NEW CHURCH AT TAPANUI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 8

NEW CHURCH AT TAPANUI

OI'KNINU SF.ViW.jtf;. Tho oJlorts of tir : r, .»' the 'I'yr.mui I'l-csbytor-ii <;i..;r<;li. c\l.-:jding ijvc.r i-i-vi-riil yi :ii μ-i.-'. -.•.••-■■■ '-/JiLiUi'-riiut'-il oil la:-t In t,<>< : <>!»• nirif' of '- W-W pl;i<i,' oi vvuiajiiii. ;-'Ui..- n-v. ', -I).-, ttio projti-t, wits inoolitcl oi •..•■l'-brai if a period of o<j yi;ir:.' work in rf;>:-«-iii{< I."- woocii.li slruftiifc of the r-Miiy <i:y:> will, a .more modi ni building. I !>' /i- v/Pi t ."uuifcrous di'Ujs -in l;u:t, (,].!■■,( i<,ijx..i.i- iiioviuiLii! iri I hi'. ui;iUer of '»V-.-t eoasoiie and not too liou'iH.'ful h.i.rv< >•'« r-.-i -d<d the colli ctors; but iibu.it l2 NXiiithr ago an i ;u-tic:-L niovi' was uk:.<l'-, aiitJ a canvass of tin: couarcßatiou r< ,-ait.-,i ,:i sulii-ir-nt supjiort fort:i'-'»iiiii'.! 10 vv.uv ;:.nt the I'iiurch JJuildjj-ig < N.nuuitt' fe in ucceptijig I ho most <Ui»ir«bJi' trud'T lor a brick buikiing—that of Mr A. A Abiir:,, of Duneiiiu — at about i>lßoo. M. K<!m>ih<f An.seomlx.', of Diiuedin, furnisKid ■ ti«■ }il;j.ij.-. ami was appointed arehitiv c i i,. re w..:ri: many meetings of the IJu'f :,i.' '..'■. i.ittwi.UT, aiwl much diiwiuasirm ittuiml l: vu' fi,.' disposal of the old building and pli'cui'j; Hi. ik-iv one on i thij sami! site, \vii;rh i.-, n.;,l!y the most J demnible qiic. But there v■.,;< opposition to j Kucriiicinp: (.lie t; ld Imildin;-. iouKtless 'iiuch i of it on the .scntinir-ri(-ni aid.-; mi! those who I uisiicd ti, do'iMiT.hiiif; 'j .11; v.'-iiild rireute disrui»tion or )ii:,-u,-i the pro :.->•.s of the new j church, rcadii" s.-avc «,-y . i; <d finally it was j decided to pla - i.!i.- m--, 1.p.,.W:. the "old.'but I bii'jg-iiijr the -*',ranT cj<>---i- 10 the. street I line. From ,!iif, on 1.1 .•;.■ w%s no hiteh. j 'ill.'.' contrac!*..,- ncwio r.iyrai progress witli j the work, well undiT ' prpscribrd I time, .and th'-!-«- now '.taiid? n i uildiiiß that is a credit tn the conijrt'ir.ition and the district alike. Without jr-j'iwj irt.o a detailed account of t-i" new ohureli. it may be mentioned that it iK i-i'V-ti.-d of pressor] bricks, niot'ly picker! out vvith white and plastered portions, lite front is lastefuHy ornamented, and heavy niliar-i on hide of tho entrance pive stability to a pleasing form of I architecture. The roof is of Marseilles tiles, and ventilation, is on upi-.dato methods. Tho vestibnh- is roomy and well arranged. After entering the vtstibule tiiero are doors on right -n.i left wndiictinff to the pews, the doors bpiujr in direct line -with the aisle?. This is a :<afe?u.nrrl ;igainst draughts as well as a oonvcTiienf nrrangcmt.'nt. The audit/onim is si.w...>d for 251. and is a well-lighted and !ipnrt.ri>"nt. The ceiling if hued wihli iHcked red pine, and the walls nre whib- In irk. rrd-tucked, with dado of red_ brick, bln.fl:-tucked. Tho pulpit recent h plastered and ornamented, and overionkrj t.he choir box. -which is seated for about 50. TVro is n. fn.ll of 2ft in the floor from buck to front, and comfortable, seats are provided. The vestry is fitted with fireplace, ete.., ari'S an ncetylene gas pfant affords l'trhtinT for the ttHolo buildinp. The vnstry partitkin is so arranged that a ohoir room can be conveniently added when it is found ihnt turiria will rV-rmit. Tho coptractor .inneHrs f.o h<tve sriven a most satisfactory ]•/:■;. ano nl) that now remains to be done if f.i improve th<? surrotmdings and <?orrrplel .- the ntK«'Ssnry fencing;. It xvi.= nnfcirtiinati! thai. Sunday last, -winch was se(- aside for the opening ceremony, should have proved a wet, day. Tho morninir ni/fc nn!;, promiperJ wet, but a steady rain eontirrne.;! ail dn.v. Aβ a result country people wen> irpvont-erj from attending in such numbers as niisht have been expected. '} hero were no Tacant scats, ho-wever, when the ~R"v. W. Scoririe. of Mornin-gton, ascended the r>ow pulpit a few yards distant from •: if old one which he occupied for some --ears, and where he helped to monld the li- ea of m:tn.v and to draw to himself a lftrfc r^ circle of stnuTtch friends. Thechoir sans; 3)>Tnns suitable to the occasion, and, before commencing his rr>:iin address. Mr Scorjrie spook briefly ro tlie children. His remarks -were simple, and were ba.vd on the '' Rememb"r no-w ths Creator in the days of thy youth." He exhorted them to remember now —it was easy when they were young to be good; it was tremendously hard Tvhen they were old. The new church was n. memort.il of G-ocTs rroodness. and the snen.ker invoked the -younjr to attend and crow up in it. and they wonld have God's blessing. Flnwldnsr to fhr> adults from the toxt T, Oorintliinns. ii. 21. tlie Re-r. Mr P.corjrt» delivered an able adcrrres. He re--1 viewer! tlie attitude of th" Jews and the

(Greeks, and spoke of how Paul turned a-way from both to preach Christ urucified. It was this gospo! for which the church they worn that clay opening had beon built. They hod rof.-rived that gospel, and if they afforded Mio opportunity it would do for them tfhafc it had done for tho old world—it would chanfjr: their livre, and make them new crilaturcs fit for <«od's Kingdom. The ed-rlrr-ss was listenod to with rapt attention, and the opening service was earnest and imprrjssivo. Tn the evening Mr Soorcie spoke exprt-fsly to the voting men, hi* subject being. " W.ir. Patriotism, and Prayer." To-morrow fvenijifr a social is to be held, when several ministers and r?prfsentathrpfi of the Presbytery of Mataura "will be present.