THE WESLEYAN CHURCH IN OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1158, 7 February 1874, Page 11

THE WESLEYAN CHURCH IN OTAGO.

The annual gathering in connection with the Wesleyan Home Missions was held in Christchurcli on the 29th wit. From the report of the proceedings given by the Lyttelton Times, wo m;ike the following extracts: —

Tin Rev. T. AY. Bigg, Dunedin, said tha Otago had recently been separated from this very wealthy district of Canterbury, and the latter had gained by it, for Otago was the most needy part of tho original district. They had always needed more in that Province than they could raise, and ho would Jbe glad when there was only one general fund, and something like equity observed in the matter. —(Hear, hoar.) The Wesleyan Church was very foeblo indeed in OtofcO. In Balclutha, Lawrence, and other places tho number of members ranged from 10 to 40. . Now, how could they imagine a minister being supported by 10 members, or oven by 40, and that too in some instances with largo debts to contend against ? Ho hoped that uudcr those

circumstances one coaatnon fund would be established, and the money distributed where there was the greatest need. The Rev. F. W. fsitt, of Balclutha, said they had heard what the Home Mission was in New Zealand and in Tasmania in the early day?, and he would now tell them a little of its position at the present time in Otago. He ms essentially a. Home Missionary minister, and he must confess a hungry one, for he must tell them that he calculated evei-y member of the Church in Otago had a debt of £10 on his head, or going further, that every member of the congregations, man, woman, or child, had a debt at least 20s each upon them. There seemed, indeed, to be an inclination in the Province to boast as to which circuit had the largest debt. Brother Beck, when present at the opening of a new church at Lawrence, a short time ago, had remarked that the church at Milton was a finer one than that just opeaed, but if it were, he could only say that while the Lawrence people were up to their ears in debt, those at Milton were altogether under water in this respect. — (Laughter.) He must tell them that when he went to Balclutha there were only four members of the Church, and they had succeeded in building a place of worship which cost £400, though not without leaving a debt upon it. Some of this, however, had been wiped off, and now they wanted to build a parsonage. A new church had been built at Milton, and for this £'600 had been raised lasc year. If, however, £200 were taken off for a minister's residence, £300 for the church, and something for furniture for the minister's house, there would not be much left for the minister. He (Mr Isitt) might therefore, well come before them and say he was hungry. Otago really needed pity in Methodistic work. The few who were ministering there could not overtake the work that required to be done, and he feared that they could never do much in Otago. He, however, remembered the visit of the Key. Geo. Scott to Sweden, and was strengthened. On hi; first landing, this minister was taken to the shore, and ordered away on the peril of death ; but he remained, and the seeds sown by him took such root that when he visited the place twenty years afterwards, instead of being driven away, he was met hy the people and ministers en masse with great rejoicing. Good Methodist work had been done there, and such work was to be done in Otago. He hoped the day would come when other parts of the Colony would cease to look upon Otago with an unsympathetic eye, arid every aid would be extended to it, thus fulfilling the law of Christ. — (Applause.)