PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOCIAL MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 388, 23 April 1880, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOCIAL MEETING.

The anniversary social meeting in connection witb tbe Presbyterian Church, Akaroa, was held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Wednesday evening last. The Hall presented quite a cheerful and elegant appearance, the tables being laid out very tastefully, and decorated with some choice flowers which had been kindly provided for the ocassion by various friends. But flowers were not tbe only attractive things on the tables. It was by no means a Barmecide feast, for they were abundantly loaded with supplies of good things. At half-past six tea commenced, and thanks to the large Bize of the hall which enabled 130 persons to be comfortably seated at the tables at once, and the indefatigable attention of the ladies wbo presided, all the visitors, young and old, were. " filled with good things "in about an hour. At 8 o'olock the proceedings of the evening commenced by tbe Chairman (liev. Mr Douglas), giving out a hymn commencing with " Lord thy glory fills the Heaven." The>Rew J. Hill, of Lyttelton, having engager! in prayer,—

The Rev. Chairman said he was gratified to see such an excellent attendance at this, their sixth annual gathering, and to sre that there were many friends of other denominations present. He regretted to have to apologise for the absence of some whom he had expected that evening. The Rev. Mr Cairns, who bad lately arrived from England, would not be able to be present; also their neighbour, tbe Rev. Mr Melntosh, and an accident which had occurred at Little River would deprive them of the services of Dr Guthrie.

The speaker then ' proceeded to give a brief report of the Chinch during tbe past year. Services had been held in ten different places. The congregations numbered 300 in tbe aggregate. There were GO communicants. Three Sunday schools were in operation witb thirteen teacheiv. He regretted that as yet no. library was attached to these schools. This was a defect which he hoped to see rectified. The total contributions received had been £321 as against £319 in the previous year. This was exclusive of what had been raised for the missionary, amounting to about £50 for six months, including £25 from the Church Extension Fund.

The Rev. gentleman then tendered his thanks to the various committees whose compact organization and steady work had brought about such a satisfactory result to the Sunday School teachers, and to those ladies and gentlemen who assisted in the musical arrangements and concluded by a few eloquent remarks as to the objects of the Christian Ministry. Mrs Wilkins and Mrs Miles here played as a pianoforte duet, Meyerbeer's grand march from " Le Prophete." The Rev. Mr Gissick next addressed the meeting, dwelling on the hardships of a missionary life on the Peninsula, and, the depressing effect exercised by the existing wide spread indifference. A song, (" Whip poor Will"), was then contrilmted by Mrs J. Aylmer.

The Rev. H. Stocker, in response to tho Chairman's invitation, then gave a brief address, selecting as bis theme, Christian Minimis. He combated sonic'

of the stock arguments used against them and maintained that their success had been great, quoting some statistics relating to India in support of this assertion. Miss C. Dalglish then gave a pianoforte solo.

The Rev. J. Hill, of Lyttelton, who, e»n coming forward, was received with cheers, said that it gave bim no small pleasure to revisit Akaroa, a place of which he had most pleusing recollections, both on account of the great beauty of the scenery and the great kindness of the people. Living in such a lovely tspot he did not see how they could be otherwise than kind. He was glad to have another opportunity of witnessing the beauty aud experiencing the kindness. It was also a source of pleasure to him to come and manifest the feeling's of a brother to their excellent friend Mr Douglas. That gondeinan occupied a prominent place among their hardworking ministers. He had .stuck to+.is post long and well, and were he to leave it, it would' be extremely difficult to replace him. He was entitled to the full sympathy of his brethren, and to .all the encouragement they could give. him. *lle (Mr Hill) had come down that night at no sm dl inconvenience to himself to give him his sympathy and encouragement, and, so far aR he could be the channel, tho sympathy and encouragement of the Presbytery of Christchurch.

He regretted to learn that there waa still a debt on tho Manse, but churches could not but be influenced by existing circumstances. He would recommend the Committee to entrust the clearing this debt to the hands of the ladies. They all knew that the ladies were great hands at contracting debts, but they were also" very good at clearing off debts. In _act they were good at anything they set their minds to.

He was glad to see the friendly spiritwhich existed between the various denominations in this place. He hoped the days were gone by when minor differences would cause members of different denominations to stand aloof from one another, while the great world of wickedness was lying around wholly uncured for. From all their churches there ought to come forth a wholesome Christian influence. New Zealand needed it in every respectsocial, political, and religious There was nothing in the world more wonderful than influence. The electric telegraph and telephone were wonderful inventions, but what were they compared to influence? Influence extended, not for hundreds, not for thousands, but for millions of years—indeed, to all eternity. The Christian, influence of which he spoke should first of all make itself felt in the home and family. The young people who filled their homes with happiness and glee were not mere-playt-hings. Tbey were beings on the threshold of an endless existence. One day they would fill the places occupied by his hearers in society and tlie Church. __ach of them would become a centre o£ influence for good or evil, a blessing or a curse to the world. How important it v_as, then, that the Christian influence of congregations should penetrate the home and family. • But beyond the circle of the family far and wide the influence of Christian congregations should extend. A country could not prosper without exports.. Well, the Church must export Christian influence—vvhsit the world has not. The worm* would send in return persons—metf and women as imports to the Church. ' Let them see to it that their congregations were fountains of influence. There was no one who had not influence, fe was degrading to say otherwise, lie might not have money, position, or talent, but he possessed influence in spite of himself. The nature of this influence depended on the state of their hearts. One of their Queens had said that at her death the word ■• Calais" would be found written on her heart. In like .manner let religion be stamped upon their hearts. With one thought more he would conclude, and that was as to the responsibility they were each and all under as "to the right use of their influence. As surely as' the vapor rising from the sea would be' absorbed by clouds, so surely must they all go back to God, and say how th_y had exerted their influence. Let them see t/> it that they should go back with an account which should bring from His lips the blessed words—" Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Applause.) After a few remarks from tho Rev. chairman—

Mrs Black sang a beautiful musical rendering of those well known lines -by Mrs Hemans, commencing " I hear thee speak of a better land." In response to an enthusiastic encore, the lady gave another exquisite sacred piece entitled " He wipes the tear from every eye."" Mr Douglas said that in the absence of some who were expected, he had been obliged to fall back on some externpomers Mr Nicholls would kindly give a reading; The reading was very well received, and afterwards Mrs J. Hay played a piece, entitled ■■ May Flowers." This eliciting an encore, tlie pianist gave a plaintive' piece called " Eventide." The next item on the programme, a vocal duet between Mrs Aylmer and Dr Guthrie, had to be omitted, owing to the absence of tbe latter, and Miss Conned then played a beautiful fantasia ori the, air " Home, sweet home." .. ..

Mr Douglas then made a few reTnarks in which he congratulated the younger portion of the audience on their orderly behaviour.

A hymn was sung, and diction being pronounced by the " Rev. Mr Hill brought the proceedings to a close.