Anniversary Social.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 2

Anniversary Social.

The Te Arolia Anniversary Social in connection with the Wesleyan Church, was hold in that Church on Wednesday evening last; Mr 11, Buttle, Circuit Steward, in the chair. There was a good attendance,ilre building being comfortably filled. The proceedings commenced punctually at eight o’clock by all joining in the singing of a hymn, after which Rev S. Lawry, resident mini.-ter, engaged in prayer. The Chairman next addressed the meeting, and in the course of his remarks said : The occasion on which they were met together that evening was an important one. Reviewing the"past year, he thought they had cause for much thankfulness for tho measure of blessing and grace bestowed. They lntd, however also, in looking backward to see wherein they had failed ; and to ask : Tins that success followed the efforts put forth that ought to be looked for. He felt bound to say they had not done all they ought. When one looked around and saw the amount of work to he done on every hand, surely it should make them endeavour that no opportunity be lost. Looking forward now to the future, however, he hoped and believed there was a bright horizon, and that as a church they would have richer blessings, lie felt great pleasure iu seeing present and welcoming amongst them that evening ministers of other denominations —Rev Mr Evans (Church of England); Revs T. A. Norrie and C. Worboys (Presbyterian). The following programme was then gone through :—Anthem, As the Hart Panteth, Choir ; annual report, read by Rev S. Lawry; song, Beautiful Dream, Miss Hirst; address, Rev F. G. Evans; anthem, Sing O Heavens, Choir ; recitation, The Teetotal German, Mr Locke ; duet, She Sleeps in the Valley, Miss Allen and Rev S. Lawry ; glee, Oh come all ye Sons of Gladness, Choir ; aildres, Rev r l. A. Norrie; song, Ruth’s Entreaty, Rev S. Lawry ; song by Children (with Chorus by Choir;, Ope tiie Door, Misses Lucy Allen, Alice West, E. Gerrish ; recitation, The Life Boat, Miss Grihble : anthem, Thou Wilt Show me the Path of Life, Choir ; ouet,,Tliis is not your Rest, Misses Allen and West ; address, Rev C. Worboys ; duet (and Chorus by Choir). Enter into Thy Rest, Misses We«t and Allen ; Presentation to Organist (Miss G. Maingay), Rev S. Lawry; anthein, Bless the Loid, Choir ; Benediction.

In their addresses each of the ministers heartily expressed much pleasure at being present and taking part in the proceedings. Rev Mr Evans said it had always been his great wish to be on the very best of terms with all other Christians, no matter what denomination they belonged to. He desired this for two reasons. First, because he believed it was the will of their Heavenly Father that it should be so. The prayer of the Lord Jesus for his deeiples and for all believers shortly before His death was “That they all may be one, as Thou Father Art in Me, and I in Thee.” lie desired this in the second place from a somewhat selfish motive, viz,, on account of the great sympathy, help, and encouragement he received from members of other churches. Of course in all congregations there were some who none on earth could please, who would find fault whatever was done. (Mr Evans here related a most amusing story of one such, who was always grumbling, and saying no matter who preached, “he could have preached a better sermon than that himself’’ ; and how one day the preacher did not turn up, and this person was asked to take, the service ; and his discoinforture when it came to preaching the sermon, as he could not get any further than repeating the text a few times—lt cured him of his fault though). He referred at some length to the need of S} r mpathy between the minister and his flock ; and to the need of united earnest prayer for God’s guidance and blessing on the work. Rev Mr Norrie in his address said the Te Aroha Wesleyan Church was built about the time he was first stationed atTe Aroha, and he had always been on the most cordial terms with that denomination, and also with the present minister of that church, from whom he had experienced hearty sympathy in his work. He congratulated them as a church in the past, and most sincerely wished them God Speed for the future. He was very pleased indeed to see the sympathy and good fellowship that was manifested that night as between the various denominations. For himself he could say he was always ready to give the right hand of fellowship to every sincere follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. He would like to see more prayer amongst the people for their ministers, and a more general desire to be diligent in attending the means of grace. Rev Mr War boys remarked there could be the greatest amount of Christian unity without any surrender of the distinctive doctiines of the several denominations, with respect to certain views the} - each held. They were all working for the one Master, with the one great object in view of winning souls to Christ, and they ail had a great work to do. The one great thing they all needed was a richer baptism of the Holy Ghost. It was f( r this, j

tlit* blessed Lord told the dcseip'es to tairy at Jerusaluin till it descended upon them ; and it was this resulted in those wondrous times of Pcnticost, when in one day three thousand souls were baved. Mr Worboys then touched on the rules o£ the Wesleyan Church, whereby no minister could remain beyond three years in one place at a time, spoke in complimentary terms of the abilities of Rev Mr Lawry, and the great advantage of having a n minister so competent in the matter of singing ; and referring to liev J. Law, who has been appointed to shortly succeed Mr Lawry at Te Aroha, he said he knew him to be a really good man, and a very excellent minister. In connection with the annual report, Rev Mr Lawry said it was customary for a report to be presented on behalf of the Church Trustees; but those at first appointed were now so scattered, this was impossible ; steps were however being taken to appoint a new Trust. On behalf of the congregation and himself, he took this opportunity of returning their best thanks to the lay helpers, who had taken such an active part in the work of the church—providing more than half the entire number of services during the year ; to the Sunday School Superintendant and teachers for their valuable and self-denying labours; and also to the Choir for the very valuable assistance they had rendered. Rres-entation to Organist: The presentation consisted of a handsome 6elf-winding ladies si'vur watch and guard. In making the presentation on behalf of the congregation Rev S, Lawry said : —[First he wished to remark he fully appreciated all the kind remarks given expression to by the ministers of other denominations present on, that evening.] It afforded him great pleasure to make this presentation to Miss 0. Maingay, on. behalf of the concongregation of the 1 Te Aroha Wesleyan Church. Of all who had assisted in the work of the church, none had been more assiduous in carrying out their duties than Miss G. Maingay, as organist. During the three years he had been in the circuit, she had only once been absent from her post ; and besides presiding twice on Sundays, she also played once or twice a week at other meetings in tbs church, at Band of Hope and other meetings, sometimes at the Sunday School, ani in fact was always ready and wi ling to assist whenever her services were required ; and these services were entirely gratuitous on her part, He wished the funds available would have permitted of a much more substantial presentation being made. Rev Mr Lawry then handed the watch and chain to Miss Gertrude Maingay, who briefly expressed her thanks. On the motion of Mr Ilott, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman for presiding, the ministers of other denominations why had attended and taken part, the choir, and all who had assisted to make the meeting such a success. The meeting then closed with the Benedietion.