CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, HARDY-STREET.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 6, 7 January 1876, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, HARDY-ST REET.

The Bev. John Beckenham having i been recently ordained a minister, and appointed to the pastorate of the above Church and congregation, the , commencement of his labors amongßt his flock; as jbheir? pastor was celebrated last night by a tea meeting, at which over) two hundred were present. • ; ;. '■"'. ' ; Mrß. Shoet in the name of the church and congregation, gave Mr Beckenham and his lady the right hand : of fellowship, and a cordial welcome' to,' their home, stating that the rev. gentle-' man had been elected to his .position by thy unanimous yoiue of the chureh, and s such unanimity of voice in the selection of a pastor, he yras convinced from: what he knew of the people, meant unanimity of heart. He was sure that the people -off Hardy-street would b'e'' faithful to the pastor who had just been - .-• placed x> ver -•■ themij and his dons intimacy with Mr -Beckenham justified Jiim m saying that he wbuld v be ; loyal tQ the trust " God had placed " 1$ ,him. Doubtless > with such a;favprable^prps.pect before them the future of pastor aqd t people , would be .both spiritually and temporally successful! -~Z ' 7--^ !• Mr. Beckenham feelingly replied to; ; ihe cliurch's word l 6f welcome delivered I '] through Mr Short,,: and expressed f his determination to work hard ipr the ingathering of souls, the spread of thef. Gospel^ the. Pi.osjp'erity of tbe"cause v

hef had esp6iißedjt^cl the growth , ii£_gT&ck- of hys: tH(^)le% He tbanked „ t|em the |£inaly fejehng expressed| | toTOirdst himself ala Mirsj Beckenharjl 1 |Thef^tev. McPl^i^|irom Charles| j ton] addressed t-he meetiDg in one of his;f \ cha^jiristi^aji^haJpjfßpeeches spark^g 1 Jing with humort^ ull of anecdote; yer replete with sound and wholesome advice. •,:'". Mr Maclean Dunn, in the name of s a|large, number of Good Templars,. present,lofiwhich ojder Mr Beckenhain^. was abrotiier, wished the newly ap- ' pointed pastor Q-od-speed. He (Mr Beckenham) had made -himself-pppulaiw with all classes of the community, but ' more -especially, with? the young ; .menf The young men of Nelson of all shades of character spoke of Mr B&ckenham^ as a- "'good fellow," and he fancied it was a good sign for .the future success of his ministry when a young clergyman Was, popular wi|;h jthe -young, iheni -TKe. speaker tlieh pointed out that' the Cbm-* mittee of the .Church had desired to ■substitute gas for kerosine lamps in the lighting of the building, and asked for subscriptions 'on -the s^ott^to, clear ?th*e| cost of the undertaking. Collection^! vwere unknown :in Haydy-^tr^et, but-this was a special occasion, and for a special purpose, and he hoped his appeal would ,be responded to, heartily.. , ....... „. A collection was then taken, which amounted to £§ 10s, the amount necessary for the work. The EevJ'Mr Beckenham , thanked ■the' meeting l for their f kindne is-iin thus. l taking the church out of the difficulty. There was still a debt of £100 on the chapel ; ■ £100. of debt had. been^iped^ off since it came intonGongregational hands and a gentleman had offered to pay £30 of the femainin'g £100 if th'e ; church raised £70 withia three 1 months. , He hoped an effort would bef made. „ Several of Ira D. Sankey's solos and choruses were well sung duribg* the. evening ty the cboirj Mr Percy )Sbejp£; pard presiding at the harmonium:, wii!}!; his.accustomed ability. — Communicated