METHODIST JUBILEE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 14, Issue 992, 1 July 1890, Page 5

METHODIST JUBILEE.

* fnl *Wt*Bieyan Methodist Church of tbis colony celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of 'ebtabiiahm'jnt of Methodism in New "raaUb'd, ana. as befitting tthe occasion special efforts Were made to commemorate this tpoofc -in-the history of tbe churcb. At Qore n pn -Sunday there were special sermons— in .toe, morning by Sir J, Q, Fraser, whos« yifteine waa " The year of Jubilee is Come," ' jind ia the evening by the Rev. C. Aber,,n,etjiy, whose text was— *• O give thanks . unto the Lord, fpr he is good, for his mercy e&durcthf«r ( ver." /.jFiw, first Wesleyan missionary, the Rev. Samuel Leigh, arrived in New Zealand in 1822 an I opened a mission station at the E J-ay ipf-.i':atide,and since that time the work has been continued among tbe Maoiis in the Island. Tne actual cstiblishment of the Methodist Church among the Europeans dates, fiom 1840, when the Bey. James Watkta ' began his labors among the Natives and the sparse European population at Waikouaiti in Otago, and a little later the ,<kev/ Walter fcawry wa9 stationed at Auck* land . An idea of the growth of this Church 'in the colony may be gathered from the fact that the Wesleyans now report 460 churches - asd. other meeting places, 78 ministers, 16 <nota# missionaries, 2000 Sunday school teachers, 19,300 Sunday school scholars, 360 local preachers, about 9000 church members, 49<30J attendants on publio worship. In addition to these there are three European and six Native ministers engaged in the Maori work, returning a membership of 170,' with 3000 attendants at the public service?. At the late conference held in Christchurch, a series of very successful demon- ■ itrations was held, and this movement was ' inaugurated under very favorable auspices. . One of most striking features of these i gatherings was the addresses by some of the 2 pioneers who still survive, Mauy an intery eating chapter iv early colonial history was 'tested, wtpch was of special interest to "those -who reached thee shores at a later - -period. It is intended to publish a volume giving an historical review of the jubilee period,- while for the fake of the scholars in the Sabbuth schoois medals will be struck commemorating the occa ion, . : .-, Alt the; offerings at Jubilee meetings— and v t)|ey werip held throughout |he colony — are tflr bp flevoted to tec Jubilee fund, which has for its object, the development of Churcb work. In addition to this effort Bey. W. Morley is expected during September to • Clnither advocate the claim* of the Jubilee Fund. \ .///"» tiu.:- ■ • Al-