PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1146, 8 September 1883, Page 3

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, GERALDINE.

The quarterly meeting of the Geraldine station in connection with the Primitive Methodist Churches at that township and Temuka was held at Goraldineon Monday afternoon last the 4th hist. Present— The Rev W. B. Hayes (in the chair), Messrs A Sherratt, (Secretary) ;—Huffey, C E Sherratt, L Newport, W King, E Pratley, F. Pratley, G Prouting, A Prouting, A Spooner, W Fletcher, C Woodley, J Woodley, G Washington, W Major, W Bryan, G Ward, J Chandler, F Uden, and R Metson.

Several names were added to the preachers' plan. The Members' Roll was carefully gone through, and it was announced that there had been a net increase of forty persons.

It was decided to commence services on Sunday afternoon at Gapes' Valley, in compliance with the wishes of a number of settlers in tha x . locality. The state of the schools was next considered. A large increase of scholars both at Geraldine and Temuka was i& ported. The Band of Hope was stated to be increasingly Hseful, over 80 names being on the roll with over 40 adults in the Blue Ribbon branch.

Permission was given for the Temuka members to hold a camp meeting during the coming quarter. It was resolved to form a Bible class at Geraldine for young people, to be conducted by the Minister.

A special Committee was appointed to visit Pleasant Point, as there had been a request for services there. A general conversation took place on the Work of God in the station. The brethren from the various churches expressing their devout gratitude to God for the good work going on, and also for the largely increased congregations. The meeting then went into the financial position of the Church. This was a very interesting question, ns it was the first year since the station of a Minister at Geraldine that it had received no missionary grant. It was reported that there was a very largo increaso over the past quarter, and when all tho monies come to hand there will be a suffi sum to meet tho expenses. It was decided to commence tho envelope system in the coming quarter. Arrangements were made for various special services during the quarter ; »lso, for the anniversaries of the Geraldine :iDd Temuka Churches.

The following officers were appointed for the coming quarter :—Station Steward, Mr J Huffey ; Society Stewards (Geraldine), Messrs A Sherratt and L. Newport; do at Temuka, Messrs R Metson and F Pratley ; Station Committee, all the male officials, with Messrs Woodley, Metson and Fletcher, of Temuka ; A Prouting, G Ward ami Davis of Geraldine. The connectional charges were next paseod for payment. The meeting then terminated. The Tea Meeting.

The quarterly station, tea meeting, embracing Orari, Temuka, and Geraldine was held in the Primitive Methodist Church immediately after the close of the quarterly meeting, when about sixty persons partook of the good things provided by the ladies of the congregation. The tables were presided over by Mesdamos Keunington, Harding, Dunlop, Glass and Fly, and tho Misses Ward and Andrews.

On the tibles being cleared the business of the evening commenced with singing a hymn, and prayer, after which the Kov Mr Hayes called on Mr Huffcy to preside.

The Chairman remarked that he was glad to meet hia friends once again and trusted to have a comfortable evening. As they had several present from Tomuka who would address them he would not take up their time, but proceed at once with business.

' The sweet bye and bye' having been sung,

I Mr E Pratley said he did not go there to make a speech as he did not feel able to do so, but with the aid of his Master he and speak for Him. He was glad to be tvith them. He had enjoyed himself very much that evening and hoped it would not be his last time amongst his Geraldine friends. He was persuaded that if they only pressed onwtard and forward they would not oniy live happy here but in eternity also. The Christian's hope is a glorious one, yet what will it be when they get beyond the river. It was the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ that brought them together that night and he hoped at its close they would all say ' I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the Lord.' He would earnestly urge his hearers to press forward and he hoped they would all meet in Heaven.

After the singing oi the 312th hymn Mr C Woodley remarked that that meeting reminded him of when ho was amongst the Geraldino people some years since at one of tho quarterly meetings. He had enjoyed many happy seasons in Geraldiue and he looked forward for more. A thought had run through his mind during the evening, of the time when tho prophet Ezra stood up and spoke early one morning, when all tho people stood up and shouted ' Amen.' Now he (the apeaker) would draw their attention to this, and he did not see why thoy should not themselves shout their ' Halleluiahs' for what the Lord had done for them. Some persons spoke against going out and preaching in tho open air. He believed in it. At tho present day Primitive Methodists were very backward in this matter, and now the Salvation Army was doing the work they should. That very day he had brought before the quarterly meeting the necessity of holding camp meetings and tho result was that they were going to have one in Temuka, and lie looked forward to their having a good Hallelujah meeting. They did not want the Salvation Army to do their work, therefore' let them go forth and perform it. The Chairman gave the meeting an account of what he had both seen and heard.'at one of tho meetings of the Salvation Army he had attended. Having sung the 62nd hymn (Sankey's) ' Jeaus, refuge of my soul,' Mr A Sherratt, who was greeted with groat applause, addressed those present. He wished to say a word or two to the young men and women who had lately given their hearts to God, in connection with that society, la his experience of tho working of the Christian Church, the best thing to do with a young man who had joined was to put him in harness at once. There was backwardness amongst them to speak at experience meetings, or to engage in prayer at prayer meetings. They must not be backward in doing all they could, but remember that God helps those who help themselves. It was their duty to use their talents, and to stand in readiness for any work in the church that might be assigned to themj The church would put them in their right place. There were plenty of people in their wrong places in the world. There may be a lawyer who would make a better doctor, or a doctor who should have been a lawyer. Men were apt (o get into their wrong sphere of usef He hoped the young people would try and be useful to the church. Some would be useful in the Sabbath school, others in the choir or in showing people their seats in the church. There were many ways, and he hoped they would profit by what he had said. The Chairman trusted that they would avail themselves of tho hints thrown out.

After the singing of an anthem by the choir, Mr Fletcher said ho believed in such social gatherings as tho present. Thoy had all heartily enjoyed themselves. He was glad to hear that through tlio instrumentality of their minister, tho Rev Mr Hayes, so many persons had and are being brought to God. There was plenty of work to be clone, and if they were in earnest they would come out of it with credit to themselves. When ho heard of the conversions that were going on in Geraldine he said he only wished lie could be (hero with them.

Mr A Spooner remarked that that was the first quarterly meeting ho had attended. Tho list time he came to Geraldine it was in company vyith a Minstrel Troupe, and he then enjoyed himself. Aftei the entertainment was over he went to a tank for the purpose of washing his face. But|he had enjoyed himself far belter that evening, and there was no need for him to wash the black off his face. They had been doing good work in Temuka although they wore numerically small, and he thought the people in Temuka would all stand firm and do good work. He hoped they would all work well together and get the churches filled.

! After the singing lQiith. hymn (San- ! key's), { The Rev Mr Hayes said it was a ' pleasure to meet such a number of friends in more senses than one. It wis a pleasure to know that so many friends, were manifesting such iulcrost in church work. They had much to be thankful for. One feature in the day's meetings | was the happy time they had spent together. When they had to deal with difficult, dry questions, sueh as money matters and church legislation, opportunities would rise up which would interfere with the harmony of their christian work. Right through their quarterly meeting held that day all felt that they were brethren together, and although they differed on soma points they all felt a desire to do their utmost for God's work. He had attended several quarter!} meetings, but never was there such unanimity shown as there had been that afternoon. They were able to report progress in the highest sense of the word. At Teinuka, at first, they were rather downhearted for they had gloomy prospects before them, but, bless God, He had helped Ihem and rewarded their labors. They could report a net increase of 40 members to their roll. That did not represent all they had been doing in that direction, for there were several families who were not in membership, but were in sympathy with the church. There were signs of increasing work ; they were getting a firm hold on the young ; they had all been earnestly praying for this, and they meant to go hand in hand together and hope in the coming quarter to see many more brought to God. The Sabbath schools had more than doubled in numbers since he had been stationed amongst thorn. They had made no mistake in putting a square man in a round hole, and ho would again repeat that at Geraldine the school had doubled in numbers since it had been under the superintendence of Mr C E Sherratt. Their church services had largely increased, and especially of an evening the churches had been welled filled. At Temuka their friends had also worked well, and God had bleasod them. Ho was pleased to find they had adopted the system of holding cottage meetings and gathering the people around them, becomings instruments in bringing in whole families. Scarcely a week had passed but God had increased their numbers, and lie trusted they would go on feeling God was on their side. He wanted them to have the motto ' Holiness unto the Lord.' He wanted Geraldine and Ternuka to be converted. It was for that that Primitive Methodism was brought into existence. Their finunces had greatly improved, and he believed that if they had religion in their hearts they would assist God's work by putting their hands in their pockets, and give With an unsparing hand, (Applause), Mr L Newport remarked that although so much had been said of what had been done for them by God, he could not say they had done much for Him, Mr Hayes had worked singlehanded, and they had been a hindrance rather than a help to him. He felt persuaded their minister needed it, and encouragement also. The collections during the past quarter had been £l4 4s, during the other quarters they had only been £B, at the most. That was most encouraging.

The Rev Mr Hayes said that Mr Newport had forgotten to speak on a very important subject. At their last quarterly meeting it had been decided to introduce the envelope system. He was satisfied that with Spiritual power all financial difficulties would be overcome, and the system proposed would, he believed) further assist to extend their operations. The friends appointed for the work would wait on them, and ascertain what each one would be disposed to give, so as to commence the system next Sunday. The 17th hymn having been sung,

Mr Logan proposed and Mr Waitt seconded a hearty vote o£ thanks to the ladies, and it was carried amidst applause. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, and the Doxology having been sang, the meeting terminated. We must not omit to mention that Miss Andrews presided at the harmonium in a,Very efficient manner.