Baptist Banquet - Hastings Anniversary

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1935

Hawkes Bay Tribune - Saturday 29 June, 1935

Early Experiences Related: Foundation and Growth

Reminiscences of the early days of the Hastings Baptist Church, and in some instances of Hastings itself, were recounted to a gathering of over 200 members and friends of the church who gathered in the Baptist schoolroom last night for a banquet which was held as a Jubilee ceremony in connection with the 26^th anniversary of the church and with the silver jubilee celebrations, which were also observed this year. The history of the church in Hastings was traced by various speakers and its growth outlined.

The chairman of the gathering, the Rev. C. B. Boggis, welcomed the visitors from Napier and also friends of the church who were present. Mr Morland replied on behalf of the Napier people.

Speaking on behalf of the Hasting Ministers' Association, the Rev. D. J. A. Shaw mentioned that he was senior minister in Hastings. He had been in the town for the past nine years, during which time he had had the pleasure of meeting three Baptist ministers: the Revs. T. Keith Ewen, E. Nicholls and C. B. Boggis. He was pleased to be able to say that he had always had the happiest associations with his kindred ministers, and he was especially grateful for the help his church had received from the Baptists in various ways. He felt that as the years passed real church union among the various denominations would take place. Baptists and Presbyterians had inter-married and had been very happy in their love, and he could imagine the spirit of love growing and drawing all together, as evidenced in the small union as between man and wife, based on love.

Mr Shaw said that he was afraid that we had so long enjoyed Christianity that we were apt to take it as a matter of course. When our electric light went out we missed it greatly, and he was of the opinion that if the light of Christianity suddenly went out we would realise just what Christianity meant in our lives and what it stood for. We should develop a love for our church. "God so loved the Church that He gave His life for her," concluded Mr Shaw. "It is my ardent wish and prayer that your love for your church may become more vigorous and your love for God stronger, so that your work for Him will progress and become more powerful."

The Early Days

Four old members of the Baptist Church related reminiscences of the church in the early days and mentioned the work of some of the pioneers.

Mr O. R. Bostock, a foundation member, told how the Baptist Church in Hastings had its beginning in 1909. The Rev. J. K. Archer, then Baptist minister in Napier, used to visit Hastings each Sunday afternoon to conduct services in the Oddfellows' Hall. Mr Archer travelled either in a car with Mrs Robjohns, or else in a horse and trap driven by Mr P. W. Lascelles, of Hastings. Later the church was transferred to the Seventh Day Adventist Hall in Nelson Street, and it was while services were being held there that the first pastor, the Rev. H. B. Hughes, arrived. When a few years later it was found necessary to build their own church, which was erected in Karamu Road on the site of what was once a swamp, at a cost of £400. In 1916, after services had been held in the King's Theatre for some time because of the large congregations, the church was able to be enlarged to its present size, this time at a cost of £2000.

Mr J. Fear spoke of the pioneering work of the early members of the church, and mentioned a few people who especially had devoted much time and effort in the church's cause.

Mr P. W. Lascelles mentioned the value of the choir-masters and what a great deal the church owed to them.

Mr R. Barley, the fourth old member to speak, told of the hospitality of the early church members.

The Rev. C. B. Boggis, present minister of the church, said that the Baptist Church in Hastings to-day had been made possible through the thought and vision of the early members, and he hoped that the future would be ns prosperous and as progressive as the past. He hoped that the Hastings Baptist Church would ever be described by the Lord's own words: "A glorious church, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, a glorious church." He hoped that each member of the church would not be merely as one to be counted, but as one to be counted on. That, he trusted, would be their resolution for the future.

Greetings From Union

The Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, secretary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, brought greetings from the Union and also from the Missionaries' Society. The Hastings church, he said, was one of the infants of the Union, as it was through grants from the union that the church was started in Hastings and was able to carry on. Those who had anything to do with the pioneering work of the church and were present, last night had an opportunity to witness the growth of their work to such, dimensions, of which they could well be proud. He mentioned the people connected with the early years of the, church and spoke of their valuable services. He expressed the well wishes of the Baptist Council to the Hastings Church and urged them to practise the words: "Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name."

The history of the church and some statistics were related by Mr. J. Bewley, secretary of the church. He mentioned the first visits of Mr Archer from Napier, saying that he had made "ups and down" in the rides in Mr Lascelles's trap. The first service was held on May 2, 1909, when 35 members of the Napier Church attended and also 35 Hastings people. Often services could not be held because of the weather being too wet. There were nine foundation members of the church; ten years later, in 1919, the number had grown to 101, and in 1929 the number was 186. The first minister was the Rev. H. B. Hughes, who stayed for five years. He was followed by the Rev. H. E. Edridge, for seven years; then came the Rev T. Keith Ewen, for seven years. After him the Rev. E. Nicholls had charge for five years, and now the Rev. C. B. Boggis, who had been pastor for two years. In urging the members to remain loyal to their church, Mr Bewley concluded, by, saying that the church of the future was what the present members made it.

Growth Of Church

"There is not a happier man in this gathering than myself," said the Rev. H. E. Edridge. "I can see around me people whom I have been able to lead into the kingdom of God, and what could make a man happier than that?" He missed many old faces, and mentioned many people who had been staunch supporters of the church, and who had done a great deal to ensure its growth.

Referring to the building, of the present church, Mr Edridge mentioned that often he had donned old clothes and wielded a shovel or pushed a barrow, and he felt that the men were interested in him. In that way God used him to help to win them, and he was thankful for it.

To demonstrate the growth of the church, the speaker mentioned that invariably at the early church meetings, when asked if there was any further business, one member, Mr C. Riggs, would say, "Yes, we want some more hymn books." "And we did, too," said Mr Edridge, "for our congregations were growing all the time."

He congratulated the members on their present minister. They had a man who was preaching the old Gospel, a man with a big heart and a big soul. It was up to the church members to stand behind him, and if they did, the church would leap ahead in the work of God. "Be the men and women which you know you ought to be in your own hearts," he said.

In wishing progress and success in the church, Mr Edridge said that the seven years he had spent in Hastings were the happiest of his life, and he and Mrs Edridge experienced a great thrill to be among them all again, for they could feel that they were loved by the Hastings folk.

Mr J. R. Thorp expressed thanks to those who had worked so hard for the success of the function.

During the evening a number of songs and a violin solo were given. A prayer and the singing of the Doxology concluded the evening.