PRESBYTERIAN SOIREE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1323, 24 August 1886, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SOIREE.

The annual soiree In connection with the Springbnrn and Alford Forest Bra rtf'* terian Church was held in the Springburn Schoolroom on Friday evenlrg. In spite of the inclement natnre of the weather, the master was very satisfactory, m< ra than ICO people being present. The Chairman the Her D. McNeill, In his opening remarKs, referred to the encouraging advance made in the welfare of the Charch in the district. As an evidence of this prosperiiy, he mentioned the fact that since he came to the district, aboat 15 months ago, £47 had been paid off the debt on the Charch- Reserve paddock reducing that debt from £BO to £33. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company had also generously offered to give a. farther sum of £lO as soon as the erection of a charch building should be commenced on the land. Be was pleased tu see assembled so many of his congregation, of which bf far the greater number had waded through mire and mud In order to be present. Later in the evening the Rev Mr McNeill delivered an address on the “ Modern Ball.” He said, as a churchman, be 1 1 ongly objected to dancing on the ground th.t It was net conducive bat opposed t > religions devotion. The Rev A. Blake,- who was warmly received, also addressed the meeting. Ha said that what Mr MoLetll bad stated in reference to the debt on the Springbnrn Charch land showed that through the times were depressed yet the Church in the Springburo and Alford Forest District was buoyant, and he was sure that the day was not far distant where the erection of a Church would be commenced. What bad been done would encourage the people h? put their shoulder to the wheel and do more. Mr Blake said the chief hindrances to Church work were Infidelity and In-difference-infidelity in the form of science had struck heavy blows at religious faith and had tried to subject it to the logic of arithmetical reasoning, bnt infidelity bed failed to convince mankind that It wee anything be’tct than a fraud, delusion, and a snare. The speaker said an old infidel once endeavoured to get a lad to write on his slats “God is no where,” tut the boy wrote ~f3o d is nowhere,” and I science had ott-n tried to make divine truths appear untruthful and had jMt as rign lly failed. 'the rusting wheels of indiff erer ca had a’s < done much to retard lie progress of Christ anity. Opposition might be mot and argued down, but the mass who s : mply acquesced in what was said and who would say “yes” to anything, con’d net su’cetsfully e grappled with, and was as hard to be pierced ss (he adamantine rock. Mr Blake expressly touched upon the necessity of training children in Christian principles by the home firrsde and round the family heaith. It was a duty to mothers to guide the footsteps of their children into the paths o f peoca and the wars of righteousness.

A pleasing ceremony of the evening wag a presentation to Mr James Price, of s Good Rega'ia in recognition of his valuable grrtniu us service t as organist of the Springbnrn Chu cb. Mr Price, in a forcible and failing speech, thanked the donors for their kind appreciston of his services, and for the honor they had done him. An enjoyable tea was provided by tba following ladies ;—Mesdamea McGragcr, Mcßae, Morrison, Polsoe, Rutherford, Stephens, and tho Misses Syme. The following ladies and gentlemen ern'ributed to the harmony of the meeting, viz : -Mias Fymo. Mi?a A. Price, and Messrs Brooks, J. Price, 0. Morrison, Purvis, A, W. Smith, Vinton and Brough. Votes of thanks were unanimously carried to the ladies providing the taa tables ; to the Erv Mr Blake for hla instructive tdiresa; and to aii who had contributed.to the soccers of the entertainment. The benediction was then pro* □ounced by the Chairman and the people dispersed to their various homes The sum realised by the entertainment was n ->arly £9.