October 1943 Parish magazine

REBUILDING CAMPAIGN

In any great enterprise there comes a day when bold, courageous action is demanded. St Matthew’s Day was such a day for us. Since the earthquake we have built up the fund, waiting for the day when we should make a great appeal. For fifteen months we worked steadily and then on our Patronal Festival we made the great venture. We have come to the decisive stage of the campaign. At the services the Archdeacon launched the campaign, speaking in the morning from the text, “Launch out into the deep,” and, in the evening, from “Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.” So we nailed our colours to the mast, believing that parishioners would not fail us. That all may know what was said on that historic occasion, we print the substance of the sermons.

LAUNCH OUT

Over three-quarters of a century ago a small band of settlers arrived to found what is now the town of Masterton. They had a hard task carving homes out of the bush and wresting a living from untried fields. But there was a wonderful spirit in those early pioneers and they were sustained by a faith in God which was true and deep. Hardly had they established their first rough homes than they met together--just a few sturdy men and women, poor in this world’s goods, but strong in faith and determination--to plan some House of God where they could meet for worship and inspiration.

So the first St Matthew’s Church was born--a symbol of faith which has inspired those who have made our Empire great, a sign that no matter how hard be their lot, or how desperate be the early struggles to turn a wilderness into farms and homes, yet our people will never be content until, in their midst be a Temple worthy of the Most High--a House of Prayer where men, women and children can meet together and find solace and inspiration for daily life.

Many years have passed since 1956, when the Rev. Wm. Ronaldson first came to this area; many years have gone since those early settlers erected the first church in Masterton, but from that day until the earthquake of 1942 there has stood in this community a building called by St Matthew’s name and through the years that building has played a noble part in the great and growing life of this district.

This Patronal Festival takes us right back and links us up with those early pioneers. They knew anxious days of unrest and war; they knew a desperate struggle for survival; they had claims upon them which would have daunted lesser men and women. But they launched out--they knew the material struggle was not all--there was a spirit in man which could reach out to the heights, and that spirit symbolised and invigorated by the Church they built sustained them day by day.

We, too, are faced with a hard struggle--different from theirs, but no less vital. We have many claims upon us, we have known a moment when our very existence, hung humanly speaking, in the balance. But we know that the pioneer spirit is not dead and we at home can prove it as they did, for we, too, must build--build a church worthy of this great parish, fit to enshrine the noble traditions of those who have gone before, and of those who now on land and sea and in the air, fight that our Christian heritage may not disappear from this earth.

Today, we launch out into the deep, calling everyone who has in him or her the splendid spirit which has characterised the noblest of our race, to take part in an intensive campaign, culminating on Christmas Day, which has as its immediate objective the raising of £4000, and its ultimate goal the erection of the new St Matthew’s.

A few Sundays ago I was coming over from the Vicarage. Girls and boys were playing about just before Sunday School and a little lad of 7 or 8 came running up to me: “Mr Rich,” he said, “I’ve been looking at the heaps of bricks. I don’t like them. If there hadn’t been an earthquake I could have looked at the church, couldn’t I?” And then, quite spontaneously, he put his little hand in mine and looking up into my face with a wonderful look of expectation and simple trust in his eyes, he said this: “When can I look at the Church again?”

When? I was deeply moved at that revelation of what these ruins meant to the little children. I came into this building and determined that, God helping me, I should do my part. Whatever other motives moved me, I remember how Christ loved to have the girls and boys round him and i could not fail that Child of God.

When can I look at the Church again? When--you can tell, you can answer that little boy. You can, if you have an imagination at all, feel his little hand come creeping into yours, you can see his eager look of expectation, his absolute, beautiful trust in you.

Launch out into the deep. Surely we shall not fail: we shall be ready for any sacrifice that God’s House may be built.

PRELIMINARIES

Before the intensive campaign was launched much had to be done. The fund which started from nothing had reached, including promises, the sum of £6000. The Plans Committee had a long meeting with the architect. Our Church must be big enough for the parish. There is no room for extravagance.

We must have sufficient seating accommodation. Then the Vestry had to face the question as to how much could be raised. What was possible? The discussion revealed that if the fund could be increased to £10,000 now, then we could plan with some confidence. That sum will not build the Church, but we cannot begin to finalise the plans until that amount is raised.

That is how we reached our hard decision. The next step was plain and definite. When we take that step then we can be sure that God will open out the way to us. Somehow we can always see the next step. Let us take it.

So the appeal went out. The work of preparing the circulars for posting was done by the boarders of St Matthew’s School. But before the appeal went out, the Vestry did something else. They are not the sort of men to ask others to do what they have not done themselves. They made their contributions. These totalled £460. If all follow that example we shall have no debt at all.

Personal work will have to follow. Some is being done already, and not only by members of the Vestry. But do not wait to be asked personally. Show what your Church means to you by your immediate gift or promise. Yes, Government stock and bonds are very acceptable.

Now is the time to act. Please send your donation to Archdeacon Rich or to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale.

GO FORWARD

The Archdeacon spoke of the position of the Israelites, of how, faced by difficulties and dangers, they had responded to the challenge of God to go forward and had won magnificent and glorious success. Our position was not different. We had come to the most decisive St Matthew’s Day the parish had known. There were many scattered throughout this land and beyond for whom the name of St Matthew’s brought back memories of splendid and sacred moments.

These traditions and these memories did not perish when St Matthew’s fell in the earthquake. St Matthew’s was more than bricks and mortar. It symbolised the spirit of the community and their rich traditions and sacred associations would be carried into the building which would rise above the ruins.

Each generation must rekindle the fires of hope and inspiration. We, of this, have a harder task than has ever been presented to any parish in this land--to build a Church fit to be the spiritual home of this community, the home of rich traditions, preserving the splendour of our Christian heritage for future generations.

Like the Israelites of old, we stand at the parting of the ways. The decision we make today, our attitude to the appeal, our response to this call of God, is going to influence for good or ill the whole future of our Church here. There is much to make our task difficult, just as it was with the Israelites. May our reaction prove our worth.

Go forward to our task. That is God’s command. Go forward! Hard as it may seem, forward in faith, realising that each and every one of us has a part to play. There have been times in the past 15 months when I have felt doubts and fears creeping into my mind and I want to tell you that on such occasions it has been one or other of you who have given me hope and courage. I remember one who wrote to me at a moment when my mind was exercised by the appalling magnitude of the task. He did not know what was in my mind but he wrote this: “ Have no fear, we can do it.” Another said: “We are with you all the way.” Another, a girl this time, to whom before a service I had said something which revealed that I was thinking of the hardness of the road we had to tread, reminded me of something I was in danger of forgetting. “Our faith,” she said, “will carry us through.” Go forward in faith. Who can doubt that that is God’s word to us on the most crucial St Matthew’s Day this parish has ever known.

Today we launch the intensive campaign. We get to grips with our task. May you be the advance guard, reaching out, going forward, in courage, in faith, in purpose.

I am more fortunate than Moses was when he uttered God’s challenge to go forward. He was alone. He also had to inspire the multitude. I am not alone. I have you with me to the limit. The Vestry, ready to a man to play their part, others, outside the Vestry, helping at this moment, every parish organisation consecrated to the task, every member of this congregation ready to advance with “Forward” on their banner as they see today the job that must be done.

“Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.” Forward, then, in good heart, forward to do and dare for God and His Church.

PARISH NOTES

St Matthew’s Bible Classes are holding a dance for their friends in the Masonic Hall on Tuesday, 5th October.

It was good to have such a fine muster of Old Girls of St Matthew’s School joining in the Patronal Festival Evensong. The first lesson was read by an Old Girl and the second by a present girl of the School.

The Ladies’ Guild have fixed Wednesday, 24th November, as the day for their annual Sale of Work. We shall have more to say about this next month but in the meantime all ladies are asked to help in making this annual effort a record success.

Many thousands of bricks salvaged from the Church have been sold recently. About 210,000 bricks were salvaged and there are now 90,000 left.

TAUERU CHURCH

Work has been put in hand on the restoration of the beautiful little Church at Taueru, damaged in the earthquake. Unfortunately the damage was much more extensive than was first supposed, and will be somewhat costly, but all who know St Alban’s will be glad that when restoration work is completed the Church will be stronger than ever.

PRAYER

Hundreds of our people are using daily the special Rebuilding Campaign Prayer. That is splendid. Prayer is a mighty power. By the use of this prayer our whole effort will be deepened and strengthened. It is God’s business in which we are engaged and He will surely bless our efforts.

REBUILDING FUND

How goes the intensive campaign to raise the next £4000? Well, only a week has gone since the circular was sent out, but already the response has started. When the appeal was drafted the total from all sources, including all promises and effective legacies, was £6026. The present position is that the fund totals £5521 0s. 4d. in cash or its equivalent, there are promises (including £500 from Auckland) and legacies amounting to £1025. The grand total is thus £6546. This means that we have made a great start having assured £546 towards the £4000 objective of this vital part of our campaign.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mesdames Stidolph, Eddy, Nuttall, Donald, James. E. M. Wrigley, Davey, 5/- each; Mrs Lewis, 3/-; Mesdames Hill, G. C. Holmes, Bloxam, H. Berney, Hunt, G. Barr, Tildesley, Pointon, 2/6 each; Mrs L Blatchford, 10/-; Mr Cole 1/9.

“Church and People”--Miss Maunsell, Mesdames D. James, R. Smith, 5/- each; Mesdames Creed, Benbow, Messrs Hyde, Dunderdale, 2/6 each.

C.E.M.S.

Keen discussion and a good attendance marked the last meeting of the branch when the implication of Family Relationships on life and work were discussed freely. A large proportion of the members gave their views and altogether it was an outstanding meeting and revealed how when practical problems are discussed against the Christian background solutions can be found. The next meeting deals with the question of “Property” in the light of the sixth and tenth Commandments and raises such matters as public ownership of public utilities, perfect justice, dishonesty and theft. The meeting will be held in the Common Room on Monday, 4th October, at 7.45 p.m., and all men interested are invited.

KURIPUNI NOTES

Successful socials are being held fortnightly in the Epiphany Hall. The Sunday School children have begun practises for their annual concert which promises to be the usual splendid success.

Capt. H. Sutcliffe, of the Church Army, will conduct his first service at Kuripuni, on Sunday, 17th October, at 7 p.m.

CONFIRMATION SERVICE

Never have we missed the Church more than we did for this great annual service. The cramped conditions made it hard for the Bishop, the candidates and the congregation. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful and inspiring service. The candidates were a fine lot--sincere and earnest, the congregation created an atmosphere of reverence which must have helped the candidates, while the Bishop’s message made a profound impression upon all. In spite of handicaps it was a memorable confirmation.

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