A WESLEY EVENING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 November 1937, Page 10

A WESLEY EVENING

METHODISTS FOREGATHER. INSPIRING ADDRESSES. With a view to preparing the people for the coming commemoration of tho 200th anniversary of the conversion of John and Charles Wesley and the' consequent foundation oi the Methodist Church, an inspirational meeting-—a Wesley evening, it was called—was held in tho Cuba Street Church last evening in connection with tho Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu Methodist Synod, now sitting in Palmerston North. Rev. H. J. Odell, president of the synod, presided and led the service, "which maintained the interest of a large congregation for over two hours. The hymns sung were from the pen of Charles Wesley, and the addresses stressed the contribution which the Weslevs had made to the spreading of the Gospel message throughout the world.

At the outset, Messrs J. H. Fisher and G. G. Hancox, circuit stewards, extended a warm welcome to the members of the synod, expressing the hope that the meetings would be pleasant and profitable. Mr Fisher said that Palmerstonians were proud of their city, which he thought was the Chicago of the North Island, while Mr Hancox said that Methodism had played a worthy part in the development of the city’s life in the past 60 years. The first speaker was Rev. A. E. Waite, of Dannevirke, whose subject was “An Historical Survey of the Great Events Leading to the Conversion of John Wesley.” No subject, he said, was of greater significance to people who called themselves Methodists. “Many of us are not aware of the greatness of our history, otherwise there would not be so many lukewarm Methodists, almost apologising for the Church,” he added. “We can, with pride, become enthusiastic denominationalists because our Church has a wonderful history.” In the eighteenth century, at the time of Wesley’s birth evils were rife, the preacher added. Cockfighting and gaming were prevalent, obscenity was the common language of men, women and children, and lawlessness was constantly increasing. Widespread, bitter poverty prevailed and justice was administered with cruel severity. The death penalty was inflicted for merely trifling offences. “People may ask—you may ask—what was the Church doing?” added the speaker. “The reply is simple. The Church had lost its power; it was a political institution.” The clergy were eager for preferment. An ecclesiastical dignitary of that day had said : “Christianity is dead and w r e might just as well say so.” It was into an atmosphere such as this that Wesley had been born. While his own home had given him a lofty ideal of Chrishtianity, his life in the university and his contacts with men must have made him wonder whether the Gospel was really the power of God unto salvation.

Mr Waite referred to Wesley’s eventual conversion, and went on to declare that when God saved Wesley he saved England and the Empire because the foundations were laid for a Church which really did stand foursquare for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The speaker hoped that the Methodist bi-centenarv in 1938 would do for olir modern ■world what the great events of two centuries ago had done for England and the world of that day. The same Divine,Power was available, but it remained for the people to make .use of it." MESSAGE OF METHODISM.

Rev. J. H.. Allen (Feilding) addressed the gathering on “The hies sage of Methodism in This, Our Day.” In Christ’s day and Wesley’s day life was held cheaply, the preacher said. Was life more highly valued in these days of organised murder Y lie asked. In Christ’s day and in Wesley’s day there were industrial problems, and to-day men lived largely in fear of each other. There had been materialism in Christ’s day and in Wesley’s day, and we had it with us to-day. Man had felt self-sufficient in his domination over things and in his sense of supremacy over things man had lost much of his sense of dependence upon God. Methodism had a big task ahead, but he felt confident that much could be accomplished by a living, burning faith in God and a determination to spread the Gospel message. There was, Mr Allen went on, a call for new ways in new days, “Wesley made use of the printing press—a somewhat novel thing in his day—and we must meet modern conditions with modern methods. We . should use everything which modern knowledge can give us to aid us in influencing people fox' Jesus Christ. The wireless, the cinema, the gramophone, can all help in ministering to people in these days. The message is the old one, but it can and must be set forth in ways which will appeal in these days. ' We need a revived life inside the Church to take the message out in modern ways. AVe need consecrated wealth to combat the world’s wealth, which is being used so often in evil ways. The Christianisation of the money power of the world is the objective we should keep in mind, and the Christianisation of the Chui'ch’s wealth must he the first step.”

Mr J. H. Oldham expressed the audience’s appreciation of the helpful evening all had enjoyed. They bad had a wonderful evening, the memory of which was likely to live with them. He congratulated Palmerston North on the celebration of its Diamond Jubilee, adding that Hawke’s Bay people could never forget the generosity and friendliness of the people of Palmerston North in 1931. His Methodist blood had been stirred by the addresses to which they had listened, and he hoped all woulud return to their circuits inspired to greater efforts for Christ and His Church. Ho also desired to thank the hosts and hostesses who had undertaken to entertain the Synod representatives. Prior to the evening meeting, the members of the Synod were entertained at tea by the members of the Cuba Street Young AVomen’s -Bible classes. Rev. H. -J. Odell presided .and Rev. F. E. Leadlev returned the thanks of the visitors for the hospitality which had been extended to them. Miss Thelma Hopkins expressed the pleasure of the Bible class members in having the opportunity of entertaining the synod.