PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1921, 17 August 1888, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

» A. tea, concert, and service of song, in •Id of the circuit funds of the Primitive Methodist Church, oime off la the Oddfellows' Hall lmat night, and was very successfully oacried out. Over 250 people were present at the tea, which was oatered for by Mr W. C. Davis, assisted by the bachelors of the Church. A very good array ef the usnal viandß and delicacies was provided, and the tables were presided over by Miases A. and M. Orum, M. A, and E. Addis, M: and S. Jones, and Mrs Davis. In consequence of the large attendance it was fully 8 p.m. before the curtain rose for the concert. Me 0, Bay conducted, and the first item was an overture by an oroheetca of seven instruments. This pieoe wbb lengthy, bat did not greatly tax the powera of the musicians; Mrs Gamb'e followed with "Best," a Bomewhat sombre song, and one which did not show the lady's good voice to great advantage. Mr and Mrs H. G, Flowers' duet, " The Elfin Oall," was sung to Mies fchrubb'a accompaniment on the pinno. The singers were not provided with music copy, which was unfortunate, for the success of tbe piece was somewhat interfered with by this. Miss Bay followed with a song "Away to the Mountains," accompanied by the string band, which greatly assisted in making this piece one of the gems of the evening. Miss Bay sings the words of the song, as well as the notes of the music, a point whioh is too often lost Bight of. "The prayer of the Oppressed" by the choir closed the first portion of tho programme, and the Bev Mr Boothroyd then gave a short speech, thanking all those who had helped in making such a sucoess; of the meeting. The orchestra and choir then gave " Up and Down, or the Pathway of Life," a service of song, written iu the interests of temperance, the readings being effectively given by Mr J. E, Buchanan. The solos were contributed by Mesdames Boothroyd aud Marsden, Misses Addis (2), aud Orum, and Mr Ray, In the choruses the baqa and tenor parts wera quite overpowered by the orchestra, piano, and ladles voioea, this perhaps was caused by the malo voices being seated too far from the front of the platform. Some of the best numbers givon nrere "Dare to b© True," "All honor to the Noble Men," ''Lfcht is breaking," and " The Drunkard's Home," this latter set to the old melody of •• Sweet Belle Mahone " A quartette, " V?hy do you weep Mother," by Mrs Gamble, Miss Ray, and Messrs Bay and Pickford, would have been more appreciated if the voices had blended more happily, and altogether eaoh performer appeared to sing the parts correotly, yet the result to the audience was not Batisfaotory. Tho anthem, " Train up a Child," was well sung, and recitations, illustrative of the subject were well given by MisBBB Orum and Addis. A verse of the « National Antbem " conoluded the proceedings, which altogether were a great eucceis, and the funds of the church should, be materially assisted by the pecuniary resulto of thie tea. and concert.