Methodist Anniversary Tea Meeting.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43384, 5 November 1908, Page 2

Methodist Anniversary Tea Meeting.

At the Methodist Church last Monday evening a large number of supper ers and friends of the Methodist bunuay School assembled, • ft or a hearty tea ha been partaken of, in theadjo.ning schoolroom. The Chairman, the ? cv *.W-£-* Dukes, superintendent of the circuit,, in rising to speak, declared himself unwilling to occupy the attention of his hearers with an address, in view of the fact that he was “ in possession of a u'Ogrammc of fifteen or sixteen boms. • Dear friends,” said the Rev. gentleman, “ I am in possession of a lengthy programme, it would be scandalous of me to inflict a long speech upon you. [ want to speak next Sunday night, on what Sunday schools have accomplished. »Vc shall then repeat the hymns md shall be very glad of the continued help of the friends who helped us yesterday, Mr Dukes .Lhen referred in grateful terms to the kindly sympathy and assistance shown by friends from the other churches, a sympathy all the more apparent whegwe are assured that the teachers and scholars of one school came in a body to the service on the Sunday afternoon, while many others, both young people and friends attended at the other services and at the social. After a hymn had been sung, by the children of the school, the Secretary, Mr Seccombe, came forward to present the annual report and balance sheet. “We are thankful,” said Mr Seccombe “to be able to report a flourishing condition.” The average attendance, Mr Seccombe informed his hearers, was 73, the school having gained more scholars than it had lost during the year. An addition of new hooks to the liberary was referred to, and the figures of the report showed a credit balance for the year just closed. The Chairman then rose to express the regret of the Revs. Cleary and Blair, both of whom were unavoidably absent from the meeting owing to other appointments. The next speaker was Mr Hubbard, the Superintendent of the Sunday School. No one to see Mr Hubbard with the bright-faced members of his flock around him, could doubt that he is pre-eminently the right man in the right place, and the Chairman caused a ripple of meiriment by remarking to the worthy Superintendent when calling upon him to speak, that, he must tear himself away from the little folks by whom he had surrounded himself.

Mr Hubbard like th j Chairman referred in grateful terms to the spirit of unanimity prevailing among the churches in Te Aroha. “I should like to bco all our children going as freely to help other schools,” said Mr Hubbard. He also spoke warmly of the great help afforded by musical friends in the town. He referred at some little length to what the school was doing in the matter of providing the scholars with literature, and said that the ordinary collection of the school did not cover the cost of magazines distributed during the year, owing partly to the other demands made upon the school finances. Thus, the collections taken up on the occasion of the Anniversary were of cons derable importance to the carryiny on of the school work. He regretted the leakage from the school of the older boys and in some instances of tbe older gills wise. The school would have been glad to retain them. _ . After one of those musical items which, t igether with the children’s hymns contributed so much to the interest and pleasure of the evening, Mr Hubbard was again called upon, this time to perform the pleasant duty of presenting Mr Meats with a memento of the school’s regard, for hmiself and Miss Allen on the occasion of their marriage and removal from the district. Mr Mears responded by a speech which wo much regret not to be. able to l'. port in full on account of its. warm appreciative words apd affectionate farewell appeal to the scholars ,of the school to come out on the right side. The distribution of prizes and the carrying of a vote of thanks to all kind helpers, interspersed with more singing by the children and other well received musical items, concluded a very happy evening,