CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 677, 13 June 1914, Page 5

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

A very successful tea and public meeting was held in the Congregational Church on Tuesday lßst The Rev. S. Griffiths took the. chair, and in his opening remark regretted the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Mr J. Boddie, Mr Blumfield, and also Mr Wooderson, of Taumatawaenga,church officials. Mr E. Dillicar, in the absence of the secretary, read the report, and also gave a capital recitation. The programme was varied and moat interesting, and entertained a record attendance, consisting of a couple of male quartettes, "Waiting for Spring" and "The Silent Night," rendered by Messrs Smerdon, Armstrong, Lo Petit, and the Rev. P. Battey. Mrs Cowan sang effectively "The Arrow and the Song," Mr Armstrong "Out on the Deep,"and Mr Smerdon "Anchored," both rendered in a spirited and sympathetic manner. The Rev. Mr Beattfe gave a very earnest address, dealing with Congregationalism from the time of Cromwell. Congregationalism had had a good deal to contend with in past history, and he was glad to say that Presbyterians had stood by them. Criticism and contention was sometimes very good, as it showed that the person or people against whom the contention was, were making themselves felt, and doing much good in the world. Mr Beattie also touched on Italian life, and gave some very interesting incidents of his mission work at Genoa amongst the sailors. His cheif point was the "Brotherhood of Man," all the world over; and he hoped it would be especially strong in Te Euiti amongst the churches. The Rev. P. Battey also followed the same high sriiritual tone bs the previous Bpeaker in dealing with church life and work. The

Congregational Churcb, as everyone knew, was the pioneer, the Mother Church of Te Kuiti, and ought therefore to have all the support and sympathy possible. Mr Battey remarked algj how much he had been indebted to some notabla Congregational writerß, and he sincerely hoped that the brotherly and friendly Bpirit would permeate all the churches. The Rev. Mr and.Mrs Griffiths rendered the duet "A Little Talk With Jesus" very sympathetically. Mr Walsh, at the request of the- chairman, proposed a hearty vote o! thanks to the ladie? who had worked bo willingly, and* also to the singers, which the Rev. Mr Battey seconded, bringing a very pleasant evening to a close. Miss Griffiths officiated at the organ.