BIRKENHEAD WESLEYAN SCHOOLROOM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11778, 7 October 1901, Page 3

BIRKENHEAD WESLEYAN SCHOOLROOM.

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE.

The laying of the foundation stone of the new Wesleyan schoolroom, Birkenhead, took place on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a numerous company. There were present: The Revs. C. H. Garland (president of the New Zealand Conference), H. Bull (Grafton Road), W. Ready (Ponsonby), W. Beckett (Mount Eden), J. G. Chapman (Devonport), A. B. Chappell (Birkenhead), Mr. E. J. Adams (Presbyterian missioner, Northcotc), and Messrs. Alex. Wilson, C. E. Button, Thos. Buddie, J. Shepherd, A., L. White. J. P. Kay, T. B. Smith, A. M,! Wilson, Clow, Rushbrook, J. W. Wiseman*} Speckling, jun., and P. Taylor. The Rev. > J. G. Chapman presided, and gave out tho hymn, " The Church's One Foundation," which was sung by the choir and children of; the Sunday-school, under the conduetorship l of Mr. W. Taylor, Mrs. Button officiating a*3 tho organ. Mr. Button then read a portion of Scripture, and the Rev. W. Beckett engaged in prayer. Mr. Thomas Buddie laid the foundation stone, and an adjournment was made to the church adjacent, where tho subsequent proceedings took place, thet church being comfortably filled. Mr. Buddie,, referring to the early history of the district, stated that 40 years ago Mr. Creamer gave a gifi_of tho land for a church on* Zion Hill, xirst there was tho little octagonal church, which was a great undertaking in the old days, and then the present church. One of the men who took an interest in the church was the Rev. Mr. McCallum (Presbyterian minister), who, he believed, got the people to name the place Mount Zion. There were no roads in those days as they had at; present. With the growth of tha district, they had now commenced a new schoolroom, a much larger one than he expected to see. It was necessary to provide accommodation: for the increasing number of scholars of the Sunday-school, and he wished every success to the enterprise. The Chairman said tho work was initiated by the Rev. Mr. Beeroft. and was being carried out to completion by the Rev. A. B. Chappell. The"Rev. Mr. Chappell then read a statement of accounts. Tho contract for. the present main building was £395. Receipts totalled £426. Extra amounts to be yet raised, above contract* price,' was seating, £56; lining, £41; painting material, £14. The classrooms, at the sides of schoolroom, would come later on, and would be additional. The total cost, when the schoolroom was complete, would lie about £700. Mr. Chappell referred to. the late Mr. Chamntaloup, who was the. first superintendent of the school, and to Mr. A. L. White, one of the trustees. The hymn, "This Stone to Thee We Lay," was then' sung, and brief addresses were given by the Rev. C. H. Garland, the Rev. H. Bull, and.. the Rev. W. Ready. A collection was taken . up, which amounted to £9 2s 4d. Mr. A.L. White tendered thanks to the friends who had assisted and worked in the cause, also to the clergymen who had come from Auckland to take part in the proceedings that; day. Mr. E. J. Adams, Presbyterian missioner, engaged in prayer, after which tho* chairman pronounced the Benediction.