthday cake. Tho motion was seconded by Mr R. A. Forbes, one of the two original surviving trustees, and was carried, unanimously.