CHURCH MISSION WORK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7244, 27 August 1902, Page 2

CHURCH MISSION WORK.

Mr Holloway's Visit to Masterton.

Tho woll-known and ovor-carnest Secretary of the Now Zealand Church Mission Society—-Mr J. Hollowny—is at present on a visit to Mastcrton in tho interest of tho Society and mission ovork generally. Yesterday afternoon hiphict tho members of tho Gleaners' Union at tho private residence of an interested worker and, in the evening, addressed a small band of mission enthusiasts in St. Matthew's schoolroom, Tho Rev. Mr Earce presided, whilst amongst thoso present was tho Rev. J. H. Sykes (assistant parochial minister) and members of St. Barnabas Association and Gleaners' Union, comprising tho small but nevorthelcss interested body of attendants to hear Mr Holloway's address. Mr Ear<se regretted the fact of so long a journey as 'jf*" that from Nelson being entailed upon the speaker to address so fow peoplo as wero present, but sincerely hoped tho sacrifice would end in much good being done in arousing mission enterprise in Masterton in connection with tho Church.

Mr Hollo way said it was most important for all Church members to see that adequate provision was being made in the direction of first supporting in ita entirety tho work of the Maori mission, when that time camo for it to become their own peculiar burden. For long years tho Church Mission Society of England had supported it out of special funds and grants accruing to them from land possessed and purchased by the Society in New Zealand. This year the peoplo of New Zealand would havo to find some JGB4O, whilst next year a £1000 would bo necessary, as the Church Missionary Society were withdrawing a portion of their money grant tO'fflP-the work in other fields', considering ' the Church in New Zealand sufficiently strong to assist itself somowhat. Though ,*« still retaining to them tho £900 or so of money derived from the Society's possessions in this land, onco tho heritage solely of our Maori people, and therefore entitled to our fullest sympathy and help in mission enterprise among them; about £#000 was necessary for carrying on the work; and considering the Church • Missionary Society had so long supported it and given twenty years' notice of withdrawal of their special funds, it behoved all earnest Church adherents to be up and doing, that the noblo work done by Bishop Selwyn and others, in this fair land, fail not in the objects of its attainment, when many at, present engaged in tho missionary field would have to be re-called owing to a lack of adequate support. There was the Melanesian Mission also, in which Bishop Wilson was the prime factor, and the work in distant foreign lands, China, Japan, India, and Ceylon, not forgetting Darkest Africa, The Salvation Army peoplo were doing good in their Rescue and Prison-gate Brigaie work in New Zealand. Their Self-denial Week meant<& £8000 being donated to them, mostly fro h outside of their own adhelPjte. Could not the Church people support the Maori and Melancsian missions with £2280 if they made the effort to do so. . He trusted everyone who could in any way help would loyally do so. Mr Earee read an extract bearing upon tho Rev. Curson Sieger's • scheme, in which each communicant giving two pence a month, an aggregate of the relative amount required for the missions mentioned was at once assured by the various dioceses. If the Salvation Army, whose membership was not so very numerous, could raise a large sum of money annually, why could not the concentrated efforts of the Church afford similar support to its missions ? The annual sale of work in connection with St. Barnabas' Association was to bo held on the 10th of September, to which end the members were working assiduously.

The Rev. Mr Sykes said that in Canada, also, the Church Missionary Society was withdrawing its support as in New Zea-**-land, considering both well capable of bearing the full burden themselves.

A collection in aid of mission work was taken up, and the meeting closed with tho Benediction.