METHODIST JUBILEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11764, 31 July 1916, Page 2

METHODIST JUBILEE.

SPRINGSTON CHURCH. UNVEILING OF ANZAO AND MEMORIAL WINDOWS. Saturday marked an event in tho history of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, wfyen the jubilee of the Springston Church -was celebrated, and the memorial windows recently installed to the memory of the church's pioneer members were unveiled in the presence of a very large assemblage of the public, and also many who had travelled great distances, including several of the clergy from Christcburch and surrounding circuits. The,first church (now the Sunday school) was opened on July.-29,'186(5, when the preachers were Mr P. J. Garric and the Rev Thomas Buddie. The present church w&3 opened on Easter Sunday, 1873, by the Rev \V. Keall arid the Rev J. Ruller. The ministers of tho circuit have been as follows:—The Revs W. C. Oliver 1870, W. Keall 1871, W. Cannell 1874, J. A. Taylor 1877, J. S. Bmalley 1880, W. Cannell 1883, H. Simmonds 1886, S. J. Garlick 1889, C. Griffon 1892, T. Fee 1897, J. J. Mather 1900, C. Abernethy 1904,. J. T. Pinfold 1909, C. Penny 1912 and W. B. Scott (the present minister). A feature of the programme on Saturday was tho unveiling of the Anzac window to the memory of the soldiers who fought on Gallipoli. The window is a particularly fine work of art, and Is said to be the first memorial raised to the Anßacs in New Zealand. A roll of honour bearing the names of the lad's who have enlisted from the circuit, has been given a place adjacent to the soldiers' window.

The proceedings opened with the singing of an anthem by a ohoir of forty voices under tho baton of the Rev W. B. Scott, and this was followed by a hymn. The Rev Basil Metson offered prayer, and the Rev A. N. Scotter read tho lesson from Hebrews si. 24. The Rev W. B. Scott, minister in charge of the circuit, addressed the gathering, and extended a hearty welcome. Then followed" the unveiling of the Anzac window and the roll of honour by the president of the conference, the Rev A. C. Lawry. This was followed by the National Anthem, tho solo, "The Trumpeter," by the Rev J. W. Bayliss, and special hymns and anthems, and addresses by the Revs A. C. Lawry. "W. A. Sinclair and S. Lawry (connectional secretary). The last-named speaker, who was a resident of the district when the'first church was opened fifty years ago, revived many interesting reminiscences of the early settlers and the church. Mr J. W. Kime offered congratulations on behalf of tho Springs County Council. » 'Mr R. A. Forbes, the builder of tho present church, conveyed the greetings of the Tai Tapu circuit, and the Rev S. E. Hill delivered a short address conveying the congratulations of tho Presbyterian Church. A sheaf of congratulatory letters and telegrams wcr<» lead.

The following is a list of tlio names of pioneers to whom windows were unveiled:—Mrs \V. Mutton, Messrs "W. Lawry, W. Tavlor, J. Gamroack, J. Silvester, It. Wills, J- Marshall, H. Kime and' J. Kim©. The collection realised £2l 14s.

The jubilee celebrations were continued yesterday, when the Rev S. Lawry, connectional secretary, preached morning and evening to large congregations. "Special anthems were sung at both services by the jubilee choir, the evening service taking the form of a musical festival. In the evening the text was from 11. Corinthians vi. 2: " Now is tho accepted time, now is the day of salvation," the same text taken by" the Rev Thomas Buddie, who took the .service on the opening day