PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13728, 19 October 1908, Page 6

PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

AN XI VERS AY SERVICES. Yesterday was an important day at tli-: Primitive Methodist Church, anuiversay celebrations being held. The church w;us nicely decorated for the occasion, there were large congregations, and sermons appropriate to the occasion were preached. The 11 a.m. «iivice was take;; by Mr C. Rudd, of (jreeudale, North Canterbury. Mr Rudd is one of the stamichest tupporters of the Primitive Methodist Church, and is well known as a well read man and a deep thinker. He is vice-president of the Primitive Methodist Conference this year, and chairman of .die Canterbury district. By way of text yesterday morning, Mr Rudd took the words, "In jny Father's hoi-str arc many mansions." He spoke of the present age as one in which men put eveiything in the ciucibie that, they might test it, nothing w;us taken for granted. There was a good dial of understanding as to the verities of Christianity, but many men who judged Christianity and rejected it ,really had no right to set themselves up as judges, because they were strangers to the greatest test, namely, experience. Thj> test. only Christian* could apply. Their \v< re t rut lis in the Bible that men could not get over, the resurrection of Christ being one. The teaching of the Saviour concerning the germ of immortality was another. Added to this was the inherent clinging bv man to immortality. Speaking of " t lie Fathers house," Mr Rudd compared thi-« to the home on earth, pointing out that, just as there was always 100111 for a son or daughter in tlte home of their parents, no matter how long they bad been away, so it was in the heavenly home. The Christian was a member of Cod's familv, and death was really a home-going to him or her.

In the evening there was again i c«:'d congregation, when Rev. J. Olpiiert cealt with the problem of uon-att-.-nd.uice at church; taking his text from 11--bivn"j, 10.25. The retiring President «•:' the Methodist Church had said *-hat 11;-; jxjpulation of the Dominion was 900,000; there was church accommodation for only 585,000; and 'there were nominally 225,000 in church connections. Of the latter there were no doubt 25,000 who claimed census connection with thechurches, but never attended its services. There were thus 700,000 people to work ujion. He -»lr Olphert) thought the position war* noc so bad as these figures seemed to indicate, for the churches generally reported the average attendance, and did not make sufficient allowance for the sick, and infirm, and in attendance upon them. It was difficult to decide whether there was greater laxity in church attendance now than fifteen or twenty yearn ago, for reliable figures could not be obtained. In Timaru the population had doubled in tbe last eleven years, but taking into account the churches erecud iu the suburb.'-, providing for people who used to couie to town, and the new building*, and halls occupied for services, the accommodation had inciea,.ed in proportion to the giowth of population. Among the jea.-oiir' for the comparatively small projKjrtioti of chuich-goeiK among the population, he was inclined to say that tne cliuithes had «t .-uown the fullest sympathy with the toilers in their struggles. It was not the piovince of the pulpit to e*- - t class against class, but it was the duly of the pulpit to cry out against injustice, whether committed by Capital or Labour. Great economic changes were coming and the Church should try to K<ad the iimv< incutright lines, or her influence would be weakened. In Athens Paul failed, although he preached with wonderful eloquence, because of the indifTetem-e of the people, and it was the same in New Zealand to-day. A pleading feature of tli. r-ei vi<-..s war. the singing by Mws Field, a • liri-i. linn l. lady, who is |>os>e«~ed «l a iciv tin. con tralto voice. At th< v morning i vi< c- sh" "There w a C!r<on Hill Fat- Auay." and at tlx? evening MTvice, "Nearer jlv God to Tlk'C." An anthem was a!w» well fung by the choir.