SPREADING METHODISM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4656, 9 October 1913, Page 5

SPREADING METHODISM.

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. Electric Telegraph—Press Association , Copyright London, Last Night. Delegations from all Protestant missionary societies tendered congratulations to the Wesleyan Missionary Society’s Centenary at Central Hall, Westminster. Lord Sta'mfordham. on behalf of the King, wrote that His Majesty recognised the religious and philanthropic work so universally extended by the Methodist Missionary Society, in promoting the noble aims of Christianity, His Majesty offered his hearty congratulations at the high results achieved in the hundred years by its ministry. Dr. Brown, representing the Austral'an Conference, said the great hope of the Society was the foundation of Native churches for training Native ministers. The Rev. A. Lawry (New Zealand) graphically described the ChristianisaMiori of the Maoris. Reports from all parts of the world announced the vigorous spread of Methodism.

On October 6, 1813. the first public meeting in the interest of the Methodist foreign mission was held in old St. Peter’s Chapel, Leeds, and this date is counted the birthday of the society, though, as a matter of fact, Wesleyan foreign missions had been started at an earlier period. Within the short period of 21 years fire great missionary societies have started. Each of the five has to-day a world-wide influence, even though all of them have not yet completed their hundred years. Through the zeal of William Carey, the shoemaker, the Baptist Missionary Society was commenced in 1792; the London Missionary Society, now associated with the Congregationalists, in 1795; the Church Missionary Society in 1799; the British and Foreign Bible Society—a catholic-minded missionary organisation and the handmaid of the others—in 1804 ; and the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1813.