PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1824, 25 April 1888, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The m mil m ;eting m connction with the Ashbuiton Presbyterian Ctiurch 1 was held m ihe v Oddfellows' Hall last evening. In spite of the very 'nclement weather there was a iarge altoudaute, fully tnree hucdied peiso is sitting down to tea. As is usual at thesj meetings the to'i was of a very bountiful nature, an tibundanc • of excellent viands bci>jg provided by the ladies of tho c ngrtgation. i here were nine tubles presided over by the following ladies:— (J) Mr 3 Rither ford assisted by Miss Oliver ; (2) Mrs A. Orr usristed by Misses Grub, Oir a.d JS. Alcorn ; (3) Mcsdames Shearman and Koeen, assisted by Misses Leggett (2), Scott and Train ; (4) Mrs Church, assisted by Misses Arthur (2) Deut and Dick ; (5) Mrs Williamson, aassisted by Mis^tß Williamson (2), and Miss Saiith ; . (6; Me3dames McKeazia and Uook, assiatei by Miss McKeuzie ; (7) Mesdames John Oocbrane and S. Scott, assisted by Misses Scott and Stringfellow ; (8) Mrs C. Reid and Miss Weldon ; •acheiors' table, Mrs Patterson and Miss Patterson.

Au the meeting held after the tea there was a large attendance, the hall being comfortably filled. The Rev A, M. Beattie presided, and there were on the platform the Beys. Scott, Buttle, Boothroyd, Blake, Finlayaon, and P. ft. Manro. Apologies were made by the Chairman for the absence of the Rev Mr Stewart and Me J, W. Sawle. The meeting haviDg been opened by the' singing of two versea of the lOCkh Psalm by those proasnfc, and prayer offered by the Rev Mr Beattie, the Chiirtnau briefly addressed the meeting, expressing his pleasure at again meeting so many of his frlenda on the occasion of the niath annlversaiy of hfs paßtcrata. Considering the very wet weather the attendance of ouch a large number was especially gratifying. The Rev Mr Blake w&a the next Bpeaker. He delivered a very effective address on •• Sunshine," hia remarks being both appropriate and telling. The Rev E. A. Sootfc, who followed, congratulated his Presbyterian friends on the successful way ia which they carried oat their tea meetings m spita of weather and other drawbacks. ile pourlrayed souio amusing examples of Scottish character, but his addreaa wai m the main directed towards showing that though a person may not be possessed of wcahh siill hs happinesss is all the greater ia obtaining any laudable object of hla deelfa than that cf a man who may be tho owner of thoaaaads and wbo is m a position to obtain all he wants without eilort or self-denial. The Eov Mr jj'inlayson, from tho Mothvonllangitata Presbyterian charge, delivered a short speech of a nature appropriate to tho occasion, but he did no. tako any special subject for his address. The liav Mr Buttle delivered an instructive and amusiog address on the subject of " Church Doorkeepers," illustrated with racy anecdotes. The iiov Mr Munroo, of Sydenham, who was the next ep.-akei, gave an excellent and highly amusing speech, full of anecdote and Scottish humor, keeping the audience m a continual state of merriment He congratulated Ashburton on the advanco which had boeu aiAda Biuce iub time of hia laat visit bore, 10 yoara ago. The concluding addreaa was given by theKav Mr Boothroyd, who m the course of a brief speech reterred to the aunty and good feeling which existed among all denominations here. During the evening a number of musical Beleotiots were rendered m exOiilent etyle by frieuda and tho ohoir. The following is the programme : Mrs Crisp, sjng, "The Children's Home"; Mra P Williams, eoug "The Batter Land"; Mr and Mrs Flower, duet, " Griu-gla ' ; from L* Maßcotte ; Mr Kaeeu, song "Vaehti"; MvP. Williams, song, "The LighihimcO " The choir contributed two gle.s "For tha New Year" and ' ; See Our Oa;s," and two authtms '• Ya ehall dwell ia the Laud " aod "Bat the Lord is Mindful." Miss Kid'd acted as aooumpaniat with her usual efficiency, and ftlr Lamb conducted the ohoir. At the conclusion of the speeches and singing votes of thanks waie aocorded with acclairaation on the motion cf Mr A. Orr to the ladies who provided the tables, on the motion of Mr D. Williamson to the speakers, and on the motion of tba Rev Mr Murroe to the ohoir and singers The benediction pronounced by the Rev Chairman brought a highly successful meeting to a close.