MILFORD SOUREE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 249, 1 April 1880, Page 2

MILFORD SOUREE.

The Wesleyans of this district hold a Soiree iu the Milford Schoolroom on Monday last, for the purpose of aiding the Circuit Church Fund. Tea was on the tables at 5.30, at which iivo relays were supplied with abundance of tea. The very best provisions had liberally been provided by ladies of the district for more than twice the number of attendants. Nearly a hundred people sat down to partake of their hospitality. Tea over and seats cleared away, Rev. Mr Gordon of Termika openod the meeting by singing the 100 psalm and by prayer ; after which Rev. Mr Harper of Temuka proposed, that Alfred Cox, Esq., of Riverslee, do take the chair, which was carried with acclamation. Mr Cox in taking the chair, said—" The right to the position I occupy as chairman of this meeting ia not very clear to my own mind, but the reason of my being here if one may draw a fine distinction is that your friend Mr Harper both, asked and advertised me as tho one to tako tho chair on the present occasion. Now although the occasion of our meeting together on a common jdatfornt is r.dmittod to bo a legitimate may rot be out of placo in me to stalo shortly why I readily consented to come here. It is known to all, that the Sunday work, orgaaized and carried on in this building, has been almost wholly undertaken by those belonging to tho Wesleyan body, the exception being a periodical service held once a month —I understand by ono representing the Presbyterian body—now I belong neither to tho Wes'eynu nor the Presbyterian Church, but to ih« Church of England ; but if to belong to that Church be a sufficient reason for standing aloof from all other prof«-ssiutr christians engaged in a holy work, euch aa convoying religious truth to thg young at Sunday Soliooln, as if» so thoroughly well dune by the represent ativ s of that body in this building periodically,"'* <ben,l say, 1 have lived if darkness, and wit properly understood the teaching of the Church, or rightly ftppbed her Iffß'-na. I think th«t all of you who have uia>ie it you? bukiutt&a

lo insu.'ct ihe young people of tliis dis rici in Chat higher Lnoivledgo (hat public schools now-a-days meke no direct provisions for communicating. Whether our p;o'essing christians will ever be found to exhibit in our profession and practice si cli a high ideal of christian life as wiH force outsider, unbelivers, as of old, to 0.-daim " Behold now these christians love one another," I know not ; but until we make an effort to approximate thi& standard, and to keep out of sight our non-essential differences, there is Utile hone of convincing outsiders of the reality of our religious aspirations. When we; agree as to what constitutes "religious truth " perhaps statesmen will discover and be not unwilling '.o make provisions for the teaching of religiou ;in our public schools. r j'his is something to be thankful for at any rale, that the local committee.* are not p ohibiUxl from giviug up their schoolroom on Sundays for religious services and teaching. It is ope a for other denominations to attempt to carry out what in thin case ihe Wesleyans have set us an exa-nplojfof—organis-ing for instance Sunday seivices which need not necessarily interfere with those already established. As a representative of the Cbu'ch of Englaed though not at this moment authorised by iie rulers to undertake such a work, I have it in my mind to invite your children and as many of yourselves who feel disposed to co;ne to a for/nightly ai'iei'ooon Church of Englend service, primarily in tho" interest of the chilnren of the district. I repeat J am moved to i\v>6 mainly in the htteiest of young childien—probably so, because, in my opinion that is beginning at the right end. The service that I would recommend in such a c?so would be the ordinary service of the Church of England, shortened, curtailed, adapted, so to speak so as to be suitable to Iho young mind ; but move of fins on some future occasion, when our plans are matured, when tho Sunday service I have now sketched out is established, I should like to see organized occasional evening week-day recreations, such as are sometimes held, and give satisfaction in other parts of the provincial dis.'lict of Canterbury. I think as often as once in 7 or 8 weeks we could provide, and the children would appreciate some such recreation . as I contemplate. The quality of the entertainment 1, with this committee, or a committee selected to carry out ihe arrangements, would be responsible for; and tho proceeds derived from tho holding of these children's entertainments would be applied as the said committee should direct, probably to giving the children of the district a pic-nie once or twice in the season. And now ladies and gentlemen, to the carrying out of the programme placed in my hands. The Chairman then called upon Mr William Maslin of Genidiuo to address the meeting. Mr Maslin, on rising, said ho did not know why it was that he was called upon first to address the meeting, seeing bo many able ministers present. Possibly it in to give these gentlemen an opportunity of prolonging tho meeting by able speeches when their tu r n comes. He agreed with Mr Harper to thank the ladies for their excellent tea, but the time was not come yet for proposing a voto of thanks. He had not prepared a speech, and did not know exactly what fo touch upon. One thing, with so good a tea and so much racing and jumping ho got into that mood that ha fell ho was almost fit for anything. I really do thank the ladies and th& people in the district generally for the readiness with which they came forward at almost a moment's notice. Spoakh.g of Wesleyans, we are divided into different sections ; I think this is not needful. In the Old Country Wesleyans can be counted by ten hund'ods of thousands, but in this country, and ouch places as Geraldine, I do not see the need for two Wesleyan or Methodist Churches. I would liko to .see a United Wesleyan Church. We all point back to the same one source. It ia enough to have to pay one minister, not two. Steps have been taken to have a United Wesleyan Church, but Wesleyans can never see it by absorbing, but if desicablo we must be prepared !o lay aside all individual titles and unite and make one Australian Methodist Cimrck in New Zealand. We would then got bettor men, as we eould pay them better, and could get free of debt by selling some of the churches. I throw out theso hiuts to our brethren here ii.itiato and the thing can bo made a success. I hope in this place more spiritual work will be done in tho future than in the past,and that in this building spiritual education will be attended to as well as socular education. If you educate a man's head only you make him an infidel; it you educate his heart you make him one of the brightest works of God's creation. Miss Amelia Brown then sang the song <! Resignation" most charmingly, being in excellent voice, and accompanied herself on the piano. The Rev. Mr Saddler from Geraldine next addressed tho meeting, and said, I must confess I feel a little queei ; I had heard it was but reasonable that each speaker should have his subject given to him, as one might take another's speech. I defy any one to take mine, as 1 have none. I however wish to say something. I am very glad to be present to-night. I like tea meetings. It may not bo a good tast9, but we cannot help our likings sometimes. I am a Primitive Methodist, but I have no doubt I should have made a good Wesleyan, or a Presbyterian, or a Congregationah'st. We are a mixed company to-night, but I hope we are all something. If we read the history of the church in the past wo will find that Presbyterians fought for liberty, so did Congregationalists ; and Methodists also have done much to enlighten the world, and will do a great deal moro, but we must be able to understand our responsibilities. It matters not much what we are, so loog as we use the talents committed to us aright.. Mr E. Brown sang "The Old Oak Tree," accompanied on tho piano by Misa Brown, after which the Rev, Mr Gordon was called o© to address tho meeting. Mr Gordon, on rising, said, First allow me to congratulate you for all the arrangements, 1 need not refer particularly to the ladies. When I came to Temuka Mr Harper, your minister, very early called upon me, and has betn a kind neighbor ever siuco. I do not know exactly what I shall say to you. T think I must speak to young men of some mistakes that we make. A young friend at tho table expressed regret that ln> could not eat more. This allowed iu,w the ladies had provided for them. When Mr Ma-'lin spoke I thought of the ftubioct of representative men, but Mr iSadK-r'n way ot spoaking of tea four times

a day,l thought.is t^atPifm.-dVe Me„h<>uism ; then I dont agree wiCu Mr Mas'.in ; he made a mistake: yi u could not get better m f m. When I go amongst my people they all say they liko Mr Harper su» a Christian man. Now I como \.o ihe point: some mistakes we alt m;.,l e. Wo rush through life rather heedlessly, pud make many mistakes. It is a to waste your time in amusemeufcs thao do not profit or redound to ihe glo.y of God. Another mistake is, not having zeal iu the work wo are engaged in. Tnero will bo no success unless ihe heart is iu the work. What is the use of a minister^'ithoufc zeal, or an agriculturalist without zeal. The lounger at a hotel wp.y pursue bis foolish ways with all zeal, but I hold it is a mistake for a lounger to iVfle his iime away, or a young man a Sabbath -school teacher, who has no heart ia his wort. He only torments the children, and is like Balam's companion, a bindorauco in tho way. l)o not set yourselves to reiavd a good vork, but to encourage ic. What couU- you have batter than this country; whet better than the snowy mountains, the sea, tho hills, the rivers, and I am sue in South Canterbury we ought to bo thankful. Then speaking to young men of their blunders, I think there is often a blunder mode in changiug their occupation. Sett'e down in some lino of life, and success will be the result. 3 c J.o changes his p'ace ho changes life and r asses his youth, and does no good. Remember tUe adage—- " A lolling stone gathe:s no moss." Some men have made fortunes at things you would not lay your hands to. Young men are always liable to change. Another blunder is, when they do go in for recreation they go too far. 1 hold with your Chairman, Mr Cox, that recreation is a good and needful thing in these times, when we need to shake off all trammel, but when recreation is disreputable shun it. Many a man and nsaiy a woman make blunders. Dont make a mistake in a help mate. A minisior first married a rich wife ; second, a beautiful wife ; third, a wife with a dreadful temper. He had found by axperiouco that he had made a mistake. Young men should not act upon mere liking, you will possibly find it a mistake. Young women, dont take tho man that ia not honest and diligent, or you will make a mistake. Another thing, we are living in an ago when tho Pros<3 is teeming with books, We live in a time when books (it may be good books) are pushing aside the Bible, Be careful of that ; take it up, a.id as you read you will find it a tight to your feet and a lamp to your path. There is no book liko the Bible. Tl/is old book has tho power upon the heart ; dont let other books drivo it aside ; study it, young mothers, aa well as teach it to others, and avoid the mistakes that others have fallen into. Miss B'own sung "Oh why chide my Heart," Mr Bnguley accompanying her, after which Mr Harper, in a vary humorous speech, said ; Tnero aro many things that I do not agrse v?ith, I dont like ministers to come to a toa moetiug without a speech. I dont like to get up tea meetings at such short notice, but the ladies did not say they would not do it I dont like debt,but there are some things I do like, I liko the fraternal feeling manifested here to-night. I liko to see those feelings reciprocated ; I have myself preached in Presbyterian Churches many times during tho last eight years. There has been church services hero during the last eight yo«rs. Wesleyans have held sorvico during ton yoara hero, often not very encouraging, People th»n would not attend largely. Now it is different. Mr Stewart conducted tho services sometimes when thero was only three or four, but he persevered, and now thero ia a good attendance; and when Mr Bond came here he found congregations waiting him. I now beg to propose a vote of thanks to the ladies for tho excellent thir.gs they provided, to Mr Roberts for tho piano, to Mr and Mi.v* Brown for tho excellent music, and to tho school committee for the uso of the school room. I regret that we have been deprived of some of the company by the cluck shooting reason having just begun. I now beg to intimate that a gift auction will be hold on the 20th of April, and that Mr Brown, Mr Story and myself will bo glad to receive goods of any sort, and from anybody, Mr Brown then proposed a hearty vote of thanka to the chairman. Mr Craig seconded, and it was carried with applause, after which the meeting terminated. Tiioro were from 100 to ]2O present, and all seemed pleased with tho evenings entertainment.