CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TOWN MISSION.

Evening Star, Issue 3174, 23 April 1873, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TOWN MISSION.

The eighth anniversary of the above mission was celebrated last evening by a tea and public meeting. The tea was served up by the ladies of the congregation, in the Moray place Congregational Hall; and the public meeting was held in the church. We were pleased to see a larger attendance than at any previous anniversary of this mission, indicating, we hope, an increasing interest in the important work in which the conductor! of this institution, the only one of the kind in operation in Dunedin, are engaged. 'Jhe meeting having gathered in the church, the chair was taken by the Rev. Thomas Roseby, M. A. On the platform, besides the chairman, were Mr James Macfie, agent of the mission; Rev. James Maxwell, Port Chalmers ; Rev, Alex. Reid, Dunedin ; the Hon. John Bathgate ; Mr H, Tewaley, and Mr John B. Thomson. After devotional exercises, the chairman introduced the business of the meeting in a few appropriate observations. The following report was then read :

The committee of the mission desire to ex' press their thankfulness to Almighty God that His good hand upon them has brought the mission to the close of another year. It is a source of sincere gratification to them that Mr Mad • has been spared in health and strength to render to the mission another year’s faithful service. The commmittee have been much encouraged by the readiness of the subscribers to sustain the work. All liabilities have been met, The committee desire especially to acknowledge the assistance rendered by the children of Russell street Sabbath School, in collecting the greater part of the sum required for a recent enlargement of the building. The enlargement became necessary by reason of increased attendance on the school, and was resolved upon at the sixth anniversary of the Mission House, held in the month of September, 1872. The addition to the building has been found a great convenience, and greatly increase* the efficiency of the Sabbath School work. The average attendance upon the Sabbath School at present is about one hundred and twenty-five. Turning to the work of the missionary, there will, of course, be found little of novelty about it. The language of one report might almost be made the stereotyped language of all! The greater part of those whom the missionary visits, while professing to belong to some section of the Church, really belong to none. Their connection with the Church is merely nominal, and the missionary uses his influence in such cases to got them to attend some gospel ministry. It is needless to say he is often found in the houses of the poor; his visits to such art usually welcomed as those of a friend in need. Nor does he go empty-handed on occasions of real necessity. The Dorcas society, ami the liberality of several individuals, enable him to supply clothing to the destitute, and broad to the hungry. The sick and dying are the objects of unremit l ting attention. No less than forty-one cases of jjpath ha ve occurred in the ‘cqurte pf‘ t)jc year’s visitation, Of these he Reports'—- Spme ' I visited regularly for many months, soma only a few times. To all I endeavored to make plain the*way of life.’ Some died in faith; some died apparently hardened in unbelief; some ‘died and made no sign.’” All varieties of character and condition are brought into contact with our brother. It is evident that great prudence, the prudence of holy zeal directed by intelligence and ripened by experience, is neceef aary in dealing with cases so varied. Your committee think themselves happy in having an agent so thoroughly adapted to this woik. Wherever a “ door of utterance” is opened to him in the case of those beyond the pale of the Church, he enters; he speaks of the Sinner’s Friend: Christ the Saviour; Christ the Sacrifice ; Christ the Advocate with the Father. One common hindrance he specifies in his report as frequently occurring in dealing with those with whom he is brought into personal contact, viz—the unwillingness of men to receive the truth taught by the Apostle in the words, “ by grace are ye saved. ” They think they must do something to deserve salvation before they can enjoy it. Especially is this the case with those who have been in the habit of attending the house of God. The discharge of the external formal duty, to the neglect of the “ one thing needful,” doubtless fosters this subtle form of self-righteous-ness. The total number of visits made by the missionary during the year is two thousand and fifty-six. Of those visited were one hundred and fifty-one individuals or families whom he had never visited before. Some of these he saw frequently ; others, not more than once. In visiting the sick and dying he was met with many of whom he had no knowledge; and, bejrpud wh it lias transpired in the course of conversation with them, he knows nothing of the history and cinuumtances of many pf tltyty still. About one hundred meetings have been held by the missionary in the course of the year. And now it only remains for the committee to commend to the continued support of the Christian community of this City this most useful institution. From their own personal and intimate knowledge of the work of Mr IVJfycfie, they can confidently urge its claims. It is a work which appeals l*ss to the world, on the basis of human charity, than to the Church, as a Christian work. Nor is it allowed the Church to excuse herself from taking part in this work, because of other forms of labor which appear more urgent in their immediate relation to herself. “ There is that scattereth and yet increaseth.” The Church that cannot find the means of assisting in some Christian enterprise beyond her pale, will probably suffer from leanness, both material and spiritual, within it. Happy is that Church, and happy those Christians, who remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” The Treasurer’s balance sheet showed the income of the 8 ociety to have been during the year L 212 12s 3d ; the disbursements; LIBB 12s 7d, leaving a balance of 1 23 I9s Sd in the treasmeris hands. After the reading of the report a very interesting statement was made by Mr Macfie, as to the nature and method of his work, in which, along with statements of spiritual necessities, details of physical and material want and suffering were disclosed, which, considering the gene ral prosperity to be seen around, we were hardly prepared to hear ; but which showed in a striking manner the necessity of the mission, and the value to this community of the" >york in which Mr Macfie is engaged. The adoptiop pf the report was moved by Mr Henry Yewsley, who gpftkg in high terms of the importance of the work in which Mr Macfie, the agent of the mission, is engaged, and of his eminent fitness for its efficient and successful performance. He came often into contact with Mr Macfie while that gentleman was endeavoring to promote the material wellbeing of the poor and needy, to whom bis mission introduc d him, and had been struck with the sound judgment and good sense which he brought to the discharge of his important duties. He said Mr Macfie had come here under the pressure of a great trial, but his coming had been a blessing to many. The report was seconded by the Rev. Jas. Maxwell, who said Mr Macfie had referred to his as a common work; but was it not toe most powerful and most important tbmgs

which were most common, and he would he wasting the time of the meeting in endea ▼curing to show that the work of the Town Mission, however common, was most impor tant and valuable.

The report was unanimously adopted, aftei which Miss Webb sang very tastefully the beautiful solo “The Lord is mindful of hi.* people.” The meeting was subsequently addresser! by the Rev. Alex. Reid and the Hon. John Bathgate, being brought to a close by the usual rotes of thanks, followed by devotional exercises.