JUBILEE SERVICES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17186, 9 November 1926, Page 10

JUBILEE SERVICES

METHODIST CELEBRATION A BIG GATHERING There was a big gathering of Nonconformist ctmrrh members at the Bright street Methodist Church last evening, when tlie final service in rimneetion Willi Ihe jubilee of Methodists in I'nverty Bay was held. The proceedings opened with a community tea, after which a public meeting was held, and congratulations on the juhilee were received from the representatives of other local .congregations. A feature of the celebration was the delivery by the president of the Theological'College, Dr. Laws, of an impressive address on Methodism and church work in general. The public gathering was under the chairmanship of the I'ev. (!. Frost. The Mayor, Mr. G. Wildish, was present, and welcomed to GisIjorne the distinguished! theologian, Dr. Laws. He congratulated the congregation of the Methodist Church upon Ihe attainment of the juhilee, and upon the excellent work carried on in the district during the last, fit) years. Holy Trinity Church was represented by Hie'Rev. I>. .1. Davies, who commented on the fact that religion had many foes to fight in these days. There were so many distractions that people were tending to ignore their duty to their faith, and the churches had a great task before them. The Methodist Church had done a great work in Gishorne during the 50 years since its establishment, and he sincerely hoped that if would be enabled to continue it in the future. Greetings and congratulations were presented by Mr. F. Foote (St. drev's), Rev. A. 11. Norric (St. David's, Kniti, and Ktfox Church, Manga papa), and Bandmaster Stein (Salvation Army). CHURCH INFLUENCE. Addressing the gathering later. Dr. Laws declared that the church still wielded a great influence in the world, and where it, was strong the church was Cod's greatest gift to mankind. l.t had a message which no other institution had for the people. He reminded his hearers that when a man found that his church satisfied his spiritual wa.uts, and uplifted him, it was no good him going round saying that one denomination was as good as another. Pie should show loyalty to the church to which he belonged. The present ago was one of change and investigation. Men were seeking the truth at the roots of the old beliefs, and were thinking out for themselves the problems presented by their religious teachings. The churches must encourages (his attitude, for there was nothing in the teach-' ings of' till) churches that could not be submitted to searching investigation. Socially and politically, the influence of the church was gaining ground, he believed, and he pointed to the greater activity in uplift work and the new spirit of peace which was gaining a hold on the minds of men throughout the world. The churches themselves were tending more towards brotherliness and nuit,ual help than before; they taught the same doctrines, and nothing separated them but the church order. This new spirit in religion must not be discounted, remarked Dr. Laws, who urged that the foundation of life was ethical, and every man must base his life on the ethical teachings and principles. lie prayed that the Methodist Church of Oisbnrne would continue to be a power for good and an instrument through which religion would set up a saving contract with a multitude of souls.