TEA MEETING.

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 47, 26 April 1884, Page 2

TEA MEETING.

On Monday evening last a tea meeting 1 took place in the Wc«leyan Church for the purpose of welcoming the new minister, the Key. T. J. Wills. The attendance was rather s nnll, owing 1 , wo doubt, to Ih? short notice eiven of the intention of holding same, whereby many were unable to be present through prior engagements. After justice had been done to the abundance of good things provided, and the tea things had been cleared away, Mr H. Buttle took the ch.iir and gave out a hymn. Prayer having 1 been offered, the Chairman then addressed the meeting, welcoming the new minister, and said : Ho regretted there was not a larger gathering on the occasion. Briefly referring to the meeting that was held two or three weeks previously on the occasion of Rev. Mr Marshall's leaving them, and he went on to say that the success of the year upon which they had entered, would greatly remain with themselves. He thanked God for past successes, and looked hopefully forward to the future. Those present should remember it was the duty of the reorle to help their pastor. There had been a great deal done in the past, but there was yet a great deal still to do, and a great deal of sin to be cornbatted. Mr Buttle concluded by stating that owing to important business requiring his attention he would now have to leave the meeting, and called upon Mr Lavery to take his place. After another hymn the new Chairman called upon Mr Ilott to address the meeting. Mr Ilott, on behalf of himself, the congregation generally, and especially the ladies, warmly welcomed the Rev. Mr Wills. He said he specially mentioned the ladies because being Leap Year there was no doubt they would give him a good deal of work to do. Four or five marriages in t:ie week just passed, showed plainly that the gentlemen had received a little stirring up lately and quite time too. He hoped their new minister would quickly establish himself a favourite amongst the ladies and have them on his side, they would prove valuable and important assistants in every good work. The speaker went on to say both himself and wife loved their little church, and had spent many happy Hours within its walls since coming to Te Aroha. They also loved the Sunday-school, and were greatly interested in their classes. Too much importance could not be placed on tne work amongst the children, and that was why he was so interested in the Band of Hope. Teach the children to have nothing to do with strong drink, and carefully instruct them in the grand old truths of the Bible and you were doing a noble work, the good results of which must be felt, both now, and also far more in later years, when these children would be taking leading parts in the affairs of life. With regard to their new minister he believed he was a man fully consecrated to the Master's work, able and willing to labour actively amongst them, and there was ample work for him to do in this district. One sowed and another reaped and no doubt Mr Wills whilst sowing himself would .dso reap from the good seed planted by iiis predecessor. Mr Stephenson, a missionary of some four score years, next gave a most interesting address. He stated that "he came out to labour amongst the natives with some others in 1835, they then worked in conjunction with John Wiiiteley, a missionary, who was afterwards s .ot by the natives. He dwelt for some time on the ruin and degradation the introduction of strong drink had wi ought amongst them. In 1835 he attended a great temperance meeting, the Hrst ever held in New Zealand, at which some 800 to 1000 Natives were present. These, seeing the ruin rum was working amongst them, called that meeting, to which they invited the missionaries to see what ecu Id be done to stop its circulation in their midst. They did succeed in stopping it but only for a time The white men insisted on bringing it, and said they could get timber and other produce for far less by means of and for rum than in any other way. He concluded by saying he was glad to join with those present in welcoming the now pastor, whom he knew was full of zeal, and would faithfully deliver tln j Gospel message to, them. Mr Devey next addressed the meeting. Ho referred to the first arrival of Mr Pinfold amongst them, ami the difficulties he had to contend with, the almost impassable state of the roads. &c, at that period, ue also referred to tne first starting of the church, to the successful Sunday-school recently started at Waiorongomai and other work. He was followed by the Chairman, Mr Lavery, who said he was, as all who were first on the field were aware, the first to move in the matter of getting a church and a minister at Te Aroha. He well remembered the state of the roade at that early period, when it would take a day to walk a few miles. The present pastor would have a better time of it in that respect, as coniparat vely good roan? had been constructed since t'len. The Chairman then went on to say the present circuit was too large for any one minister to properly look after, and con sidered Paeroa should be constituted on. circuit and Te Aroha another. He concluded by saying he had not been taking so active a part as he might have don of late, but perhaps he would now try to do more in the future and assist thei new minister. Tho Rev. Mr Wills, on being callei upon, sai I : For several reasons he wa '.•lad he had be<*n appointed to tin Upper T.ia,iK'& Circuit. One was tin. he came as successor of the Ro\a M.

Milrslinil, of whom he had formed a very high opinion, he had s. en and known ;v yood dea 1 of him, and the more he saw him the more he ioveil him. He knew Mr Marshall had lahonred earnestly •imongst them, and tie expected to .see tie result?. Another reason he liked his appointment Was, heeanse his old Friend Mr William Johnson was here. He had received milch valuable, assistance from Father Jo.mson — as they were wont to call him — in another district, and much regretted to find he had just removed to the Thames. Again he was i?lad they had Mr Henry Buttle as Circuit Steward ; he knew him for two 01* three years, and thought they could not have a better steward, one who would •ibly attend to the duties devolving upon him. He was agreeably surprised by the tea the ladies had got up on the pre* •^ent occasion to welcome him, and thanked them warmly for it. The speaker went on to refer to the necessity for the individuals forming that church to get quickened themselves, if they were to see a year of successful work. Let us all have ou. own hearts put right and everything removed that would prove a hindrance to our usefulness. He felt assured their Chairman was going to help them very much henceforth. What was wanted was that every soul be filled with the spirit of Christ, with the desire to see God's work prosper* God's message wa«, " Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts ; if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." He concluded by saying he rejoiced to know the good progress the Band of Hope and temperance cause generally was making in this district. It was a noble and grand cause to be working for^ the greatest on earth next to that of the, church itself. Hearty votes of thanks having been proposed by Mr Ilott and Rev. T. J. Wills, and seconded by Mr Kipley, to the ladies, the Chairman, and to Mr W. Ashby, jun., for kindly presiding at the harmonium, the meeting was closed with prayer.