RICHMOND METHODIST CHURCH.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13653, 19 February 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

RICHMOND METHODIST CHURCH.

THE'NEW ST&TJCTORE. >

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE

(From "The Colonist," Jan. 30.)

Thei foundation stone of the .new Methodist Church at Richmond was laid yesterday afternoon in the presence of a Very large number of people, a large .proportion of whom journeyed out from Kelson by the 1.45-train. 'Those on the i>latform included the Revs. Win. Ready (president of the Methodist Conference), W. Baatmbei-j (chairman of the Nelson district), C. Eaton, G. W. Bond, J. D. Mac Arthur, Messrs. J. Hunt (Mayor of.Richmond), T A. H: Field (Mayor of Nelson), Crs. W. Coleman, H. Croucher, C. Honraan, G. Chisnall, S. Fittall (Town Clerk), J. M. Croucher, A. Shcat (ex-Mayors) and J. Macßay; Mesdaines Saywell, Field, Hunt and Baumber. Th© proceeding© opened with; the sinning of a hymn, followed by a prayer by the Rev. G: W. Bond. The Rev. Mr. Eaton wished all those who had com© to the gathering, especially the "Rev. Mr. Ready, a very hearty welcome. He road apologies from .the Revs. A. J. Carr, J. H.MacKenzie, W. E. Lambert; Messrs. J. &/Price, G. A. Edmonds Slieat (Papanui), who wore unable to attend. He then called upon Mr. Baumber to address the gathering; Mr. Baumber said he wanted to oiler .his congratulations* to the members, and. trustees of the.Church: A dead church decayed, and life. shoved itself in activity and progress; this new building showed that life continued in the Church. Long might it continue, m this Wesley an Church.- He wanted to thank the people for their kind invitation to ba> present. He wanted to remind them that the history: of the. church in Richmond went back to the earliest pioneers. The first-Wesieyang in Nelson came in 1842, tho first Wesleyan service was preached in 1843. and one year later the first Methodist Church was built. Ihe ■Rev. John Aldrodi was then minister at Nelson, the Rev. W. J. Watkin being the first resident minister an 1857. The church, which had since been moved, was erected in 1860 or lbob. Richmond was separated from Nelson in ]881, the Rev. Jns. , Berry, being the first minister. The first marriage in the first church was Matthew Hawkin© Lattlo to Mary Ann Jackson, on October 16 1846, by the -Rev. J. Aldred; the second was Joseph Batey- to Mary Ann WagstaiT on 4 January 16th,-■ 184/. Among the baptisms in the '40's wore the names of Harwood, Jeffries, Garnett Wratt, Best, Stirling, Stone, Wallis. Dodso-.i, Ladley, Haycock. No - doubt some of their descendants were, present at this-function. -.For, many years the Methodist Church was the borne-oi members of non-episcopal churches owing tf> there being no others. Growth ati7l improvement were shown everywhere now. Homes were larger, with more conveniences,'shops and public buiildi:i.'.-:.s wore more imposing, and the Church of God ought not to bo the last building to- evidence prosperity. A ■chiurcli Avas a recognition of God, of our indebtedness to Him. .What was it that was going to build this Church? Not simply money and materials, dud the'skill'of the architect, and the industry of carpenters, etc. . It was.faith that iva ß building tho church—faith in God, faith in the district, faith in the continued growth of the Church. It was the feeling of the need of their cauls' for God. It was the spirit of devotion to the worship, and the. work of Goa. Ho concluded by saying, "May this Church, you build become increasingly a centre of spiritual life throughout this district." * . • :il.4>r.esontation"of a-silver.trp«-eL wk : m:acV to Mr- Ready by the builder and contractor, Mr. W. E. Wilkes. The president then laid the foundation stone, which bore the following inscription: "This stone was laid by tho president of tho conference, the Rev. Win. Ready, on January 29, 1913." Upon it being declared'well and truly laid, the Doxology. was sung. t ' Mr. H. Buttle, treasurer of the boara of trustees, .read the financial state-, ment. Before doing so he said # that two years ago the thought of building a new church was first entertained, but little had been done till three or four mouths ago. The response had been wonderful. The figures were as follows : To cash in bank, £530 17s 3d, outstanding promises (good) £81, estimated additional funds, £88 .& 9d; total £700. The contract price was £809 15s, the architect's fees £40 ss, giving a total of £850. To this must bo added, lighting £20, furniture £20. extras £10; gwing a total of £900. This left £200 to get, and they hop«d it could be done in two months! time! The Rev. Mr. Ready thanked Mr. Wilkes for the presentation of the trowel. He said he had fallen in love with Richmond, with its beauty of landscape and orchards. In gome ways it put him in mind of tho City of the Plains— iChristchurch. The Methodists of the Nelson district should bo thankful to God for the dcliv.erence oi Messrs. Eaton and Mac Arthur for their recent ■acicdent. The hearts and imagination had been strained in the past to do honour to those who h?A won battles for their kingdoms,, but he thought just as much honour should bo done to thoso who had won battles in tlip glory of God, and. who bad' built, churches in ; various p-arts of the world. The Methodists gloried in the- buildings they had erected" throughout the Empire. At Home- they had beautiful buildings Greeted years ago, and consecrated to many noble uses. Only a few months n^o,' at Westrnmstyr, a beautiful edifice was erected at the cost of £350,000. Was this not a great example of noble ,sel.f-sacrifica ? Near that a great Methodist mission hall had ' been erected costing £120,000. Thus tho Methodists had put their hands in their pockets, for a."sum.something like £500,000. Ho was glad that the time had passed for putting up barns. Everybody could KWthat the church being erected by Mr Wilkes would.'-be «'vi erection which would b:> 0 credit to the local Methodist community. The speaker detailed the building of a cliurch at Papatoitoi, in Auckland, in on-? day; and it was 110 to*-. Ho had never felt prouder in his life than When ho had taken a hammer and hammered in some nails. He had preached the first sermon in that church ;md had fait honoured «o to do. Methodi ists could glory in their number®, and many people, were ignorant of th© numbers of the denomination in the world. There1 were 3o,oos>GfiO people connected with! the Methodist Church to-day. The Methodist procession if collected togetnor could eclipse any other procession in the world, being the largest Protestant church. Hie National Cliurch of England had don© r.mit work in England nnd in th'? Dominion, and tho Methodists gloried in tho good the Anglican Church did, but the Methodists were the largest body. The \ Methodists of America put at tho foot of God not lees thai! four millions of money in one year. The glory of the Methodists, however, was not in numbers or wealth, but in the Bible rind nraver book. He hoped that thf row church would be opened free, of'debt. -

A or'-lleo+ir.rj iv-ns.taken np which realifi'ed.£2o 13s 7d.

. Aftotf tlw dosijig Itvmu. {>f{/jrnoon tea w::§ partaken of,"thus'bringing-a most successful function to a, close.