SERVICE OF SONG.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1183, 8 December 1883, Page 3

SERVICE OF SONG.

‘uncle tom.’

The above Service of Song was given by the scholars attending the St Saviour’s Church Sunday School, Temuka, assisted by the choir, on Thursday evening last. The weather was almost as unfavorable as it could bo, a very cold wind prevailing, with occasional showers of rain. Before the commencement of the Service the Rev. T. Hamilton, who gave the connective readings, expressed his regret at the smallness of the attendance. He had expected to see a better audience considering the object. He passed high enconiums of praise on Mr W. G. Rutland, the conductor, for the part he had taken with the children ; on the organist, Mr Proudlock, and on the Sunday school teachers ns a whole. He thought the congregation would have done their part better. The object of the Service was to procure prizes for the children. They could hardly expect the children to work for a whole year without a reward. Every one worked in the hope of getting a reward, and they could not expect the children to be different. He heartily thanked those present for their attendance, and would look on the absence of the others as charitably as possible, and conclude that .they liad bought tickets, but the wet weather. The Service of Song was then commenced; It is, of course, an abridgement of that popular book, “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” with musical illustrations. It opens at the conversation between Haley (the slave dealer) and Mr Shelby (the owner of Uncle Tom), when the former becomes the possessor of Tom (the hero of the piece), and concludes with the death of the latter after his brutal treatment by Simon Legree (a slave owner), into whose hands he had fallen on the sudden death of his former master, St Clair. The thread of the narrative is tolerably clear throughout the piece Tom’s dismay at parting from his wife and children, his happy and contented state while with the Shelby’s and StClair’s, and his wretched condition while with his final owner, Legree, being all powerfully pourtrayed, The following are the musical selections given, in rotation:—‘Beneath the Cross of Jesus,’ ‘Turned back Pharoah’s army’ (solo by Miss Langridge and chorus), ‘ The Palace of the King,’ ‘Parting,’ ‘ Let the good angels come in,’ ‘She sleeps in the valley’ (duet Miss Langridge and Mr Rutland), ‘Over the Jasper Sea,’ ‘O, Sacred Head once wounded,’ ‘ Como, for the feast is spread,’ ‘He is gone,’ 1 We know not what’s before us,’ ‘ When the stars begin to fall,’ ‘ Steal away,’ ‘ A home in Heaven,’ ‘ Its coming, coming nearer,’ ‘ When 1 can read my title clear,’ ‘ Enter into rest,’(duet Miss Landgridge and Mr Rutland and chorus) and ‘ Home »t last.’ This concluded the Service and the Rev. T. Hamilton pronounced the benediction. The solos were a treat to listen to, and —in fact, the whole of the musical selections were well rendered. The conductor, the singers, and the reader deserve every praise for the way in which their parts were acquitted, and their efforts certainly deserved better recognition. The audience unfortunately was very small, but those present listened attentively throughout. We believe the gross proceeds will amount to about £6. i