The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, 1902. THE END OF THE AQUARIUM.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11738, 16 September 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, 1902. THE END OF THE AQUARIUM.

"Better," said the wise man of old, "is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." Without admitting the universal truth of that proposition, "The People" cheerfully concedes that the fate of the Royal Westminster Aquarium affords an instance in point. After a somewhat chequered career, that institution—for it has, somehow, risen to the dignity of one of the minor institutions of the great metropolis—has been bought by the Wesleyam body, and will be taiien over at the end of January next year, to be concerted into a '"Dhjurch House." That is an arrangement upon which we may legitimately congratulate both parties to the transaction. The Royal Aquarium Cornpuny finally disposes of a property which, for one reason or another, has been something in the nature of a financial white elephant. The Aquarium has, no doubt, found a certain sphere of usefulness in providing a home for exhibitions of all sorts, which have served to attract spectators who would not otherwise have been drawn to the somewhat miscellaneous distractions of the place. But it cannot be said to supply any specially felt want, and its disappearance will not leave the metropolis the poorer by the loss of a place of entertainment that will be very generally regretted. The Wesleyans, on the other hand, will acquire a site which is without a rival among those available. It is curious to note how the religious, as well as the political, life of the nation is finding its centre round the historic Abbey. The Church of England has built her Church House just round the corner; the Catholic Cathedral is approaching completion in the immediate vicinity ; and now one of the most powerful, of the Protestant Nonconformist bodies is about to erect a local habitation for1 itself at Westminster. Shall we not, whatever our religious convictions may be, approve this decision? Will not the Wesleyan Church House, like the Anglican Abbey and the Roman Cathedral, stand for a> symbol of truth that we are all tho children of one Heavenly Father— that, whatever our differences may be, there is but one Heaven for us all? The London "Times" of 24th July devotes a leading article to the Wesleyan Cfcureh, House '

to be erected at Westminster, tho cost of which is to come out of the one million guineas (£1,050,000) Twentieth Century Fund. The scheme is to purchase the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, the figure offered being £330,000. When x>ne contemplates the enormous value of the site upon which the Royal Aquarium stands—within two or three stones' throw of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament —one of the finest in the wholie of me West End of Loudon, it will be seen at once what a magnificent scheme the building of a Church House for the Wesleyan Connexion is. We append an extract or two from the "Times" article

above referred to, which will furnish those of our readers—the Wesleyan Methodists of Wangairu more -especially —who take an interest in the great scheme a better idea of it than we could possibly give—"The saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery has received a remarkable exemplification in the statement whicli we publish to-day (July 24) that the Wesleyan Methodists are negotiating for the purchase of the Royal Aquarium with a view to the erection of a church house and central offices. The Connexion has shown in recent years the most convincing signs of vitality. The vigorous efforts of its prominent laymen have succeeded in completing the million guineas fund for special denominational objects, with the exception of a comparatively small amount; and it was contemplated from the first that part of this huge sum should be allocated to the securing of something in the nature of headquarters. Mr R. W. Perks., M.P., to whom much of the success of the fund is due, explained that there had been some difficulty in selecting a suitable site, and mentioned that the general notion had been to aim at the neighbourhood of Charing Cross. But we can easily appreciate the attraction of Westminster for a denomination which has historical associations with the English Church and makes considerable use of the English liturgy, but which for many years past has been becoming a sturdy rival of the Establishment in the affections of the middle classes It a.pp°ars that the bargain witsh the Aquarium entered its practical stage only on the 18th of thismonth (July), and the details are not yet sufficiently clear for much definite comment. The chairman of the Aquarium Company puts the offer received at £330,000, while the sum allocated from the Million Guinea? Fund is only £250.000. But. it was stated at Manchester that all the site will not be required for the purposes of the Connexion, and what is nob needled will, of course', be a desirable investment from a business point of view. .... But the greatest change in the project concerns Wesleyanism itself. Hitherto its London centre has been the historical site in the City Road, with the associations of Wesley himself all round it; and in a lesser degree it has had a centre in the City offices, of its missionary society. The reoent activities, of the West London Mission, and; to some extent, the personality of the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, have focussed ..denominational attention upon Central London. .... That the Connexion has not got in the immediate neighbourhood of Broad Sanctuary a following that will fill a hall seated for 3000 people is no reason for their hesitating to build it. They have a* least a more solid clientele than the Roman Catholics, whose building operations are far more ambitious." The article closes by observing: "We sincerely hope that their (the Wesleyans') enterprising spirit will not lead them into an artistic rivalry with the Abbey or the Houses of Parliament. They have secured a unique site on a fajnousi piazza, and ■ they must be merciful to the public when they come to build on it." It may be of interest to add just here that at the sitting of the Wesleyan Conference at Manchester on July 23, the executve committee of the Twentieth Century xund announced that £1,041,000 had been promised by the members of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, friends and adherents at Home and abroad, and that the general secretary (Rev. Albert Clayton) said the actual receipts up to date were £900,000 19a 3d.