WESLEYAN METHODISM IN NELSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 153, 18 July 1889, Page 2

WES LEY AN METHODISM IN NELSON.

[Communicated by W. B,]

When the owner of a large estate decides to erect a mansion, especially if he be a man of business and good common sense, he looks out for a qualified person to carry out his instructions, who in his turn prepares his plans and looks out far the most suitable materials, and the most efficient workmen to put them together. The site is chosen, the foundations laid, and bit by bit is put in itß place until the edifice is complete, and then it is furnished and inhabited) But it often happens that alterations and additions have to be made before the fall amount of comfort and convenience desired is arrived at. So it is in building up a society of Christians. Although the leader may be a man of great experience and Christian virtues, and have the best material and workmen, to assist him, it often happens that there are many alterations and additions to be made in his plans before anything like order and convenience ia arrived at. Such appears to have been the experience of the founders of the Methodist Churoh in Nelson, but like Wesley, the founder of tha universal Methodist Chnroh, who used to say " the world is my parish," and " I desire to have a league, offensive and defensive, with every soldier of Christ," they appear to have chosen well, and acted liberally towards every sect as included in their parish work. Their first meetings were attended by nearly the whole of the grand old pioneers, whether Churchmen, Dissenters, or Roman Catholics, as well as the Natives. This broad spirit of Catholicity no doubt helped forward the progress of Methodism, and even now acts as a lever of brotherly love towards all with whom they come in oontaot, and we sincerely hope that the day will never dawn when any truo member of the Methodist Church will act otherwise than by doing to others as he would that others should do to him. And when we remember the oharaoter of some of those pioneers of the settlement, then in the prime of life, now living amongst us, we need not wonder that they are respected and blessed in their different walks of life, and that some of them now wear medals on their breasts presented by the citizens for their care and kindness to both the old and the young, as well as to the sick and those in need, and when the day that comes to all shall dawn on eaoh of them, we feel sure that the hundreds who will attend them to their last resting place will testify that even in death their works are not forgotten. Who amongst us will ever forget the kind, words and deeds of fathers Lightband, Foy, Crisp, Blick, Wagg, and many others amongst us, or of a Riley, Hough, Lucas and others who have gone to their reward.

The first Methodist) service consisting of reading, prayer, and singing, were held in 1842 in thd barracks of the N. 3. Company at the Port. Vessel after vessel arrived from the Old Country, eaoh bringing additions to the membership. The first public service was held at the residence of Mr Bailer. It was a raupo whare standing nt the corner of Hardy and Taejgan Btraets. Mr Hough was the preaoher and che text was " And iheto ehall be no night there," One of the old

father*?, speaking of Jhig s.rvico n few daye ago, said, ' Of the hundreds of sermons I have lis'.e'ied to einoo t - n noon bsvo been more Ihs'.'ngin thpir frui falofs^," and : whni the few of the oil MetVodich traveller*: now meet thr-y still lovo to talk of the grand eloquence, tihe beautiiul e ncep'i >n, end the i masterly painting tnken from Bible pictures j oP | h^li oity where the Lamb is the light j 'hereof and they need no candle, for there is "no night there." Amongst theme present who attended thia our first publio service Bomo ar? now engaged in preaohitifr. Mr Mearp, now 88 yeora of ago, takes bia np ' pointmentß, and though he of ten disturbs the gravity of his hearers fey nsing langnsge more eimpla thsa elegant, does all th« good he can in hie own peoaliar way. " Bishop " Andrew who for many years had charge of the Mission station at Motneka, Mr and Mrs Riley who aubseqaea tly moved 4o Collingwood and held service at their own home, I Messrs Ligbtband, Foy, Campbell, B'iok, Allan, Humphrey, Jackson, MoEachen. Gap- I pesHtwitt, DodsoD, HammoDd, and Indley broihprs, Butler and all thnt famili. s — all thes-. to •*. made their mark.

The first olaBS meeting was held at the residence of ALt G. W. Lightband, which stood on the west bank of the Maitai river, where he and his family have resided eyer since, The old " Bethel, " as it was named, has now given place to a handsome residence. The old room, in wbioh the writer has often sat and listened to the songs of Zion, and to the fatherly and ohristian advioe of the owner, was filled on the occasion. Mr T. Foy was the leader, and perhaps never before or sinoe has such a happy or sympathising band of Methodists met to speak to eaoh other about the good old way, and tell from their heartfelt experience of the great love and mercy and blessing bestowed on them by Him whom they felt it an honor to call Father, and who, they folly felt, was fulfilling the mission made ages ago, that He wou'd never leave nor forsake any who pnt their trust in Him. About this time a building was put up by public subscription, and was called tbe " Ebenezer. " It was for the use of all Christians as a publics plaoe of worship, and was used by the Methodists. It stood on the site of the stables near Messrs Dodson's brewery, Tasman street. Subsequently the lste Mr Matthew Campbell built a large briok schoolroom, and the Methodists held all their services in it. The increasing number of adherents led to the building of a brick church on an acre given by the N.Z. Company, where tbe Custom House and the large warehouses of Messrs J. H. Cook and 00, now stand, for the accommodation of about 200 people. This was built by a grant from tbe Mission Fund to provide the materials, the labour being given by the members. It was opened in 1845 by the Rev. J. Aldred, who had come to take charge of the oirouit, and of whom the old people of every denomination Btill speak with respeot. There were the nsual set vices and a great tea meeting, the church being crowded to the utmost extent, and the collection and profit from the tea were satisfactory. A Sunday School was begun and was well attended, Mr Q. W. Lightband being the first superintendent. Local preaohers now began to labor, and ably filled the pulpit, amongst whom were Messrs Andrews, Hammond, Sigley, Biley, Hough, Humphrey, Green, Mears, Barn, Sewell, and Jenkins. The labors of both preachers and laymen were orowned with euooeßa, and during tbe period between the building of the ohuroh and 1857 the congregation bad bo far increased as to render a larger ohuroh necessary to accommodate all who wanted to attend. The gables and other parts of the churoh were damaged by the heavy earthquakes. The property was sold for £1,500 to Messrs Edwards & Co., merchants. The Parsonage, or Mission House, was, at this time, in Washington Valley, and was subsequently sold to the late Mr B. Lucas for £420.

Ou the 13bh of November, 1857, £400 wai pnid for aa aore in Hardy-Bireei, and it June, 1858, £2197 v?aa paid for the ereotiot ot the present o&uroh to accommodate abonl 400. In 1866 ic was found neceseary toereoi a gallery for farther accommodation at o cost of £83. In 1864 a parsonage was bail! at a cost of about £650, and a schoolroom at * coßt of £600, both on tbe Hardy-street aore. Subsequent additioaß have been made to both. The Hardy-street Church was opnned on Friday, Jane 18, 1858, by the Rev J. Warren, and on the following Sunday services were conducted by the Rev P. Oaldor in the morning, in the afternoon by Mr W, Beateoo, the arohiteot, and in the evening by the Rov Mr Thomas, On the Tuesday following a monster tea mealing was held, the prooetds amounting to £102 14s 10£d, Captain Rough occupied the chair ao the public meeting in the evening, The ministers

stationed h s re pinoe the opening to th< prpßHit fime wern the Rbvh Ironside, Wnrrcn, Innei, Kirk, Crumr, Wftkin, Buddie, H»rper, Bavin, Lee, Beck, a> d Olivi r (feven of whom hava occupied the President's chair during the last tweW6 years.) Truly a roll of noble nameß, and cb an evidence of the satisfaction they gavs to the Methodist?, both of the past and the present, every end of them fit yed ifce fall term of thr< e years, except Mr Harper, whoee health broke down, and it is not too much to reoord here that Fathers WarrerT, lines, and Buddie, who have gone to their final Bfiatioo, me spoken of by oil who worshipped und^r thorn bare as grsnd old mfn; and faithful lenders in Israel, wi'h she greatesflove and affeotion. The others, Who «.re still on the war path against wrong, may foel aatrrftl that not one of them is forgotten, and that they too receive their mee 1 of praise whenever they are spoken of eitber in pnblio, or in private; and that their lubra have not, been in. vaia is evidenced fay the faot that the present accommodation is fat from adequate to meet iho applications made for fittings, In June, 1882, it waa deoided-to eJarfc a fund for a new and larger churob. A baisaar was held and sabßoripiio&B were given, And sinoe>fchen. I ' social evenings" have been held, andifprther aabaorip; ions given, wbioh has raffted^tbe Building Fand to nearly £1200. Mcssrß W. Haddow and J. H, Cock are the Treasurers of tho Fund. Plane for the new chafoti'were prepared by Mr W, A. Doghby. arohiteot, of Napier, and it) is proposed to open it in Maroh next. Mr Andrew Brown ia ihe successful tenderer, aud tbe oontraot price is £1682. Daring the post year ending June 30th the ooagregatioD raised the Bum of £1160 odd, And the writer feels certain in saying that the Methodists of ' JjJttlsou have raised aud spent over £30,000 since the foundation of the settlement. The building will be of wood with stone foundation^ the 1 size of the church being 70 feet t y 41,.and the walls will te 27 feet high. A Bindy and. vestry will be provided behind tbe obnroh, over which will be accommodation for the ouoir. The o tiling of tho choir gallery will bo arched in order to throw the Bound out imo the ohutoh. The exterior of the obn^K wiJl fee Gothio in ohuraoter, but the atrnotnce. will be treated aa a wooden ouo, •ad therewill be no attempo co imitate stonework. In tbia iae arohiceot has shown good mom and proper artiatio feeling. Tae buttresses to the Walls will be of timber framed with f ret work, jpanele.. On one aegle of the front there will b|a tower, twelve feet square. The apes of tbe gable will be oruameatcd with oarved panelling and a bold flnial. There will be three entranced, eaoh being provided with a porch. The gables of these will be ornamented with oarved barge boards and panels. The main roof will be constructed with laminated aroh ties, the plates between being diagonally boarded with a polygoually shaped ceiling* -, The fronts of the galleries of the Ghuroh will be panelled. The seats have been designed with a view to ensure the greatest comfort to the Bitters. The greatest fains have been taken to provide for thorough ventilation, and muoh attention has beeff paKpto* ensuring that the building shall have good acoustics properties. Altogether the Church will be most creditable to the congregation, and an ornament to the town. From wbifchas been stated it will be seen that the little "band of Methodists who first met and sang the "songs of Zion together in thia land hare' grown in number and influence and become a great power for good. That they have-JaQt been, or done, all that they couid^ve wished lieel sure, could all of them tig fc^e; tp answer, they woald acknowledge^Tbut that they have been as salt in th^e^urth' there oan. be no doubt. Who oan estirnate the good they have done "by labouring in this favoured part by clearing the face of nature an4 tending the plants of grap& and acting as the pioneers of physical and spiritual reform. May those of them who are left and those who follow •ontdiiae to speak words and do deeds that shall bear fruit in. the last great gathering on the other shore.