ST. JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 953, 14 July 1877, Page 3

ST. JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

A soiree to -welcome the Rev Mr Hill, who has recently arrived from the Thames to assume the pastorship of this congregation, was held at the Oddfellows’ Hull, Lyttelton, on Thursday evening. A number of visitors from Christchurch were present, including Mr John Miln, Miss Miln, Mr and Mrs Mameron, Miss Duncan, Mr Dempster, Mr | uid Mrs David Craig, Dr. and Mrs Campbell, Mr and Mrs Andrew Duncan, Mrs and the Messrs Anderson, the Rev. Messrs Horner, Douglas, and many others. The hall was tastefully decorated, and tea was placed on the table at 6 p.m. The tables were provided by the ladies of the congregation and by the bachelors. Mesdames Mackay, Cunningham, D’Authreau, J. M'Donald, H. McDonald, Macpherson, Donald, Crowley, Fergusson, Grange, Hunter, Miller, and Watson, and Misses Grange, Hill, Stout, Grubb, Sinclair, Pitcaithly, Duncan, Reend, Garland, Anderson, McClatchie, JTyfo, Drake, and Bradley presided. The crowd was so great that the tables had to bo occupied several times successively. During the repast some ladies favored those present with music. The flowers on the tables were very good for the season, and most tastefully arranged. After tea the tables were cleared, and a meeting was held. Mr P. Cunningham took the chair, and briefly stated the object of .the meeting. The hall was densley crowded, many being unable to obtain a seat.

The Rev. Mr Douglas addressed the meeting. He said he came there as the representative of the Christchurch Presbytery to welcome Mr Hill. He was glad to see so many present to welcome tJiat gentleman to his new charge, and he noticed with pleasure that they had visitors from the other congregations. The rev. gentleman then spoke for a quarter of an hour on “ Popular fallacies,” and was much applauded at the conclusion.

The Rev. Mr Pergusson, who rose amid applause, next spoke. He said, though he had been connected with the congregation for seventeen years, this was the first time lie had addressed an audience at a tea meeting in connection with their church, and his doing so now showed how important he considered the present occasion. The rev. gentleman then gave a short history of the Presbyterian Church in Lyttelton. He much regretted Mr Elmslie’s absence through illness, as that gentleman had counselled them congregation most wisely during the last few months. They had had great difficulty in getting a minister, but had found one at last at the goldfields. Many went to the goldfields for nuggets and failed to find them, but they had indeed drawn a prize in Mr Hill. [Cheers.] That gentleman had been parted with by his former congregation with great reluctance, but had chosen this as his sphere of action. Mr Hill had proved himself a most able minister, and had done much good elsewhere. The congregation were now more united and in a more prosperous condition than they had ever been hitherto, and this state of things was due to Mr Hill’s presence among them. He (the speaker) had only one duty left to perform, which was to heartily welcome Mr Hill amongst them. (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Hill, who was most heartily received, said he had passed through two extremes recently —namely, parting with old friends and making new ones. The latter was the most pleasant, and he hoped he should make some of these new friendships as lasting as life itself. [Applause.] He was not going to speak about Lyttelton and Lyttelton people, as he knew new-comers made groat mistakes in this way, and he came from a country where they wore proverbially cautions. [Laughter.] He did not think at first that he should like Lyttelton, as the place was so much smaller and less bustling than the one he had left, but, on coming amongst them and knowing them, he could say that ho really liked them and their town. [Applause.] He was glad of the stand Lyttelton people had made with regard to Sunday labor, and was much pleased that they did not look upon this question as a mere matter of sentiment, but in a practical light. He liked their town much in appearance, as it was so picturesque. Besides, there were so many hills, and of course he liked hills. He would do his best to make the Sunday services interesting, and hoped that their present enthusiasm would last. Sometimes there was great interest felt at the advent of a new minister, but it died away. He hoped this would not be the case here. [Hear, hear.] He thought particular attention should be paid to the young and their training, and would endeavor to do his duty in this respect. He was not going to tell them all his defects, but he was near-sighted, and they must not think themselves slighted if by accident he did not recognise any of them at a distance. He thanked them most sincerely for the welcome they had given him. He would do what he could to secure the prosperity of the church over which he had charge, and would endeavor to work in harmony with other denominations. [Loud and continued applause.]

The Rev. Mr Lee, who was warmly greeted, was glad to manifest the interest he felt in a section of the church outside his own communioii. Many regretted there were so many denominations, but he thought it was better to have different regiments lighting the same great battle. [Applause.] He was a churl w r ho could not warm himself at another’s fire. He believed the Methodist Church to be the best in the world, but if there was one thing he detested more than another it was bigotry, and he was glad to see it was passing away. More unity was now felt amongst the various Christian congregations, and they fought against a common foe. They were there to welcome the Rev. Mr Hill, and he, as the representative of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, was most glad to tender him the hand of friendship. In the various circuits ho had met many Presbyterian ministers, and had always found them good friends, and Mr Hill would certainly not be an exception. He was sure that, although, through their inexorable circuit system, he should not be amongst them long —perhaps not more than eight months—yet that during that time he should be delighted to be associated with Mr Hill in works of Christian duty and charity. These meetings were good in drawing people together, and he congratulated them in having a minister whose fame had gone forth amongst the churches. Ho men needed more sympathy and help than ministers, and he hoped they would have sympathy with their minister, and he with them. The rev. gentleman, who was frequently applauded, concluded by reciting some appropriate lines with much feeling. Mr H. R. Webb, as a member of the Episcopalian Church, welcomed Mr Hill. With regard to imparting religious instruction to the young, he was glad to hear that Mr Hill took such interest in the matter. Latterly, lie was sorry to say, all but the Episcopalians had given up instructing (the children attending the Borough School in religious matters in the time allotted on Wednesday mornings. He was very sorry for this, but hoped that, as Mr Hill took such interest in the matter, he would in future iattend to it. He was sincerely glad to welcome Mr Hill amongst them, and hoped he would long live happily in Lyttelton. [Applause.] Totes of thanks to the ladies and the chairman, proposed by Mr J. D, Macpherson and Dr. McDonald, terminated the proceedings. During the evening vocal and instrumental music and readings were given by Mrs Crowley, the Misses Bradley, Anderson, Grubb, Stout, Grange, McClatchie, MeLellan, Pitcaithly, Garland, Master Grange, and Messrs Crawford, (Grange, Yule, AT. B. Allwright, D. Craig, Wolcdge, and Turpin. Mr Rose, the secretary, was indefatigable in performing his duties, and was most ably assisted by other members of the congregation.