PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1171, 8 November 1883, Page 1

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, GERALD INE.

The soiree in connection with ; the: anniversary services of the above church was held, in the Oddfellows' Halljon Monday evening last. The hall itself was .tastefully decorated with fronds "of fernery, interspersed, here and i there with, choice : flowers. Various mottoes arid texts of Scripture were also 'placed on the walls, ' CotioiJer the 'Lillies' being on (he western wall, immertiatply, over the rostrum, and in a suspended wreath of evergreens were two handsome trumpet lillies, whose pure white color contrasted well with the green foliage surrounding them. On the right hand side wall were the words ' Be of Good Courage,' ' Create in Me a Clean Heart' and ' Union is Stiength;.' On the opposite wall were the words 'A Friend Loveth at all Times,' Most of the mottoes were worked in green leaves or- colored lettering, and had a v V|Ty jpr@tty effect. They "were the work'of •omo lady'friends.

I Shortly before the hour appointed tor .the tea meeting to commence, were beserged by young and old, and soon became f crowded out,' necessitating several relays. It is estimated that at hast 300 persons partook of the good things provided by the ladies of the congregation and their friends, The following ladies presided at the tables:—Mesriames Pizzey, Fly, Kenninsiton, E. Prouting, Glass, Diinlop, Clark and Gager, and Misses Hamilton, Dunlcp, Kirby, Maslin, Andicws, and Hinton, * i ho most assiduously attended to the numerous wants of those whom they were entertaining. It was past eight o'clock before the tables', were cleared away, and the public meeting then commerced by the rendering of a hymn. The Rev W B Hayes, pastor of the Church apologised for the unavoidable absence through illness of Mi' B irker, who otherwise would have occupied the chair. He would, however, request Mr Huffey to do so.

Mr Huffey, on taking the chair, said he was very much disappointed in not seeing Mr Barker there that evening. Howevei, they must do the sume as they had don* in times past, viz., the beat they could under the circumstances.

Anthem by the choir ' Jubilate Dei.' Mr J S \Vaite was then called upon to address the meeting. He was sorry to have been callei upon so Boon to do bo and regretted of Mr Barker, who possessed a fine flow of language, and who would have entertained them in a far better manner than he could. He was glad to see such a cordial, warm feeling existing amongst the denominations in Geraldine. He thought it a grand thing to have a friend who stuck to them closer than a brother. He alluded to their worthy Chairman, who never sent them a letter of. apology for absence.; He was always at his post and ready and j willing to do all in his power to give assistance when needed. He had had a conversation with a lady at one of the tea tables who had for many years rejoiced in her Saviour, and who had expressed the greatest satisfaction in seeing such » genial warmth of feeling in Ihe hall that evening. He was sorry she hud been suddenly called away at the conclusion of the tea meeting, *u he felt sure phe would most thoroughly have enjoyed herself. (Applause). Anthem by the choir' Praiae the Lord.' Mr King, on being called on to address those present, said that when he left his home that evening he had not the slightest idea he should have to speak before such an audience. He must siy that he was ghd to be present, and he was glad to see there were so many in Geraldine who sympathised w*ih- the efforts ofj the Church in theirendeavors to convert souls to Christ. He had been connected! wit!, it for five years, and during that period he had never seen so much spiiitual life as was shown at the present time. He was not before them to advocate denominationalism, for they were all assembled that evening on one common platform, Of late; thank God, showers of Divine blessing had fallen over New Zealand, and Geraldine had had soma of the dro'ppines from that shower. Some had bee.i dissatisfied with the hunks and were now being fed with the Bread of Heaven.- After our sister (Mrs Holder) ha,d spoken, last, night,, their heaits all rejoiced to see more souls brought out of darkness into the marvellous light, lhat was her reward for coining amongst; them From Ohrisfchurch. He would fain have all the, world for hi& companions on the roadtio Heaveu up Zion's hill. As their sister asked the previous evening so he would repeat the question, 'Who will come next?'

The Chairman in following up (he remarks of the previous speaker said he did not believe in bigotry. • When in Heaven they would not be asked if they belonged to tliis or that Church. Ijt wac time all bigotry was done away wktj. A 'duet by Mrs' Glass and Miss Andrews^' Say a Kind Word when you can,' followed. Mrs Holder said she remembered reading that when one of England's greatest Admirals, Lord Nelson, was about to engage in a battle, he caused this signal to be run-up to themast head, ,' England expects, every man 10 do his duty.' She thought'tlie same , cbu'd be applied that evening. She did not believe, in a man shirking hid duties by running away when he was wanted to be present at such a meeting as they, were that evening taking part in. She had heard of the 'pulpit fever,' and had had it herself. She was glad to meet them that evening under more favorable circumstances than had been the case the last time she had vitited Geraldine. That was three years ago! She remembered with what anxiety they held a series of services-during the week ; trie bard labor and the earnest prayers for their souls. She remembered that one soul, resident in* J'emuka, was brought to God, and was thankful that their prayers were now being answered by God. She had often prayed for them, and felt she would like to see them all once more. God in His infinite mercy had given her the desire of her heart and she was again with them. Many faces before her that evening were new to her. To those who bad recently been brought to God, she would urge them to press forward and onward, and prayed them not to retrace their steps and go backward. There was no satisfaction in the world. Let the world see that they believed in Ohribt, and let it feel the hallowed influence. The best way to keep the blessing was by trying to take others by the hand; and.lead them fco Jesus. Mrs Holder concluded by giving some sound, practicalailvice to the yoiing converts. Anthem' by the choir ' "lis Night on the Silent Mountain.'

Mr Maslin remarked that his Byrnweie with, the rneetihg.' Generally theeiihgit was usual' to

have a financial statement laid,before if, and it was usual to shovv a hjrge debit balatico, which would stimulate the Church members to greater activity in their endeavors 10 reduce the debt owing by them on the Church. Ha fancied, however, that in the absence of such financinl statement that the Primitive Methodist Church in Geraldine was in a good financial position having a Is,rge balance to its credit. He believed in having a debt to exist on a Church, b?cause"tl;eir fri*»nds would put their shoulders to the urheel n order to reduce it. He was sorry to seo numbers of people go to Temuka and Timaru to get a lurge share of spiritual blessings when they could equally as well obtain uhem in their own church. Many attended' the services of the Salvation Army in Timaru when they could get «p ri ual aid and comfort in their o*n (Jhurcj, Hn had not a word to say against the iiUlvation Army, and he felt that God was pleasid with the wok..they were doing. He would ask them • VV"ould 1 not be porisib c t > gel these blessings ut home ? They went expecting to receive ; some beuetits by going 10 the Salvation Army meetings. Coiiid they not get those blesings in Geraldine in their own Church, lie would ask them to think well on the matter.

Anthem by the choir 'The.Jasper Sea.' Tne liov W B Hayes would apologise for the absence of the Itev G Barclay, who would have been present that .evening were it not that at the time he accepted the invitation, he had forgotten he had to be in the Mackenzie Country.. Although this was a disappointment; .they had all enjoyed themselves Tory much with the friends who had entertained them. He was glad to be witii (hem on this the first anniversary since his arrival amongst them. With regard to Mr Maslia's remarks about a fiauncial statement, ho had no doubt but that at the clone of the services they would find they had enough to meet their liabili'ies. Ho had tried to look back upon the past work of .the Church to which he had the- honor to belong, and he could say lie had much cause for thankfulness. He was, not pre. sent at the District Meeting but he received instructions from that body to come to Geraldine. He obeyed the call, and found many difficulties staring him in the face, Feeling that the district had confidence in him he felt it his duty to face all difficulties and overcome them if possible. It was at all tunes a difficult task to please everybody, and he felt that if he could not do so, he could work and labor for Cod, he would succeed in what there was before him to do, and that Ms labors would be blessed. He was glad to say it had been so, ami he gave'God the praise and glcry. When he arrived in Geraldine lie found the Church doors had been' closed for five or six weeks a ad,on the first Sunday after there were toot more than twenty persons present. At the present time their Church vyas well filled, especially of.an evoning, when from 120 to 150 persous would be present. He commenced his labors amongst them on the 25th of last March, and in the station they had now sixty-seven who had found their peace with God. God had blessed his labors,, and those of the brothers and sisters who hal worked with him. He .vould never forget the kind Christian way in which Mr Huffey received him ivhen hetirst came to Geraidine, and their friendship, that day was stronger than ever. He would also express his thankfulness to Mr C E Shenatt. He was glad to see the earnest manner in which that brother hud taken up the work of the Sabbath school. The attendance of scholars was very irregular at first but now it hud increased both iu numbers and spiritual power.. One of the mottoes on the walls reminded him of one of the sayings of our Saviour, ' Consider the Lillies. 1 Friends who had, placed that motto knew of a chord in his heart which it had touched, and he thmkeii God that Ho had used him as a humble iustrunient in His hvuta

to convert young son's to Christ. He cared not to which Church lus hearers belonged, and only wished all barrier* were broken down. He would say to the young converts, 'Don't'forget your duty to Christ,' ttnd Gud would bleus them and make them humble iustrumenfci, in his hands. There hud been many older ones who had been brought to Christ. That reviv:il had not been due to excitement or talented preaching t They had great cause for encouragement. The Churoh was in a better financial position; at the present time than it had ever been since its establishment in Geraldine,. and had paid its way last quarter. He was pleased also to report great progress in the Church at Temnka. There were green spots there,, and they all looked forward.with hopefulness, and the, Church there was also in a better financial poai tion than it had ever been before. He wished to say' publicly that if he had wounded the feelings of an v man, woman or child with whom he had come in contact, he offered his humble apology. He felt he had never done anything except to try and extend God'» glory. He trusted they would both walk together and work together in the future in His C>>mm«n f )ment». He trusted their Chairman would be.spared to be with them on many mich anniversaries in the future. He trusted they all would take his remarks in the spirit they were given. . r i

After the choir had sung an anthem, 'Beautiful Spray,' the UHual; .votes of thanks to the ladies, Mrs Holder, the ladies outside of ihe Church who had worked the mottoes and decorated the H«dl, the Choir and Chairman, to Mr T Sheiratt for having so ably presided at the harmonium, and also to Miss Andrews who presided at the harmonium on Sundays, tho meeting terminated.