METHODIST CENTRAL MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 7

METHODIST CENTRAL MISSION

DEDICATION OF. SLADE HALL. The annual members’ meeting of the Methodist Central Mission was held on Tuesday evening In the Blade Hall. The Rev. W. Walker presided over a large attendance. The election of stewards resulted as follows: —Society stewards— Messrs H. ■H. Johnson, G. Brown, P. K. Chapman, C. J. Wise, V. Watson, A. Grogan, P. White, R. Lamb, A. Westfield; choir steward, Miss M'Gregor; benevolent stewards—Mrs Coulter, Miss Sanders, Mrs Chapman, Mrs Twose, Miss Thomas, Miss Chnve, Miss M’Nish; honorary stewards— Mr W. Paris, Mr W. Hoskins, and Miss Boot. Trustees who are members of the mission are also society stewards. The main purpose of the meeting was the dedication of the Slade Hall, in honour or (he splendid work done by the late Rev. W. Slade. The chairman (Rev. W. Walker) referred to Mr Slade’s career as a Methodist minister in the dominion and for 17 years as a missionary in Fiji. On his apponitment to Dunedin he determined to launch a scheme to build a permanent home for the mission, which was then meeting in various halls in the city. Being a man of vision and of great enthusiasm he carried his scheme through, with the result that the Mission now owns and occupies one of the finest equipped halls in the dominion. The Rev. Mr Walker paid a tribute to the work of Mrs Slade, who was a devoted helper in all tho Mission work. The Rev. E. E. Belllionse, district chairman, and those present were assembled to honour the memory of a great and good man. One of God’s richest gifts were great and good men, and Mr Slade was one of the best gifts to the Methodist Church In modern times He was a great missionary and a greater preacher, a great administrator, and a great Methodist statesman. He paid a tribute to Mr Slade’s magnificent work in Fiji—a work that en titled him to be classed as one of the most devoted and capable missionaries of recent times. He was delighted, as chairman or (he district, that the Mission officials had decided (o name part of the property in honour of their late superintendent, and thus remind future congregations of the groat debt they owed to him. Mr Bel.housc concluded an impressive and sincere eulogy of the late Ucv. Slade by appealing to ail present for a more consecrated and devoted service, and thus carry on to even more successful issues the objects of the Mission.

Other short speeches were delivered by Mr W. It. Don, Mr K. N. Gordon, Mr W. Paris, after which Mr D. C. Cameron, jun., at the request of the chairman, dedicate# the hall as Slade Hall, and read a letter received from Mrs Slade, Auckland, expressing her gratification that her ’ate husband had kept a place in the love an# esteem of the officials and members with whom he worked. Mrs Slade, in her letter, also said: “I shall be only too pleased and shall feel it an honour to have my husband’s name given to the social hall, and sincerely thank those who desire to carry out this courteous act of remembrance." The meeting received Mrs Slade's letter with evident appreciation, and whilst all present stood, (he Slade Hall was dedicated, Mr Bellhouse offering the dedication prayer. A motion of sympathy with Mr 11. Moffat in his illness was carried, on tho motion of Mr W. Hoskins.

The Circuit Steward referred to the coming holidays, and In wishing the Rev. W. Walker and Sister Hazel a pleasant holiday, presented each with a cheque as an expression of goodwill towards them.