METHODISTS AT WORK

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13863, 27 March 1909, Page 7

METHODISTS AT WORK

IN SYDNEY. The aggressive character of the work that is being done iu Australasia was perhaps never better illustrated than it was'last night in Wesley Hallj when the Rev. W. G. Taylor, who has the distinction of being the founder of the Methodist Mission in Sydney, related to a large audience a wonderful story of work —social, religious and philanthropic—which has been accomplished during the twenty-five years of the Mission's existence. The lecture was well -illustrated by limelight pictures, Mr Hardy manipulating ; the , lantern. Mr P. N. Slade, a business man of Sydney, and one .of the foremost Methodist workers there among the laity, presided,.- and both lecturer and chairman were given a v.cry cordial welcome.- Briefly stated, the Svdnev Central Mission in 1884, and Mr Taylor said that at the silver jubilee celebrations, which are to he held in Sydney in May, the Governor-General: of will preside. The Mission is the largest in Australasia., and it has grown from a very small beginning to its- present dimensions. First it was carried on in what was known as the ' York street Church, but it was afterwards transferred to the Centenary Hall, which cost about £30,000. seated nearly 2000 people, but it became unsuitable, and now, through the generosity of the greatest philanthropist New South "Wales has crver known the late Hon. Ebenezer Vickerey—the Mission has the fines.t block of property iii the world. The buildings cover 30,000 square feet, and are seven storeys high, the tipper portion being devoted to the purposes of a residential cafe, run op the lines of the'Y.M.C.A. The hall, Mr Taylor said, seats 2000 people, and it is full every Sunday night, the week-night meetings being carried on in a hall which- seats 000. An orphanage is a prominent feature of the work, and pictures were shown of many fine looking children who had been rescued from the street. lhere are two rescue homes, and the pictures of these, as frell as the results indicated, that they_a re. on the best lines. There is . a seamen's institute, and it is the practice of the Mission to yisit the ships in Sydney at least once a week. In another part of the building is a trianing home for deaconesses, and there are also numerous other agencies. The income of the Mission is between £SOOO and £6OOO a year, and the outgoings are ahout the same. A\ hen e late Hon. Mr Vickerey bought the great block of bifildings lie £26,000 for them, then another to'W for some land at the back, and. after this. some thousands of • pounds were spent in alterations and additions. A good deal of the success of the Mission Mr Taylor attributes to the intensely spiritual and liigh-toned character of the music, and of the other «orkers, both women / and men. it was a interesting tale of well directed effort and for it he was accorded the best thanks of the audience.