OPENING OF THE FIRS CHURCH AT THE BLUFF.

Southland Times, Issue 3364, 2 April 1879, Page 3

OPENING OF THE FIRS CHURCH AT THE BLUFF.

Our Bluff Coresponpent writing yesterday says — The past two days bave been gala days :n Campbelltown and Sunday, the 30th March, 1879, will be long remembered as a red letter day amongst the church going community. The Primitive Methodist Church, which has been in course of /erection since the beginning of the year had been so far completed as to allow of ,its being publicly opened and divine services conducted therein. The Church is situated in Barron street,' and from the fact that it -is the first and only church in Campbelltown, r considerable interest in the openirig has been, excited. It has been generally supposed that it is the most southern church in the world, but this is not the case, as there are, two churches jn the Falkland Islands', and. for riiariy years a church has been in existence on Ruapuke Island, where the Rev. Mr Wohler's has conducted services regularly. The erection df the new church was ' entrusted to Messrs Darling and Forest, who have faithfully discharged the duty devolving upon them, and have throughout finished the^work in , such a manner as, to elicit commendations from all whb have examined it. The Architect was Mr D. Ross of your city who gratuitously tendered his services, and -the building as it now stands will prove a "lasting monument of beauty and redound to his credit as well as to that of the builders, , , x The occasion of the visit of the Rev. Mr Gay from Dunedin to Invercargill was taken advantage of by the trustees of the church, and he was, requested to preach the opening sermons,' to which he kindly consented, and on Sunday morning last the rev. gentleman preacKea'the'firat'sermoii in theTifsE Church m the^Blnff.' The tert. chosen'- was t "I beseech '•you" therefore, .brethren, that .you present your -"bodies .» living sacrifice acceptable unto .God r which is your reason-, able service."*; t A goodly audience .had assembled by the time appointed, and the building,

J measuring 40 x 24, with seat accommodation for over 200 persons, showed that a very large proportion oE.the inhabitants bad cvi- , dentlv attended. y,. ,* In * the nf teriioOtf, the same ' gentlemandelivered an address to the children, which was largely attended, not only by the children, biit by a large number of the parents from* the Bluff 'apd Greenhijls. In the cvcuingjiMr Guy clic-se"- for his text, " Twice a child and once a man," taken from the third chapter of St. John's gospel, and delivered a faithful and impressive discourse, after which a short prayer meeting was held, in which several laymen took a part. " , On Monday, \he ladies of ths Bluff were busily engaged in preparing for a tea-meeting iu --connection, with the opening of the church, which was held in the Athenaeum Haib in the evening. The least that can be said of the' tea meeting is tbat it was a gieat ,snccess, h for which, however, , : thc fact that the ladies had full control was a turticicnt guaiantce. About 230 persons sat down to tea, and after regaling themselves unon the good things provided, a, . number made room for about 50 more yhose; late arrival had compelled them to wait for room. The greatest harmony and good humor existed, and a very enjoyable hour was passed. - . As soon as the tea meeting -was disposed of the inhabitants adjourned to the church, which is situated upon the section adjoining the Athenseum, and before the proceedings began the little building was literally packed. A number of seats were at^.once procured from the Athenpeum and every available space was soon occupied. ' The Rev. MrWard then opened the meeting wich prayer, and the choir sang " Before Jehovah's awful Throne." Mr Thos. ; Perkins was then requested to take, the chair,- and after a few brief remarks called Upon Mr Henderson to read the report which, althodgh a record of dry figures, he had no doubt would prove interesting to the meeting. Mr Henderson then stated that although he had no doubt all present experienced gieat pleasure in connection with the opening of the church, yet the duty which devolved upon him gave him the greatest pleasure of all. - He would not attempt to enter into. a. history Of 'tlie steps taken to get the church built, but would remind them that a great deal of praise -was; due to a gentlemen who was absent from their midst. He referred ,10, the Rev. Mr. Dean, who, in connection with the Mr Perkins, had * initiated the movement, and after a great deal of trouble iv trying to - purchase land had succeeded in obtaining a free grant of the land upon which the church stands from Mr Palmer, of the ifiast Taieri. On the departure of Mr Dean, the Rev. Mr Ward, his successor, had earnestly followed up the movement, and in a short time after his 'arrival steps were taken to have a building erected, the result being the church in which they were now seated. A number of gentlemen were appointed trustees, and their first meeting was held,, on -the 19th August, 187 S. The last meeting was lipid "on the 31s„t ' r March, 1879. Mr ' Henderson then read the minutes 'of the last meeting, in which it was shown that the original amount of the contract was £290 ; extras, £24 ; advertising, £3 7s 6d ; picparation of deeds, ,167/ 15s — making the total cost of the church arid land, £325 2s 6d. To meet this the Invercargill fiiends had subscribed £125, and the same sum was guaranteed by the Bluff, making a total of £250, which, with a few incidental expenses, leaves a deficiency of £80. To meet this the Invercargill friends " had guaranteed a £50, which left "only a small balance of £30 to be raised in the Bluff, which he had no doubt would easily be done. The .trustees had further, recorded votes of thanks I'to fthe Invei cargall friends for theira liberal ity « -in; presenting ''the Bluff church with a set of lamps andthe great assistance afforded in raising the sum required for the building. Also to Mr Ross for his services as 'architect and Mr Sherwill for tbe bell presented. It was resolved to insure -the 'building and to let the seats at a small rate. The trustees unanimously agreed to offer the use of the church to the Episcopalian denomination to conduct their services as formerly, taking alternate services with the Primitive Metho- , dists, the Episcopalians^ to -pay a portion' of the lighting arid* cleaning; - j- The Rev. Mr Ward then commented upon the report in a lengthy speech, and the Rev. Mr Guy : arid Messrs Gorman-aud Perkins addressed the meeting, lhe rev. gentleman giving a very impressive address. Before the terminated the chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Palme i* for his invaluable gift of the land upon which the church was built, and stated that this gentleman had responded to the request for a section of land as soon as it was made to him, and further, had given the choice of position to the trustees. The meeting thoroughly appreciated the kindness of Mr Palmer, and carried ,the vote by acclamation. Votes of thanks were then proposed tb ' the ladies who had piepared the tea, and to tbe chaiiman who had so ably discharged his duties. • The Rev. Mr Guy pronounced the benadiction, and the meeting dispersed, all being .highly pleased with the evening's entertainment. During the evening an efficient choir contributed in no small degree to the pleasure of those present by singing a number of Sankey's choicest hymns. '