METHODIST CHURCH

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 31 July 1933, Page 4

METHODIST CHURCH

tiOtlx AXNIYEESAEY. A •iOiU'IOHABLE GATHERING. There was a largo and representative gathering of meinbers and friends of the local Methodist Church in the Foresters’ Hall on Frida}' night to celebrate the COth anniversary of the founding of the Method!?t Church in Paten,

The Eev! W. H. Wilson introduced Mr. A. E. Wainwright, circuit steward, and requested him to preside over the gathering'. Mr. Wainwright, in a brief and happy speech, said it was his pleasing dirty to occupy the chair on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the church. Ho had much pleasure in extending a cordial .welcome, to one and all. Ho would especially like to welcome His Worship the Mayor, Mr. F. Hamsbottom; the Ecv.'Mctson, who had lately been appointed to the Hawcra district, the Eev. A. W. Sntaill, the Bov. W. H. Walton, and Captain Carey (Salvation Army), and also Mrs. E. A. Adams, who was a member of the church before it was built, Mr. and Mrs. H. Ltickor, ami 'Mr. and Mrs. P. Tong. (Applause.)

The Eev. W. H. Wilson then road apologies for non-attendance and messages of congratulation from the following: Mr. L. S. Barradough. (Hawera), Eevs. W. J. Oxbrow, E. D. Patchott, .1. W.' Bayliss, G. Bridgman, Mrs. Dixon (Hawcra), Mrs. AY. Watson, Mr. McKee, and Air.' and Mis. Tregcar. Mr. James .Foy, who was the first speaker, said he was delighted to bo present and to congratulate his Patea friends on such a splendid gathering. His first .association with Patea was between B 5 and 40 years ago. The next, time' was when he was driving a mob of sheep from Hawcra to Wavcrley. His first .association with the Methodist Church in Patea was when the Eev. T. G. HAmmond was in charge, and his first meal was at his house. Although Hawcra was an offspring from Patea it was later the head, and Patea was under it. He remembered coming to Patea from Hawora to ''take service, and all those times he rode ,on horseback and in those days he had to walk two miles out . of Hawcra to catch his horse. In those days he used to stay with Mr. .Boagey and he had recollections of the very happy time he had spent with that family. Ho was very pleaded to sec Mr. and Mrs. H. Locker, , who had also been very kind to him when he came to Patea. Hb congratulated them on the successful gathering and hop-, ed the church would prosper.

Mr, Eamsbottom, who next * spoke, said ho had not anticipated meeting such a large gathering. Ho. was sure that the spiritual life was increasing and he wished the church every success in the future. He was sure the late depression had caused people to think more of .the spiritual life, which .gave them something to live for, Hei had early recollections of the Methodist Church in Patea. ! The late Mr. D. Gunn, who rose .to p'routinence in the Salvation Army, gained his early training , iii the Methodist Church under the lab' Eev. T. G. Hammond. He wished the church every success.; The work that was being carried out by their 1 minister would, he ftilt sure, bo of the greatest benefit to all. , (Ap- : plause.) The Eev. YW. H. Walton, who spoke on behalf of ; the Anglican Church, said; he would like to congratulate them all - on having . attained their 60th birth-) day. Mr. Foy had mentioned that Patea Methodist Church was the; mother of the Hawcra Church. It was the (Same ' with 'the Anglican Church, Patea being the mother of Hawcra. ' In extending his congratulations he had wondered what 60 years represented. It represented the lives of a great many people. Ministers who had been there had- left their mark. He would like to extend his congratulations to the older • members who were there that night, Eetrospection, it it was healthy* brought to their minds inspiration, as they thought of the magnificent work that had been done for them. What would happen in the next' 60 years? What mark would they make in the world? What would they do to further the work of the church? It was time when they had to .realise the responsibility that rested on their shoulders to maintain the work of the church in their midst. It had been forcibly impressed on him that as- he was coming to a Methodist church ho’ could not do better than to quote the worths of a Methodist hymn as a message to them al}: “GO labour on, spend and be spent, Thy joy to do the Master’s will. It is the way the Master went,

Should not the servant tread it still?’’ May God give them, all strength to go on and labour in the Master's service, (Applause.),

Captain Carey said ho had pleasure in extending to the Methodist Church in Patea Hearth-birthday greetings. Boference had been made to the late Col. Gunn. He could bear out what won-, "derful influence the Gunn -had exercised. As they looked back over the past, they had much to be thankful for. They could not live in the past, and they had, as Moses had said, to “go forward.” He advised one and all to read a .book called “The' University of-Hard Knocks.” It, was a wonderful cure for the blues, cspcci ally ,at times of depression like the present. There was a very humorous story to bo found there of-Moses, who reached the age. of 120 years. The future held more than* the past. It was their duty to go forward, hoping for the best. On behalf of the Salvation Army, he wished them every success in the future.' (Applause.) The Eev. A. W. Smaill said Captain Carey had said something about the further south they went the better things were. That was true, for down

south they got to the real old Pros

byterian Church. He did not know whether this applied to the speakers that,evening. He was very pleased to be with them to extend to them the congratulations of the Presbyterian Church, their sister church. He was not sure which was the elder church in the town. He had tided to find out, bub had bcei* unsuccessful. Their story was one of struggle and trial. They, talked of hard times, but they knew nothing of the trials and struggles of those curl}' pioneers. Had they been men and women who gave up when times were hard and difficult they would not be celebrating their (iOth anniversary that clay. The world needed the church, and he believed there was an opening to go forward and possess the land for Christ. There was one verse of a hymn that came to him;

“We arc not divided, All one body we.” ' They were all working for the one goal. Ho hoped the Methodist Church would be able to do great things for he .King. When they reached their centenary may they be able to say they were worthy to follow in the footsteps of the pioneers. He wished them every success. (Applause.) The Rev. 13. Metson (Hawcra) said, he had also to congratulate them on their (iOlli anniversary. He had that day been reminded in Hawcra of the splendid people they had had in Patea. Mrs. Adams had been an inspiration to them. He brought the heartiest greetings from their Hawera brethren for their future welfare. He had been told in Hawera by one Methodist that he would never forgetthe .prayers of the late Mr. Boa gey. That, was something they had to be proud of. Though Patea "did . not have so many on their roll, the church was still' -alive. They had been active, teachable, enthusiastic, and able. They were hopeful of the future. A pessimist was one who found a difficulty in every opportunity, whilst an optimist was one who found an opportunity in every difficulty. He thought Patea people were optimists. Whatever was good he wished them in the future. (Applause.)

Mr. Waimvright then thanked all those who luul spoken and called upon Mr. H. Locker. to light the (10 candles ja the handsome birthday cake. ■ Mr. Locker, before lighting the candles, spoke in a reminiscent vein of the early days of the Methodist Church in-'Patoa, and referred in 'appreciative i terms to the work carried out by the late Mr. Smith, father of Mrs. E. A. Adams, and other early settlers, \ Mr. Locker then lit the CO candles, which were then blown out by Miss A. Boagey. Mr. Waimvright mentioned the-fact that Mr. Locker was the oldest settler in Patea, and the first white child born in the town. r Mrs. K. A. Adams then cut the cake amid applause. v During the evening items wore rendered by the following; Mrs. Ingley,* Miss Lithgow,, Miss W. Mills- (Ha-' w r cra), Mrs. and Miss Masters, ;Miss Munro, Mrs. Lithgow, Mrs. Corbett, ■Miss Metson, and Miss O. Adams, all if which were greatly appreciated. A ' daitity supper brought a , very memorable evening to a close. Before the gathering dispersed, on the motion pf the Eov. W. H. Wilson, a .very hearty v6te of thanks was aecorclcd those Avho had assisted in the programme. .

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE METHODIST. CHURCH IN PATEA.'

The following brief account of the history of'the, Methodist Church in Patea, is taken from the supplement of the ‘Patea Press’ of Monday, October 12, 1931: The work of the Methodist Church is indissolubly bound up with the early mission work among the natives. Before hostilities broke out with the Maoris wonderful work was being 'accomplished by William Naylor, the emancipated slave, the Itev, M- "Bkevington, Rev. Worm, Bey. Win. Hough, Revs. Stannard, Win, ,Kirk, and W. J. Watkin. On the outbreak of war in 1868 Mr. Watkin had to abandon his work and retire to Wanganui, things being at a standstill until'the appointment of the Rev. T. G. Hammond, the wcll-ku.owu Maori scholar and, linguist, in 1887. Mr. Hammond eventually gained'the confidence -of the natives and did splendid service amongst them for many years. In 1900 the Rev. R. Haddon was appointed to assist / Mr. Hammond, and later on, when Mr. Hammond had'loft the district,, ho and his son, the Rev. 0. ,T„ Haddon, carried on the mission work among the natives. The old parsonage, a twostoreyed building, is still in existence, the timber in most of the rooms being as good as when they were built. The following is a list of the ministers who have had charge of the district:

1873-187 i): Rev. T. F. Reeve. Rev. .T. Law. 1877-1880: Rev. P.. W, Fairclough. 1880-1883: Rev, J. A. Luxford. 'IBB3-1886: Rev. W. L. Salter. , 1887-1901: Rev. F. G. Hammond. 1901-1903: Rev. W. J. Oxbrow. 1903-1905: Jlev. E, D. Patchett. 1905- Rev. A. J. Reed. 1906- Rev. J. Thomas. 1907- Rev. E. Somerville. . 1909-1911-: Rev. E. Duncan. 1911-1913: Rev. J. H. White. 1013-1916: Rev. G. Bridgman. . 1916-1923: Rev. Wm. Watson, 1923-1924: Rev. N. P. Larson. J. 924-1926: Rev. J. W. BaylissT 1926-1928: Rev. J. F. Tulloch. 1928-1931: Rev., C. Aker. 1031-33: Rev. J. Common. ' 1933: Rev. W. H. Wilson.