PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 15

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

ORDINATION SERVICE. There was a large congregation at the Sydney street Church on Wednesday, when three probationers, Messrs Henry Williams, Frederick W. Boys and William C. Wood, who have qualified by the prescribed course of study and four years’ service in the Colony, were ordained ministers of the Primitive Methodist Church. Prayer was offered, and a lesson read by the ordainers, after which the candidates for the ministry were called upon to relate their conversion, and call to the ministry. The Rev Henry Williams said that from the earliest years he had deep impressions concerning religion, but could remember no definite time for his conversion. In Yorkshire, while headmaster of a day school, he took interest in Sunday school work, and later* acted as a lay preacher. Prevented from going, as was intended, on mission work to " Newfoundland, the Primitive Methodist Missionary Committee' sent him to New Zealand.

The Rev Frederick W. Boys said h owed much to his pious mother’s prayers. Exactly nine years had elapsed between his conversion and ordination. His first labours were in London mission work in a blacksmith’s shop. The conference of 1891 accepted him for labour in New Zealand. The Rev William C. Wood said he was a New Zealander born and reared. He otved much to his father’s influence. His conversion occurred in Sunday School Bibl® Clas?. \

The Rev J. Dumbell offered the dedicatory service. The charge to the candidates, in the unavoidable absence of the Rev J. Nixon, of New Plymouth, was read by the Rev W. Laycock, president of the conference, and was based upon Ephesians 4, 12. At its close the hand of each candidate was taken, and they were formally declared admitted to the ranks of the full ministry.

The Rev W. S. Potter delivered a charge to the churches, and the service terminated with prayer by the ex-president, the Rev C. E. Ward.