METHODIST UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 270, 7 April 1913, Page 8

METHODIST UNION.

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL CELEBRA- , TION. LARGE AND EARNEST GATHERINGS. Yesterday was a historic day in the annals of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, marking the consummation of union between the Methodist and Primitive Methodist churches. The new church will henceforth be known as the Methodist Church of New Zealand. The local celebrations commenced with a united service in the morning at the Whiteley Memorial Church. The building was filled with a congregation augmented -by visitors from all the various churches m the circuit. The preliminary portions of the service were conducted by the Revs. J .\V. Burton. R. J. Liddle and H. T. Peat. Sister Florence, who was trained for two and a half years in the Methodist Deaconess's House at Christctiurch, and who has spent a year as probationer at New Plymouth, was ordained by the President of the Conference (Rev. S. La wry) to the full work of a Deaconess. Sister Florence has won golden opinions by her work among all classes of the community, irrespective of creed or station. She was presented by the Superintendent of the Circuit (Rev. J. W. Burton) and in response to a request from tlie President gave a brief but interesting and moving account of her call to this work, in which she stated that the claims of the poor and distressed had made such an appeal to her that she felt she must offer herself for this sphere of service. The President delivered an earnest and practical charge to both the newly-ordained deaconess and the congregation. He reminded Sister Florence that she might have disappointments in her work, but that if she realised her service as being done for Christ's sake, she would have unfailing inspir-

ation. In his remarks to the eongrcga-, tion he emphasised the fact that Sister Florence was their representative. When her eyes were seeking the needy and fallen,' they were standing for the eyes of the congregation. The cry of distress, which would often enter her car, was an appeal to them, and they were to minister to the poor and destitute through her hands. It was their duty to make Sister Florence feel that she had behind her their sympathy and support, but this must not absolve them i from personal effort, by which alone, they could keep in personal touch with both the distressed and with God. At the conclusion of the service the Sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered to between three and four hundred communicants. In the afternoon in the Theatre Royal | there was a massed meeting of the Methodist Sunday Schools throughout the circuit. The body of the Theatre was almost filled with scholars and teachers, representing some twelve schools. In the gallery there was a large com pan v of parents and friends. Well-known children's hymns were sung and an address, was given by the President of the Conference. The crowning service of the day was that held in the evening in the Theatre, which was crowded to excess, manv waiting at the doors before fI.SO u.in. for admission. The stage was filled with the United choir, of nparlv 100 voices, under the leadership of Mr. G ,H. White, with Miss E .Buckmnn at the organ and Mr. A. V. Carbines at the piano .The openin" oxcersises were conducted by the circuit ministers, aud the sermon was preached bv the President of the Conference, who took for his text Matthew X., 37, 38, 39, and delivered a most forceful and direct appeal to men and women to make the supreme sacrifice of life on the highest altar. The preacher was listened to most attentively and his words could not fail to leave a deep impression on the people present. After the Benediction was pronounced the 'United' Choir rendered very effectively the Hallelujah Chorus. The celebrations will be continued this evening by a United tea meeting Jit 0 o'clock and at 7.45 there will be a public meeting in the Theatre, presided over by His Worship the Mayor. Short addresses will he given by various ministers representing other churches and by prominent laymen, interspersed by musical items.