Church Anniversary

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 29, 18 August 1885, Page 3

Church Anniversary

On Sunday last the anniversary sermons of tbe Feilding Primitive Methodist Church were preached by F. Hill, Esq., of Napier, to large congregations, th© church in the evening being very full. Last evening the annual tea meeting was held, and was patronised by upwards of 200 persons. Both the viands and the tea, which were supplied by the ladies of the congregation, were of excellent quaUty, and it was very evident that tbey were much appreciated by the visitors. After tea tbe customary meeting for addresses, &c., was held in the church, which was crowded to excess. In fact we do not remember to have seen a larger gathering at any of tbe anniversaries of this religious body. After singing and the usual devotional evercises, tbe pastor of the church, the Rev. J. Clover, made a few remarks, and called upon Mr G. Adams to preside. Mr Clover read a short financial statement, which on the whole was of an encouraging character, showing a little deficiency, for the making up of which, he said, the present occasion had been anticipated. Tbe Chairman made a few very appropriate remarks, and then called upon Mr Hill, the preacher of the previous day. He advocated unity and harmony among church members. There must also be love, this beiug tho sign by which Christ had said men should know they were His disciples. He deprecated indifference in religious matters, which was worse than infidelity, and concluded his neat Itttle address by a humorous anecdote. The Rev. A. C. Lawry, (Wesleyan) of Marton, next addressed the meeting. He said he had not a set speech, but only thoughts of love and words of cheer. If be wanted a text he could not take a better object to illustrate the few remarks he would like to make than the "orb of night" that was then shining, as the church was required to be "fair as the moon." He then proceeeded to draw from this celestial body some very pretty and suitable metaphors. He advocated method in church work, and gave apt illustrations of what this could accomplish. The Rev H. M. Murray, of the Presbyterian Church, made a few remarks. He did not intend to say much, and they must remember that while speech was silvern, silence was golden. He was there chiefly to show his sympathy, and that he was one with them in their desire to do good. Ho spoke of tbe importance of both inward and practical rehgion, and concluded by encouraging the church and all present to further devotedness to the cause of Christ. Captain Condon, of the Salvation Army was next called upon, and delivered an earnest evangebcal address, which he concluded amid applause, followed by a salvation hymn, enthusiastically sung by tbe audience. The Rev. J. W. Worboys, of the Woodville United Methodist Free Church,, gave a very able and impressive address. He pointed out that no argument could convince a man | against bis will, while to be Christly in character would win souls when nothing else would. This gentleman's address was full of point and listened to witb great attention, after which the usual votes of thanks and more singing brought to a close a most pleasant and suo {jjessful anniversary gathering.