THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 520, 17 February 1876, Page 3

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The annual tea meeting in connection with the Congregational Church, and to celebrate the formation of the Church in Christchurch twelve years ago, was held last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Upwards of three hundred persons sat down to tea, which was presided over by the ladies of the congregation. After tea a public meeting was held, at which the Rev W. J. Habens, the pastor of the Church, presided. The proceedings were commenced by singing the hymn, “ Blest is the tie which binds our hearts in Christian love,” and prayer by the Rev J. Buller, Wesleyan minister. The Chairman said that as pastor it behoved him to make a brief statement of the affairs of the Church during the past year. It was not always wise to judge of results by the number of converts, but it was still necessary to state what bad been done. According to their communion roll at the last annual meeting there were 202 members During the last year thirty-one communicants had been added and sis sub tracted ; two had been removed by death ; three had retired from fellowship; and one had taken a letter of transfer to a church in the Old Country. The total number of members was now 227 of whom between fifty and sixty were absentees. After stating the success which had attended the establishment of a mission at Phillipstown,where a church had been formed under a missionary pastor, the chairman alluded to the arrival amongst them of the Rev Brabazon Tooke Hallowes, who had arrived from England for the benefit of his health to labor amongst them. That gentleman had not been sent for, but he (the chairman) verily believed that God had sept him. Looking at the work of the past year, he thought that they had ample cause for gratitude to Almighty God for His great goodness to them. Anthem by the choir—“ They that wait.” The treasurer, Mr Inglis, then referred to a printed statement, which was circulated in the hall, of the financial affairs of the church, and urged upon the congregation the necessity of increased liberality during the current year. The actual receipts for the year 1875 were £1386 6s lid. The chairman said he had much pleasure in calling on the Rev B. T. Hallowes to address them. At the same time he begged to bespeak for that gentleman (who for a time would be their temporary pastor) their sympathy and prayers^. The Rev B. T. pyrawHlßho was received with applausejpla thatMp came to New Zealand purpptog to do seibia he trusted that, under God’s blclijng he rtlould be enahtoi to'clo work which would tell upon men’sjSearts. They should aspect-great things’ from God, and they paust attempt great things for God, beginning in their own hearts. If, humbly trusting in God, they did this, just as their artesian wells were continually bubbling up a supply of fine sweet water so God’s grace would be continually welling up in their hearts, enabling them to work for God and for His glory. Let them remember that those who honoured God He would honour. Let them look to Christ as their model, fix their eyes constantly on him, and they would make but few mistakes, for there were no mistakes in Christ’s character. In imitation then of their Great Master, it was their duty to endeavour to bring the unconverted into the Kingdom of God. If they could do nothing else, they could continue in prayer, and they might r'ly on it that no faithful prayer to God remained unanswered. Ho hoped that he should be encouraged to woik, supported by their sympathy and prayers, knowing that they were engaged in the same work, the work of Christ and of God. Anthem by the choir —“ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” The Chairman, in calling on the Rev J Buller to speak, expressed, in the name o( the meeting, their regret at his approaching departure, and their earnest hope that God would spare him to return once more amongst them. The Rev J. Buller, who was warmly re ceived, said he should have been sorry had be not been privileged to be with them that

evening. After an absence of forty years, God, in His providence, bad opened a way for the execution of a hope he had long cherished, to see the dear o ! d land once more before he died. He trusted that God would spare him once more to return to Hew Zealand ; but be this as it might, he should always cherish the memory of the many acts of kindness and Christian love he had received from his brethren of every religious denomination. He had been privileged to be on terms of intimate friendship with Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and indeed with ministers of every denomination. It was true he was a staunch Methodist, but he interpreted the term “ Methodist” to mean “to do good to all and harm to none,” and as such, although he was going home to represent the Methodist Church, yet in a certain sense he considered himself to be the representative of all the Christian Churches in New Zealand. They must recollect that whatever little differences might exist, they all belonged to Christ, and be should tell them at home that in New Zealand they not only shared with each other the amenities of life but they worked together for Christ. He rejoiced in their prosperity, and trusted that God would pour out His blessing upon them, and that they would thank God and take courage. The Chairman said that he had very great pleasure in calling on the Rev C. Fraser to address them.

The Rev 0. Fraser, who was kindly welcomed, heartily congratulated both the minister and the Church on the success that had attended their efforts, and bade them a hearty God speed. Other addresses were delivered, and the meeting was brought to a close by sinking the doxology, and the chairman pronouncing the benediction.