ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETING IN MEANEE CHURCH.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 September 1867, Page 236

ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETING IN MEANEE CHURCH.

The first, anniversary of the Presbyterian Church at Meanee was, in accordance with advertisements in the local papers, celebrated by, a tea-meetiiig held in the Church on the evening.of Tuesday; the 17th;' The day was exceedingly 1 fine’, the best that has* been known for sometime in : .Napier’; opening with a cloudless sky,* and continuing fine to evening, when a rather, chilly wind set in. The attendance, was .very large, the building being crowded, and much the larger portion of those present were ludie.s., .. After tea the.busiuess of’.the. meeting was opened by Mr Wood being voted to the chair. After apologising’for the slight inadequacy of the arrangements, in consequence of the attendance being so much larger than was anticipated, the Chairman called Upon the choir, who sang the anthem, “ I was glad when they said unto me.” The Chairman then read the following:— “ MEANEE ' ciuntCH.- — annual report. •> “ On the occasion of tile first anniversary of the opening of the new Church at Meanee, the Committee of Management deem it fitting, and proper that a statement should be submitted of the position and. prospects of the congregation in connection with the missionary, work generally, in which the Rev. Mr Macmichael has been engaged. “Mr MacmichaclYmission has extended over the’Puketapu, Havelock, and Clive Districts, in addition to the more important District of Meanee. Services,at stated periods have been regularly conducted at those places. Each has contributed in some proportion towards the support of the ministry, but the Committee regret to have to report that, for the twelve months ended May last, only £62 in all was collected towards that purpose. I’ortunately, for that year, £SO was obtained from Home, an allowance, however, of which there is no prospect of a continuance. “ The present Committee took office at the end of July, and they consented that their appointment should take effect as, from the Ist of that month. At that date they considered that there was due to Mr Macmichael, on account of stipend, a sum equal to £IOO. This state of arrears is attributable to various causes, but mainly, perhaps, to the losses caused by the flood, and the dispiriting effect this disaster had upon the population generally.

“ Towards making up this deficiency, it is much to be desired that something may yet be done—that contributions hoped tor in better days may yet,.to some extent, come in; but the Committee are not sanguine of this, and indeed have been under the painful necessity of telling Mr Macmichael that .they see no. prospect, under the altered circumstances of the District, of this amount of arrears being made up. “ They have, however, undertaken to use every effort to pay the stipend for the current year; although, to enable them to do so, they must look for co-operation to the local Committees of the other Districts enjoying the ministration of Mr Macmichael. So far as the Meanee is concerned, they hope that a more general desire will be evinced to take new sittings; and also trust that the offertory at the Church door will be more liberal and general than it has hitherto been. A very small contribution from each person attending Divine Service would yield in the aggregate a considerable sum towards the- support of the ministry. From those whose residence is at too great a distance to permit of their attending Church, but who know and, appreciate the advantages of having the truth proclaimed in the District, an annual contribution will be hoped for, proportioned to the means which God has given them.

“ The Committee are glad that, with respect to the Building Fund, they can give a more pleasing account. Prior to the late managers leaving office, a vigorous effort was made to reduce the debt upon the Church, which, early in July last, was about £BO. A sum of about £6O was collected , in all, which left but a trifling balance outstanding. This has siiice been paid from funds kindly advanced for a short period by the- managers of St. Paul’s Church, and no claims remain unsatisfied. ' “The amount thus advanced was £4O, which will be returnable in three mouths. The receipt of this sum has enabled the Committee to pay Mr Macmichael £25 on account of current stipend, and, as before stated, .to liquidate all claims upon the building fund. “ One or two changes have been instituted by the Committee, which circumstances have pointed out as desirable. First, they have decided upon having service at Meanee every Lord’s Day, and in the afternoon instead of the moruing. They have reason to believe that this arrangement will be more suitable to local settlers and their families, rs well as likely to form an inducement to persons from Napier and other distant places to attend occasionally. This change rendered it necessary that the occasional services held in connection with the Church of England should be conducted in the forenoon, instead of the afternoon, as at present; but the Rev. Mr. Townsend found a difficulty in so altering his arrangements, owing to his having to perform town duty for the time being, and has decided upon h< Jding service at the usual hour at the residence of Mrs. Carr, in the township. He was the more induced to do this from the fact that Mrs. "Carr’s residence is conveniently situated for many members of his Church. These changes will he carried into effect on and after the first Sunday in October. “ The service on the first Sunday in each month will be conducted by the' Rev. G. Morice, of St. Paul’s Church, who, on being applied to, at once agreed to do so for- some time. This will enable the Rev. J. Macmichael to give service on that day at Maraekakaho, and thus extend, usefully, it is hoped, his sphere of labour. “ Mr. Haswell lias kindly consented to conduct the Church psalmody for the time being, which will, it is believed, be the means of effecting an improvement in this portion of the service. “ Some minor improvements have been, and are being, carried out, the. cost of winch, will, it is expected, be chiefly defrayed by the contributions in money or in labour,; of a few earnest friends. The fencing in of part of the Church ground, and the decoration of the desk and rail, are among the number ; and others are in contemplation so soon as the means are available. .

“ In conclusion, the .Committee wpuld express their strong belief that a , peoples without God, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, cannot expect to prosper; and that tlic attendance at God’s house, and the setting apart a portion of his means for the support of the ministerial work, should'be oiie of the first'duties of the Christian colonist. They earnestly hope that settlers in this and surrounding districts will, in -this matter, be of the same belief sand be prepared to. act upon it, and that ; the vyork which lias been inaugurated under, so. many, difficulties will; henceforth, under God’s, blessing, go on and prosper, - ” The -choir then sang the i anthem,. “ Mortals Awake”'-’ ■ , . The Cif AfnjiAN also Tead a. letter from ,W. Colen'BO,- J!sq, ? expressing his regret at not being able to attep4, jind enclosing a .cheque farfive guineas; The Bey,. Mr MoßicE was tneu'called uponby the Cliairrnap hand made a few’rehiarks, ■ He said be had'not expected tt> be called vfOft- at so early

a stage of the proceedings, end was hardly prepared. . He referred to, the crowded state of the meeting, and said that with regard to its immediate object it was a decided success; but it could not be altogether a success if it did not to some extent fulfil the higher objectof promoting Christian fellowshipjand brotherly love. [Applause.] Mr Morice (who was suffering from severe indisposition) then resumed his seat. ’< ; The choir then sang, “ Before Jehovah’s awful; throne.” Mr Stables on being called on by the Chair- ' man, said that he was pleased to see so many present on such an occasion.. Such meetings as this were necessary, to bring friends together, and for a time to clear away the cobwebs of business from ■ the. minds of many who were closely occupied. Independently of this, there was a higher interest connected with this—it 'was to assist them in build- : ing up the church of their fathers in the land of their adoption. They might be proud to think i that a church like the present, which had cost about six hundred pounds, was now entirely out of debt, but he had seen eveumore than this accomplished in the Province of Auckland, during the eleven years he had been in the Colony, by 1 “ setting a stout heart to a stae brae.” He was well pleased to see'so many .ladies present, and the j assistance and strength they gave to a cause was well illustrated by an anecdote of a countryman of ; his who resided with his wife in the backwoods of ' America. One day they were startled by the approach of an unwelcome visitor —an ugly grisly bear. John, who was not remarkable for bravery, mounted a ladder which led to the garret, and 1 doubtless thinking his wife would be quite safe be- : low, drew it up after him. His wife, seeing no I other means of escape or defence, took the poker, and when the bear came near enough hit him a hard blow on the forehead, and before he had recovered from his astonishment, followed it up by another. John, hearing the repeated blows, put his head cautiously down, and seeing how his wife was engaged, exclaimed, “ Well done, Jeanie, hit him again ! ” Encouraged by her husband’s assuring tone, she hit him again with such success that in a short time the beast lay dead at her feet. When John was fully satisfied that it was really dead, he cantiously replaced the ladder and descended. As he walked round the huge carcase, he exclaimed, “ What a big beast he is ! but we’ve done for him, Jeanie.” [Laughter.] It was not everybody who knew the strength of the ladies, but such as he (Mr. S.) and the Chairman, could speak from experience. He hoped if there was in future any such gathering as this at Meanee, that they would have a tent and tables, for it was so very pleasant to have the ladies pouring out and serving the tea. [Applause.] In conclusion, he would say that, if the people of Meanee would be true to themselves, they would have a congregation as flourishing as any in the province. [Mr. Stables took his seat, amidst loud applause.] Mr. Martin then sang a solo, “ Arm, arm, ye brave,” from “ Judas Maccabeus.” The Rev. Mr. Macmichael said that the Chairman had only allowed him ten minutes. Ten minutes was time only for him to get properly “ wound up,” bat, as Mr. Shepherd was absent, he should appropriate his ten minutes too. The great principle of all Christian religion was that laid down by the Apostle Paul, in the Epistle to the Ephesians; “ Forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” If this principle was carried out, the Church would prosper; narrow-minded bigotry and dissensions would vanish, and the unity of the Spirit would be “ kept in the bonds of peace.” Wliat was now wanted was a spirit of universal love, which would combine all Christians into one great body, without distinction of sect or belief. Unity of spirit did not enforce unity in external ceremonies, or in belief, but simply the one grand foundation of all Christianity—love of Christ. It was supposed by philosophers that every fixed star was a sun—many of them more bright and glorious than the sun of the system to which the earth belonged. It had also been conjectured that these suns, with all the planets and satellites in their systems, revolved around one glorious central sun—a sun so distant that the power of no telescope had yet reached it. What was, however, pure conjecture with regard to the material universe, was an established fact with regard to the spiritual one, and as all Christians revolved around the one great, glorious central sun, let them “ forbear one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” [Applauss.] The Chorus then sung the solo and chorus, “ Zion.” Mr T. B. Harding was then called on by the Chairman, and addressed the meeting. He said this meeting gave him great pleasure, reminding him of many similar gatherings in ths Mother Country. Intliis country they were far more necessary even than in England, as they brought together people who, owing to the scattered nature of the population, would nardly ever otherwise meet. Persons aloof from others, seeing nothing beyond the limited sphere of their own minds, were apt to grow selfish and egotistical, and were like the child, who knowing nothing beyond his narrow horizon, imagines that the whole world is within his view. He remembered an anecdote of a Chinese philosopher, who was shown in Europe a map of the world. “ Do you call this a map of the world ?” he said, “ Why, it is all wrong ; China occupies the very centre of the earth,-and you have placed it at one of the sides.” [Laughter.] | This gentleman has been brought up to consider [ the earth an extended plain, though not, perhaps, like the Hindoo philosophers, to suppose it to be supported on the back of an elephant, the elephant ' upon the back of a tortoise, and the tortoise—- . upon their imaginations. [Laughter,] There | was no doubt, however, that he returned with extended and fur different views concerning the earth from those with which he came. When our Saviour ( was on the earth, he gave as the two great prin- ' ciples of religion—first, love to God; se’ond, ! love to our neighbor, It was indeed strange that ’ so many ages had passed before this principle j became fully recognised by the Christian Church ; ; and that we see sects and parties each standing on [ their little piece of earth and declaring that it is the whole world. The main principle of all reli--3 gion was love and charity. Let us endeavour to 1 see good and truth outside our own sphere, to [ remember that the two sides- of a shield may be t different, and that one side may be presented to f our neighbor and the other to ourselves. Let us not suppose that the whole of the truth is before ( our. limited gaze, but consider that our neighbors’ s convictions are as well and as reasonably grounded a as our'own. He was glad to see so many ladies “ present. When they took up any cause, it was | won. [Applause.] In the Book of Esdras in the c Apocrypha,' there was related an argument between three young men as to what was the strongest tiling in. nature. One contended that b wine, was the strongest; another more loyal, or perhaps, time-serving, said the king was ; while - the.tliird,the vjctbr,provedthatwomanwas. In b conclusion, lie would say, “Do not despise,the day,of small tilings,” All noble growths were y slow; Christianity had been in existence for 1 eighteen hundred years, and yet it had. not exf tended over tba whole earth; there were still

“ dark places full of the habitations of cruelty.” The question was, “Is it growing?” When the Prophet sent his servant to the mountain to look for rain, six times'he went and saw nothing, but the seventh time, he saw a cloud no larger than a man’s hand, but it spread till the sky’was covered and rain fell in abundance. When the green blade of the wheat springs from the earth, should we despise the day of small things P When the’ young thistle first appears should we despise it because it is small? If we do not destroy it, it will spread, and cover the country. When the first ray of morning appears in the heavens, do we despise it ? No. So it is with Christian charity and love. Let the rays come, and the light grow stronger and stronger, until it brightens out into the perfect day. [Applause.] The choir theu sang the trio. “ Forgive blest shade,” and “ Dismissal.” Votes of thanks were unanimously passed to the Chairman and the choir, and the proceedings terminated at 9'30 p.m.

On the following (Wednesday) afternoon, pursuant to invitation given at the tea meeting, a large number of children—to the number, probably, of 50—and a good many of their parents, assembled in the Church ground. After an hour or so had been devoted to games, they entered the church, where arrangements had been made for exhibiting the magic lantern. Refreshments having been given to the children, the meeting was opened by Mr S. Greenwell, the {Superintendent of the Sabbath School in connection with St. Paul’s, who gave out a hymn, and after wards delivered a short address upon the value of Sunday Schools, and the importance of having one as soon as possible in connection with the Church. The magic lantern was then brought into requisition ; and the exhibition, which was quite new to most present, was a source of great pleasure and excitement. At the close, M r Wood expressed a hope that this would not be the last meeting of the kind in the s»me place, and said that the committee would make immediate arrangements for a Sunday School in connection with the Church, if parents thought they could send their children with tolerable regularity. It, rested in their hands. The meeting was brought to a close by the singing of another livmn.