ANNIVERSARY SOIREE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 45, 2 December 1871, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY SOIREE.

A tea meeting and soiree to celebrate the anniversary of the building of the Sydney street Primitive Methodist Church, took place on Monday evening last. After the tea, which was liberally provided, and done full justice to, the company adjourned to the chapel. The Eev. W. J. Dean, the pastor, presided, and on the platform were the Revs. Messrs Patterson and West. The Eev. Mr Dean, in opening the entertainment of the evening, stated that he expected Mr J. Woodward would have been present to preside during the evening, but from unforseen circumstances was unable to be present. The audience would be gratified to see on the platform the Rev Mr West and the Rev Mr Patterson. As for himself he could not but feel grateful for their services of the past Sabbath as well for their kindness in being present that evening. This, no doubt, would also be a pleasing circumstance to those who had assembled, because he was sure there would be more pleasure in listening to their addresses than to any he could himself deliver. The Rev Mr Buddie had also promised to attend, but had been prevented from doing so. They might experience some disappointment at not seeing so large a staff of speakers as they had expected, but if they had assembled with right feelings, no matter who the speakers or their number, they would find that they had not assembled in vain. The Rev. gentleman then proceeded in an address on Christian labor and Christian unity, after which he called upon Mr G-. Carson to read the annual report of the work accomplished by the congregation during the year, appended to which was the balance sheet, which showed that the congregation had become a self-supporting one, and had ceased to receive assistance from the Home Mission Fund; that about £SO of the Building Fund had been

paid off; and that the debt remaining unliquidated was £498.' This being approved by the meeting, the choir sung an anthem. The Rev Mr West engaged in prayer, and afterwards delivered an address, prefacing his remarks by congratulating the meeting on the accomplishment of so much good as the reading of the report proved to have been the case, and argued from that fact that cooperation was capable of achieving any success, as was proved by the results which had accrued from the application of that principle, an instance of which was to be found in the knowledge that it was the work of co-operation that had made the great English nation what she now is. He then dwelt, in a humorous way, on the " vices" of churchgoers — late attendance and sleeping in Church, but a condensation in limits so confined would not do justice to the rev. gentleman's observations. After the singing of another piece, the Rev. J. Patterson next addressed the meeting, and stated that he did not know any place in which the ministers of the different churches were so harmonious as they were in Wellington, where they acted in thorough and hearty co-operation. He also congratulated the congregation on the healthy and prosperous state of affairs disclosed by the reading of the report and balancesheet. He dwelt on the importance of regular attendance at church as a means of helping them forward in their course. By a regular attendance at the House of God, and engaging devoutly in the services there, the congregation existed under a wholesome Christian influence, and exerted a restraining power in keeping them from evil. Resolutions appointing a finance committee for the year : and thanking the ladies for their energetic and liberal attention to the decorations and providing the trays; and thanking the Rev. Mr West and the Rev Mr Patterson for their attendance were unanimously agreed to by the meeting, after which the Benediction was pronounced, and the meeting broke up. Some mention of the very creditable singing, conducted by Mr Carver, and of the excellent acoustic arrangement in the building of the chapel are due. The anthems were sung with a good deal of precision and taste, evident preparation having been made to ensure success. That portion of the wall behind the platform was tastefully decorated with flowers, arranged after a neat design. At half-past nine the meeting dispersed, highly pleased with the evening's entertainment.