LE BON'S CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TEA MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 74, 3 April 1877, Page 2

LE BON'S CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TEA MEETING.

Le Bon's Bay was the scene of great activity on Good Friday, on the occasion of the Annual Congregational tea meeting being held there. The pretty little chapel was tastefully decoiated with the beautiful leaves of the fern, which gave it a most striking effect, and appropriate texts of scripture ranged round the walls directed tho mind from the created to the Creator. The ladies, to whom every praise is due, had provided all manner of good things for strengthening the inner man, preparatory to the intellectual feast, which followed. The chapel would by no means held the number of visitors at once, but with two relays, and supplying a number under the canopy of heaven the difficulty was overcome, and everyone was satisfied. The tea being over, the tables and pro-

visions were cleared away and preparations were made for the reports and addresses, which passed a most enjoyable evening. In the temporary absence of Miss Dolinnann, Mr. Morey presided at the harmonium, and the proceedings were opened, by Kinging the rousing hymn of Sankey's, '• Hold the Fort"; after which Mr. Iteece engaged in prayer. By this time the choir made their appearance, and with Miss Dohrtnann, accompanying , on the harmonium, sang with beautiful ei&ct, "Letthe Lower Lights be Burning." The Chairman, Mr. Baniett, gave a most appropriate opening address, referring to the satisfactory progress the cause had made, and the great prospect o£ the little one becoming a thousand. He also read the balance sheet, which shewed v most satisfactory and praiseworthy state oil the finances. Mr. iteecc followed next, and in an earnest and eloquent speech, pointed his hearers to the groat sin bearer, the Lord Jesus Christ, find also dwelt upon the progress of the church. Mr. Baniett then made an explanation of the reasons which induced them to start a Cause in Akaroa, after which he called upon the choir for a hymn, when the meeting was favoured with that pathetic and beautiful one, '' Down the Valley of the Shadow I must go." Mr. Morey then gave an affectionate and pleasing address, dilating on the necessity of being prepared at any moment to render an account to God. The choir then favoured the meeting with a beautiJinl anthem, which was Kstened to with marked attention, and here, we may say, the way in which they sang the pieces allotted to them, spoke highly of iheir capabilities in this respect, and spoke volumes of the "training they had undergone for this occasion. An address on " The age we live in," was delivered by Mr. Black, contrasting the migiiiy empires and religions of Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Egypt, and Home, with the progress of the religion of Jesus, and of the mighty conquests it achieved and was destined to achieve. The anthem " How beautiful upon the Mountains" came next. Mr. Turvey then delivered a very practical address on the great topic of salvation, which was listened to with great attention. The vote of thanks to the ladies who provided the eatables and to the choir were carried by acclamation. Mr. lleece then referred to the projected departure from them of Miss Dohrmann, of whose prairie he spoke in eulogistic terms, and assured her she carried the best wishes of the district with her and conveyed to her their regret at losing her valuable services. The meeting then closed with the benediction, when everyone departed, having enjoyed to the utmost the meeting. Several visitors were present from Akaroa, and were treated with the utmost kindness, Mr. and Mrs. Barnett, especially, doing all in their power to make everyone happy, and found their efforts attended with great success.