(From Our Own Correspondents.)

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 1

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

SPRING GROVE,

(From a Correspondent.)

On Friday evening a pleasant social evening was spent by members of the Church of Christ at the local chapel, the occasion being the celebration of the 80th fjirthday of Mr Edward Lewis, who has for so many years occupied the position of preacher and pastor among the country churches. Mr Lewis is a native of Wales, and arrived in Wellington with his parents in 1842. The family afterwards removed to Sydney, where at the age of 19 Mr Lewis became a local preacher. He afterwards associated himself with Dr Joseph Kingsbury and other leaders in the plea for Christians to dispense with human creeds and to take only the Bible as their guide in faith and practice, and the name Church of Christ, not as a party name, but as being the scriptural designation of the believers' assembly. He has occupied the position of evangelist for numerous churches, both in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in the chief centres of this Dominion, and has for some years resided at Belgrove, preaching alternately at Wai-iti and at Spring Grove. In the years of his ministry he has seen that where there was but one church there are now eleven churches in this district, with four permanent evangelists. Regarding all Australasia there has been marvellous progress, the membership being now close on 30,000, with missionaries at work in the New Hebrides, South Africa, India, China, and Japan. After his 61 years of service Mr Lewis still looks hale and hearty, and frequently walks from his homo at IJelgrove to fulfil his duties at Spring Grove, a distance of some eight or nine miles. A considerable number of Nelson brethren came out to the social, and there were also present representatives from Wellington and various country churches. A number of congratulatory speeches were made, interspersed by musical selections, and a substantial cash birthday gift was handed to the guest on behalf of the Spring Grove Church. A liberal supply of refreshments was provided by tho ladies, and all present spent a most enjoyable evening.