Methodists’ Church Anniversary,

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1017, 2 December 1886, Page 3

Methodists’ Church Anniversary,

The anniversary of the Waipawa branch of the Methodist Free Church was celebrated on Tuesday evening by n graand tea and 6oiree, in the grounds of the church and in the church itself. .The members of the church and tlio public generally attended in large numbers, and the proceedings were of a most satisfactory nature. At a little ofter 8 o’clock, Mr Rechab Hardingr, of Mount Vernon, took the chair, by special invitation, the raised dais being occupied by the Revs. J. Edwards (Methodist Minister from Napier), J. Wrigley (Methodist Minister from Woodville), A. Grant (Presbyterian Minister from Waipukurau), and Messrs So wry and Rush. The addresses, which were interspersed by hymns, were commenced by the chairman, who opened the proceedings by sketching the past history of the county, as regarded church matters. He said that to many this was only an anniversary of the church, but there were others who looked back upon the old times, when the Methodists were associated with the early history of Waipawa. He remembered the arrival of Rev. Roht. Taylor, whose devotion to the parish could never be forgotten. From To Aute to Wafnui, and from Pourere to Makaretu did this gentleman’s district extend, and he did all the work and received hut little remuneration. The Rev. Mr While was the next to come, and this divine was often away from home for a fortnight at a time, mixing among the people, and giving his whole energies to the district. During his ministry, the population increased and the denominations began to get their own ministers. The Revs. Mr Irving and Mr Fraser took charge of the Anglican and Presbyterian churches, respectively, but till then, tlie Methodist body did the; greater part of the work connected with spiritual matters. Mr Rush then stepped forward, on behalf of the Secretary and the Treasurer, and read the report, which dealt with the funds for the past nine mouths. The report was as follows : Report op tiie 14th Anniversary of the United Methodist Free Church Waipawa. In submitting their report for the year, it is no figure of speech when the committee say that they desire to express their devout tliauks to God for his goodness to them as a church during the past year. Soon after the j last anniversary, we were unexpectedly de prived of our minister, the Rev. J. Wrigley, J whom we are glad to welcome among us here to-night, and who did good work for our church while on the circuit, and who will I always be kiudly remembered by the Wai- 1 pawa people. However, the District meet i ing, iu its owu inscrutable wisdom, saw tit { to take Mr Wrigley from us, and place him iu [ Woodville, making no provision for Wai- ( pawa, but leaving us to our own de- ( vices, and to manage ns best we could. There is no question that the church has suf- . fered much for the want of pastoral oversight during the past year. We believe that 1 the office of pastor is of divine appointment, r and no church can prosper as it should with- t out one being set apart to minister specially to its spiritual needs. Yet we are thankful n that the services have been kept going as they have during the year, that the congregations have been so good, and that the interest in church matters has been so well sustained. The success of the church has been largely due to the fact that several £ staunch Methodists have come to reside (for v a while, at least) in the place during the j, past year, and these friends have been very v helpful to the cause ; while lay preachers jj from Napier and other places have always been ready to help when they could. The church has never been closed for a single Sunday, except on the occasion of the ; Rev. Samuel Douglas’ farewell, whom we all so highly esteemed, and who so often q helped us in various ways. The fact of a our thus being able to keep the church ti open, amid so many difficulties, is cause for h devout thankfuluess on our part. We owe a jgood deal to the (kindly sympathy and help Q reudered by members of the Salvation Army (God bless them), who have come in great t) force to our morning services. In fact, we . have sometimes had more red jackets than 11 black ones, and wc have had happy times a together. While we cannot always agree r< with their methods, we can but recognise o that they are doing a noble work and are being much blessed in Waipawa. After a [ general review of the year, we gladly thank God aud take courage. In conclusion, the church is fully alive in the importance of of getting a minister, aud that right soon, A meeting has just been held, with this object in view, and wc have no doubt that a minister will be secured as soon as a suitable one is available. In the meantime we trust that every member of the church will do liis best to cause Christian work to progress in our midst. The chief object of our existence, as a church, is the salvation of immortal souls. As a church ‘ wc believe in the old doctrines, redemption a through Christ, repentance, faith and holi- ° ness are and ever must be the three great u steps in the Christian ladder. Loyalty to f< the Book, in an age of disloyalty and seep- ti ticism. May the great Head of the Church r< ever help us to be faithful to our trust, a tl power for good in the place, and to Him, a aud Him alone, shall be all tbe praise. Balance-sheet, from February 23, 188 G, I to November 30,188 G. ]\ Expenditure— P fund (payment on acconnt . ° of purchase) ... ... ... 11 5 0 Timber j* 0 0 Do 3 16 c Oil, &c J 0 0 ° Kaikora Lamps 19 0 Lamps ... ••• ••• ••• } Horse Expenses 3 0 0 Hymn Books 1 0 0 li Chapelkeeper ••• ••• ••• 1 10 0 tl Rent of Kaikora Hall 4 10 1! Insurance on Church ... ... 2 0 0 Printing, A*c... ••• ••• ••• 2 16 0 ]y Sundry accounts (under £1) ... 4 8 G a Balnucc in hand 4 4 10 Total 49 2 7 RECEirTs J Balance in hand last year 5 2 7 Waipawa collections 34 C> 0 ; f Kaikora collections ... ...8 0 3 j Hampden collections 1 13 3 Total 40 2 7 K Tlio Rev. J. Edwards was then requested S 1 to address tlio meeting. 110 said they {i could not tell liow pleased he was to bo there that night, for he know lie was amongst people of good mettle. And they B had a cause of good, sterling worth. Difficulties were good in their way, for without [ them wo never knew what wo could do. j They had worked hard and done remark- ( ably well in the past. He referred to the c Napier church. The members had been q kept going for two years by two good L fellows, and tlio church there would never c go to the wall, until perhaps, it re-united j with the Wesleyans and formed a Wes-leyan-Methodist church. That, he would always strive to bring about. Tney would then lie joined in a mighty army, where were too many sects now, the speaker made a point of the value of work. In London, a movement was taking a strong hold of the minds of the masses, and it | was to the effect that tlio light of man to exist depended on his capacity and willingness to work. It was claimed that men men who cannot work must be provided • for ; but those who will not work, well ho thought the saying was that they should be hung, (laughter), bt 1 ani, even, had said that “ lie that will not work, neither shall he eat. And all tlio b teachings were the same. There was no r doubt that nature gave the best things to y the men who stripped to it. Hives of •> bees were guided and regulated on he <1 principles of the workers haying tlio i supremacy. When the end of tlio world a came, there would be no question of creeds t but the question would he how many good and beautiful things a man had done. He s defined “Work” as follows:—“The ex- 1 excise of strength for tlio accomplishment g

of soino particular end.” He was very much opposed to the doctrine which was held by some people that work was the curse of God on man. He didn’t care about thinking that but for sin, we should all have been gentlemen do-nothings. He didn’t like to think of those who had been horn tired and had never rested since. (Laughter). (The rev. gentleman hero quoted some verses which ridiculed the idea that there was happiness in not working and caused greut amusement). He showed that whereas a man could lift pounds weight in a given distance and time, steam could lift 5G millions. Also that a comparatively small quantity of steel could bo converted by labor into thousands of pounds worth of steel watch springs. This was to shew the value and effects of labor. Even if the results of ones labor were not rcoii by everyone, labor should , be done all the same. lie instanced the i case of the sculptor, who put his beautifully designed work on the top of a steeple. When asked why be put it out of sight of men, be replied that the work was there all the same and if men couldn’t see it, still the gods could. The rev. gentleman spoke for some time, and when tho rddresa concluded, was loudly applauded. The Rev. A. Qraut then spoke, and referred to a slight omission of tlie chairman’s, in the matter of the administration of religion in the old days. He reminded him that the Rev. Mr Shepherd was at the time doing good work in the county. Of course the omission was accidental on the chairman’s part. (Tho chairman afterwards referred to Mr Shepherd in tho highest terms, and said he had no desire to keep from him any of the credit he undoubtedly deserved for bio early labors). Mr Grant agreed that working itself was not a curse, but it was the weary moil and toil that was meant as being a curse He referred to St. Andrew’s Day, and pointed out that the holiday was hardly known in Scotland, where the day was only known by name. He remarked that the origin of saints must have been in the times when religion was not held directly with tho Supreme Being, and when it was thought necessary and advisable to have intercessors. Those days were now past and people held direct communication in their prayers. The Kev. J. Wrigley expressed great pleasure at seeing all the old friends again on so happy an occasion. He urged cooperation in religion as the wisest way to become powerful. Mr So wry spoke of the old days, when he was a resident of Waipawa and when tho church was in its infancy. He also referred to his departure to the bush, together with others, who had since made happy* homes for themselves and had established a church and Sunday school even larger than that in Waipawa. Mr Bryant proposed votes of thanks to the ladies who had assisted in preparing j the tea, to tho organist, and to the chair- | man and gentlemen who had kindly at- 1 tended tho meeting and given addresses. j A most successful celebration of the ' anniversary was thus brought to a close. *