UNION FREE CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8662, 3 September 1891, Page 6

UNION FREE CHURCH.

I WELCOME TO PASTOR BIRCH. Vhe members of the Union Free Church, Tollesley-strect, gave Pastor Birch a \lcomo last evening on his return from %ney. '-It* took the form of a tea meeting i'\e Salvation Army Barracks (the Army haw kindlr' lent the barracks), which hundred attended, and an after pnbi meeting in the church, which was still \ ore hugely attended. On the wall at t\ back tit the church rostrum was Biispe\ d t>h( legend " Welcome to our PastoiKouniin Union with Christ." Mr. Robt. jfy prjsided, and was supported on the phWrnby Messrs. 11. J. Ross, F. Woodlnl gParker, Fiold, F. A. White, and the feesl of the evening, Pastor Birch. After devti/nal exercises, Tho OaAiman said they had mob to welcome fetor Birch, and they were all heartily gel to see him. Some of those who had helped them, would have a word tsay, and then they wanted to hear fronihe pastor how he had got 011 in Sydney, ai also what might bo on his heart. It ! as intended to make the meeting infornl, free and happy, and opportunity wild be given everybody who desired to Vail themselves of it, to speak. The secretjy (Mr. C. H. Clemens) would give a re4ie of Church work, and the treasurer (\\ C. B. Stone) of the financial position. j Mr. Cleens then stated the circumstances wlih led to tho leasing of the old Wellesl|-streeb church, and its renovation. Thejiad been accused of splitting up tho Tairnaele Church, bub of their membership 200, only G6 were from that church the jmaindor having for the most part been ofp church at all, and showing that there ah a need for tho existence of the now orgisation. They had a Sundayschool of lojpupils, with 18 teachers, a Bible class, tut door evangelistic work, and a bran<-station at Chelsea, where there was ncgervice. A Workers' Union had been eslblished to classify workers, and a Young liristian Endeavour Society intended to jedge members to do some particular woj or other. On behalf of the church, he w'comed Pastor Birch home again. | I Choir: "T)i|Pastor's Welcome." [ . Mr. C. B. S")xe, after some general remarks.stated Vat £321 -16s Gd had been spent since Hey began to worship in that building "b Freeites. It had been expended in impairs, furniture, rent, ministerial suppH gas, advertising, etc. Turning to recepts they had received in donations £55 5 Gd, half of which had been obtained frtn outsiders; donations promised, £5 2s ; cnalions in shape of half price for labour i lieu of money, £32 Ss (some gave laboui gratuitous!)') ; off trade discounts, £5 12s collections, £11)2 13s 4d ; collecting cards, 53 12s Id ; organ fund, £1 18s ; poor funditarted, under a pound. That made a totaJcf £315 odd, leaving a little over £G tf balance income and expenditure. meeting would yield a net profit of £4, jo that practically about £2 10s was all t-feifc i was needed, and if those present waned to hear Pastor Birch preach on Sunday,they would pass up the amount required tj extinguish the deficit. (Applause.) l ; The Chairman balled on Pastor Woodham to say a few fords. Ho had fulfilled his duty as pastor ;o the letter. Pastor Woomm, in commencing his remarks, apologised/or the absence of Brother Herapath, who Wjts unable to come through indisposition, bis who sent through him his affectionate imgratulations. He welcomed Pastor Brch back to a united and working people,who were endeavouring to be a blessing the city and surrounding districts. | Mr. Bishop, )n behalf of the Sunday School, and Mr) Abhott, for the church choir, welcomed ?astor Birch. Mr. Bigelow, $n., said he had received a letter from Sydiey- as to Pastor Birch's good work, and while they were in Sydney in tears, in iuckUnd there was great joy. Several "testimonies " were then given, and apologts read from Rev. J. Walker (New Zealand Alliance) and Rev. J. Walter, who pleadsi other engagements for nonattendance

Choir, "Blessed Assurance." Pastor Sikcii, in rising to speak, was received wjh prolonged applause. He said those whomet him at the wharf on arrival seemed to be looking happier than when he left, and [he saw the same change on the faces of tae people at the tea at the Salvation Amy Barracks. There seemed a kindlier sjirit to have grown up during his absence, the Church he had left in Sydney, and the Churoh here, were one in doctrine and beliei, according to the written Word. It might teem an unpleasant word to some, but 'they, were going on to perfection. Those whfi did not believe in that doctrine he left to answer to God. He had resolved in future to fcave no controversy or argument with the pwss or tho ministry. He intended to do his level best to bless that church and uplift the tolony. He came back to perform his promise. Ho bad done some work in the church there and also among the unemployed. He found the church there as disunited and disjointed as the Tabernacle vas when he first arrived here, and had viiited the sick and dying, but would not jvisit those who were well. Being a straiger in the city, and having to deal with tin trade unions, he had to work in the background, but it would be known ■on the Great Day. He was sorry to hear that 20,000 persons had left New' Zealand within the last few years for the Australian colonies. There was a reason for it. A year ago he had dared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the poor working men, and intended to do so again. The accident of birth should not causo the poor man to be shoved in the gutter. As pastor of that church he wished them to show to the world, and the other churches, not the Christianity which was in the drawing-room, on velvet cushions, in gilded architecture, but the Christianity in boots and going about in tho world doing good. Christianity was a failure—in point of numbers. Men wanted a material Christ. The churches put on the garmentsof Christ, but we could not get Christ in the life Let them deal with the land, and everything else as Christ would deal with it. A firm—not in Mew South Wales, but in a colony nearer home—had spent during the past yoar £2000 in bribes to officials of Government. There should bo 110 bribery and corruption. Working men had the power to put such things down, and let them put in men, poor though they might be, who would do righteousness. He intended to introduce a Bill into Parliament — not personally, but through another —by which, say, in 1595, the whole uncultivated land of New Zealand would become the .property of the State. The farmers needed fertilisers for their land, and these would have to be carried by the railways at a rate which would enable the farmers to make a living off the land, instead of, as at present, abandoning their farms. Another thing to be dealt with was usury. He would make it illegal to recover a higher rate of interest than 5 per cent. The whole of the colonies were in debt, In one of the colonies vice and corruption abounded, the drink traffic flourishing ; the children irrevfirent; Christian editors giving space to things which were not right. The workingmencould put these things right, and Christian working men should lead the way. That church should send two members to Parliament—honourable men—to show the atheist and the socialist what Christianity is. He came as a free man to a free church, and to be their leader. In Auckland, fifteen months ago, a great many people were against him—that was simply because they were behind the times. The world kept moving on, and the ideas— social, political, and religious —he now propounded would be found in his first volume of sermons published 16 years ago. If Christianity truly reigned their dispensaries would bo free, and the poor would get medicine, under authority of law, without money and without price. The little children suffered and sickened, but their parents did nob call in the doctor or get the medicine till the last thing, as they had 110 means to pay for physic or advice. Instead of the pool' having to go to tho Hospital on the hill for medicine or the doctor, the doctor should go to tho sick. Tho only plea for the existence of a Church was a Christ-like life, and if they could not acquire that, he might as well go back to England again. As lie came into Auckland harbour he noticed the quietness of the streets—the difficulty in getting bread— and he lifted up his heart and said, " Lord use me, until the colony is lifted out of the hole." They must try and get a law to prevent the brewers selling drink in the public houses. They must speak out boldly, though they might be

called "faddists." The greatest) "faddist" on this earth was the Lord Jesus Christ), What were the united churches doing ? If the churches were united in theology, they would not see him there, but if they were united to bless humanity, to do good to suffering women and little children, he was with them. .As a free church they would look kindly and generously upon other churches. Till working men saw Christ in th* churches they would remain outside. He would ask the women of the church to take up the Rescue work. Mr. Birch closed by submitting; the testimonials which he received in Sydney, from the church. A man required, unfortunately, in the present day, to show by. deeds that his statement was true. Before leaving Sydney, he intended on the last day to purchase some views of the city, also a Bible with the original and Revised Version, as he had only the Testament and the Psalms. Strangely enough, on the night of the farewell tea meeting, the very views he intended to purchase were presented to him, as also the Bible referred to, which rendered it unnecessary for him to procure them. He left the church in Sydney more united than ho found it, and desiring that he should be the pastor there as well as the pastor here. (Cheers). Mr. Stone said that the doctors of Auckland gave a good deal of their time and money and medicine for the benefit of the poor. He thought it right to make this explanation, and then read the testimonials alluded to by Mr. Birch. The proceedings, which were of an enthusiastic character, closed with the Benediction by Pastor Birch.