ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETING AT MEANEE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1128, 23 September 1871, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETING AT MEANEE.

Yesterday evening the fifth anniversary of the Presbyterian Church at Meanee, and the induction of the Rev. W. McGregor, was celebrated by a tea meeting in the Church. At half-past six, the hour appointed for the meeting to begin, the attendance was rather thin, but it increased considerably after the proceedings had commenced. Ample provision was made for the guests, and justice was done to the good things provided. The tables having been cleared, the chair was taken by J. Wood, Esq , who gave a brief address of an introductory character. He said he had hoped to see rather a better attendance this evening—something more like the former gathering of this kind in the same building, when the debt was wiped off. One object of this meeting was to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Church, and another to welcome the Rev. Mr McGregor to his new field of labor. Mr McGregor was as yet an untried man; but they could feel confident that lie was fitted for the posi tion he now occupied when they remembered that it was through the instrumentality of the Rev. P. Barclay that he was appointed to this district. Mr Barclay had shown himself in many respects a good friend to the Colony, and no one knew better than he what kind of men were required for the Ministry in Hew Zealand. In proof of this he would read a brief extract from Mr Barclay’s pamphlet on “ Church Work in Hew Zealand,” in which lie combated the idea that any kind of minister would do for the Colonies, and said that the colonists could fully appieciate the best ministers the Church could send them. The third object of this meeting was not mentioned in the programme, but was none the less real on that account the promotion of social intercourse. This celebration was not confined to Presbyterians or gny other section of the Church —it was one in which every Christian could join, for, as Mr Barclay had well shown in ire pamphlet already quoted, the Churches did not meet as rivals, but as fellow laborers in the great work which lay before them. (Applause.) An anthem was here sung by the choir.

The Rev. "W. McGregor «aid he had come amongst them as a stranger, but he did not wish to make himself strange to them. It was his desife to become one of themselves. Five years ago, when Dy Cairns of Melbourne had desired the students to bear in mind the spiritual needs of the Colonies, he had expressed his willingness to go, and when his studies were completed he was asked at once to accept the position he now occupied. He could not say why he was in this place more than in any other —he could only recognize the guiding and directing hand of God, which had brought him here He came as an ambassador, and would look for their Christian forbearance and kindness to bear with his many faults and weaknesses, in inducting him to his duties, his brother Mr Morice had said to him, " You have come far from your native land, my brother, and you will meet with many trials and difficulties; but put your trust in God, and He will enable you to overcome them." With this reflection he would comfort himself, and whatex er difficulties he might encounter, he would not complain. One thing he entreated of this congregation —from Sabbath to Sabbath let him see them in their places in the House of God. Nothing was more encouraging to a Minister of the Gospel than this, and nothing was more discouraging to him than to preach, week, after week, before empty pews. A great responsibility lay with the present generation in this new country —a responsibility perhaps greater than that of any nation in the old world— for in the hands of this generation was the making and moulding of the future of the land. Every nation desired to be great in the sight of others ; but there was only one way to attain this greatness. Politicians might count their ships and their armies, and with them gamble away the fate of a nation, as Napoleon had done ; economists might look to commerce, with increasing wealth and worldly

prosperity; but the Minister of the Gospel knew that it was righteousness alone which could exalt a nation. The secret of Britain's greatness was this—that the influence of the Bible was in the hearts of the people. The present time was one of intense restlessness, in which old things seemed tottering and shaking. The Bible way attacked, both within and without the pale of the Church We looked with amazement upon the theories of materialism and rationalism promulgated around us. We might well be amazed to find it taught, and without a shadow of proof, that the ancestor of mankind was some .sponge or shell-fish, gradually developed into a thinking and reasoning being. We might blush for the so called philosophy of modern days when we looked back to the theories of heathen philosophers. They at least were wise enough to look for the origin of reasoning beings to a higher reason —to mind, not matter. But, leaving all these speculations out of the question, there was one truth —the centre and pivot of Christianity—which need fear no attack the holy character of Jesus Christ. This truth was eternally secure—its evidence could not be set aside, and its enemies could show nothing to compare with it. With this before their eyes, those who were entangled and inveigled into infidelity had no one but themselves to blame. Let us each endeavor to abide in the truth, and to practice it dav by day. By this means we would do"our duty to the present generation, and leave a rich heritage to those to come, who in future days would rise up and call us blessed. (Applause). Solo by a lady. Mr Kinross felt much gratification in being present at so pleasant a meeting in this pretty Church. He thought it would be well to have a bell added to the building, if it were only to recall the associations of other day*. He was glad to see a countryman of his own inducted into the charge of the district. He hoped the people would make their minister feel so much at home that like a namesake in former time he might say " his foot was on his native heath, and his name was McGregor." (Applause.) Choir : " Pilgrims of the Night."

The Rev. A. Shepherd said lie vould be brief, for the charming music they had already heard and were yet to hear would be more acceptable than any remarks he could make. The arrival of their newly-inducted minister naturally led him to think of the changes that had taken place since he had been in the Province It was now six years since his arrival, and every Protestant minister here at that time had since left and seven new ones had arrived to fill their places. He could therefore speak as the senior Protestant minister in the Province. Six years ago this Church did not exist, and he had held his services in the school-house adjacent. He conducted service at Puke tapu the same day in a shed on a sheepstation, there being then no school house in the district He well reraem bered his ride to Puketapu that day. He was one of a mounted party, and was all unused to horseback. The others went off at a rapid pace, and hi* own horse did the same, despite his efforts to restrain him. At a very sharp turn in the road which he saw- ahead he fully expected his horse and himself to part company, but fortunately a closed gate intervened, at sight of which his horse moderated his pace. His friend Mr Barclay used to say that the eleventh commandment in New Zealand was " Shut the gate." He had often found it very troublesome to close the gates behind him, but the fact that a closed gate had once saved him from what might have resulted in a dislocated neck had since made him very careful in this respect. Since that time he had ridden many hundred miles in this Province, and had preached at upwards of fifty places, besides visiting nearly every dwelling in the Province. The duties of a Minister in this country were far from light, and oftentimes when the spirit was willing, the flesh was weak. In his difficulties he had been comforted and supported by the reflection that he was laboring in the cause of Christ, and he now asked those before him to assist his brother, not because he belonged to the Presbyterian denomination, hut as a Christian minis-

ter; and he knew that all who desired the spread of the Kingdom of Christ upon eanh would bid him God speed, Jesus Christ was the centre of religion ] so far as Christians were apart from, him were they apart from each other, and so far did they exalt their sectaiian differences ; the nearer they lived to their common centre the closer was their fellowship with each other, until all distinction of sect or party was lost; in union with Him. In conclusion, he again wished their newly inducted brother every success, and prayed that the blessing of God might rest -jpon hi* labors. (Applause.) Solo by a gentleman : « Rocked in. the Cradle of the Deep.' 5 Mr T. B. Harding said ho was much gratified to see so many assembled to celebrate the anniversary of the building in which they had met, and which, as they had heard, was free from debt. This was more than could be said of many a more pretentious building, not only in this Colony, but in the Mother Country, and- it was a sign of progress which could not be mistaken. He was pleased to see so many of the rising generation present —the class to whom we had to look for the future of the land in which we lived. The education of the 3 r oung—and especially their religious, education —was a subject the importance of which could not be over-estimated, and it was a matter for congiatulation, that the present Governmeni. of the Colony had awakened to a sense of its duty in this matter. The subject of religions teaching, it was true, was one of difficulty ; bat the difficulty was not insuperable. It was well illustrated by the remark of an American lady teacher. She -was asked if she taught herscholars theology. She replied " No, I teach them religion." Her questioner could not understand the answer, and sought further explanation. She said, " I teach them religion, which is to love one another; not theology, which has taught people to hate each other. 1 ' This was perhaps too forcibly put, but if the term sectarianism were substituted for theology, the reply would have been quite corect. Religious teaching need not go beyond the first and groat commandment, and the second, which is like unto it—on these two hang the law and the prophets. The affections of children were developed before the intellect : if we begun by teaching them points on which we differed, the result would be intolerance and bigotry ; whereas no time was too early to impress on the infant mind lessons of love to those around them, and to their Father in Heaven—and teachings like these could be productive only of good. He had been led lo these reflections by seeing representatives of various creeds: met together with one accord to welcome the Minister of the Gospel who had come among them ; it was a gratifying sign, and it would be well if such was always the case among professing Christians. When he contrasted the state of things in the Church of to day with that of the Jewish Church in the time of our Saviour, he could not but think that with all their selfrighteousness and bigotry, in some respects the Jews were more liberal than ourselves. The Jewish faith was the established religion, and our Lord, whose mission was to make all things new, was Dissent personified—a fact shown by his first miracle—turning water into wine—whereby He showed that His Church was one of spiritual truth as distinguished from natural. Yet we found that wherever He went he entered into the pulpits of the established Church, opened the Bible, and preached from it; and that His apostles were allowed the same liberty. Would such things be tolerated at present *( Seasons of Christian fellowship like the present had a beneficial effect on the human mind—they were milestones on life's journey, whereby we might mark our progress, and from which we might look to the heights beyond. Looking at the progress this Church had made during the few years it had been in existence, we might raise our Ebenezer and say " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Let us pray that so He might help us to the end, and to Him be the glory. (Applause.) Solo by a lady.

The Rev. G. Mob ice said that his name had ber-n put down both for a speech and a reading. He contidei^

this more than his share, and had decided to forego the speech. He had listened with great pleasure to the remarks of the speakers who had addressed the meeting, and trusted that what they had heard about Christian charity and the education of the young would not soon be forgotten. The reading he was about to give was specially suited to the young, of whom he was glad to see so many present; and, at the same time, was not without interest to parents. [Mr Morice then read extracts from Mrs Sewell's touching ballad—" Mother's Last Words." The reading was listened to with marked attention, and the Rev. gentleman was heartily applauded at its close.] Choir: " I will Arise.''

The Rev. H. B. Redstone said that among the excellent music with which they had been favored he noticed a hymn, " The Pilgrims of the Night." In the remarks he was about to make he would be brief, or he feared the company might find themselves pilgrims of the morning before they got home. He entirely sympathized with the object of the meeting, which was to recognize the appointment of liis friend and brother Mr McGregor to his important office. He would remind them that the success and comfort of their new pastor would depend very greatly on the conduct of the congregation. Like the rest of them, he had human passions, sympathies, and frailties, and must at times have his seasons of depression. This would be the case though lie possessed as much coinage as the prophet of Horeb, for even Elijah, after a signal display of the Divine power and glory, felt inclined to lie down and die. Tn addition to ordinary trials, ministers had to contend with difficulties and temptations peculiar to their class, and they greatly needed the .encouragement of their congregations. The true minister of Christ felt that he had an arduous task, and he could have little lazy time. To divert men's attention from things earthly and visible to things spiritual and unseen was no easy task, yet it was what, the minister must endeavor to do. The human soul would go anywhere rather than to the Saviour, and but for the influence of the Holy Spirit would never seek Him at all. Difficult as the minister's work must always oe, it was made more difficult by unreasonable persons. If their favorite dish was not always brought forward they would leave the service dissatisfied. Some thought the minister should be equally acceptable to rich and poor, educated and illiterate; which, especially considering the varieties of men's mental organization, was an im possibility. Some liked plenty of poetry, others logic, others philosophy. One man would complain of the absence of doctrine, another wished for practical religion, and did not care for doctrine, while a third would not be content with anything but experimental religion—the preacher's own inner life and feeling. He could not please all, and Jus own religious experience could noi be expected to apply to all in his congregation. Regular attendance at worship was a great thing; for no minister, however talented, could preach well to empty pews. One way to strengthen the minister's hands was to let him know when they derived any special benefit from his preaching; it might serve to cl ear him when depressed and discouraged with the thought that lie was laboring in He was only one man, and his work was more than one could do ; but with the aid of his people it could be accomplished. Lot his congregation co-oper-ate with him ; let them work while the day endured, and the blessing of the Lord would be upon them and their minister. (Applause.) Solo by a lady : " Lord of all power and might." Mr JR. Grigg, in a few remarks, briefly contra--ted the thriving village in winch they were now assembled with the uncultivated waste he had seen it when he passed twelve years ago. He hoped it would continue to progress as it had done, and that Mr McGregor's labors would be rewarded with ample success. (Applause). Choir : »* Jerusalem the Golden."

The Rev. Mr M'Gregor proposed a vote of thanks to the choir, who had pome from Napier to assist in the evening's proceedings, to the success of

which they had so greatly contributed. He also moved a vote of thanks to his brother ministers and the other gentlemen who had addressed the meeting.— Both votes of thanks were carried by acclamation.

The Eev. Mr Morice moved a vote of thanks to the gentleman who had so ably tilled the chair, and who had spared no pains or trouble 1:0 make the gathering a success —The proposition was heartily responded to by the meeting. Mr Wood laving briefly acknowledged the vote, proceedings were closed (shortly after 10 p.m.) by the benediction, pronounced by the .Rev. Mr Redstone