WESLEYAN TEA MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1296, 29 January 1885, Page 3

WESLEYAN TEA MEETING.

A tea and public meeting was held ip the Wesleyan Church, Temuks, last .evening, at which there was a crowded attendance, many being unable to gain admittance. The tea, for which Mr Lee was caterer, was excellent, and there was present at it about 150 persons, who did it full justice. The tables were presided over by Misses Brown (2), Hopkinson, Cant, McCullum, Fawdray, Barratt, and pflllins. After the good things wpro dis: posed of, and ihe ohprch agaip put jo order, a publip mepting was held. The meeting wap opened by singing hymn 485, after which Mr Miles offered up prayer, ' - The Eev. Mr Bothwell then expressed the great pleasure he felt in seeing so many present, and called upon Mr Job Brown to preside.

Mr Brown, on taking the chair, said ho felt glad to Bee the meeting held in the Church. The obiect was to raise money, and he urged upon them not to begin economising in the matter of the Church. If they wanted to economise let them economise in the matter of ribbons, boots; or other things, but let them not begin in the matter of giving to God. Mr Diamond, of Dunedin, then addressed the meeting. Amongst other things he spoke of the Rev. Mr Murray, who was announced as appointed for Temuka, in flattering terms. He also mentioned that he (Mr Diamond) was brought up a Jew, but he had been converted, and he thanked God that he had come across the Wesleyan people. The Rev. Mr Clark next addressed the meeting. He was sorry they were to lose Mr Kothvvell. Mr Roth well and he were not long friend?, but they were fast friends, and he sympathised with the congregation in the loss they were sustaining in Mr Rothwell leaving them. He also spoke in very flattering terms of the Rev. Mr Murray who was coming to Temnka to take charge of the Wesleyan Church. The Rev. Mr Rothwell expressed great regret at the prospect of leaving Temuka but, however, he would be always ready to go wherever God sent him. There was no lack of sympathy in the Temuka congregation, and ho hoped God would give him as great success elsewhere as he experienced here. He would ask no more. He paid a high compliment to Miss Brown, organise of the church. While other works were neglected Miss Brown never neglected her's, no matter what the weather was. It was intended to recognise her services, and ho had been commissioned to buy a certain article for presentation to her. When in Dunedin on Tuesday ho bought it, and ordered it to be sent to the train for him, but it had not arrived when he left, and so he had to come away without it. Only for this the presentation would have been made, Mr G. H. Lynch then read an adress to Mr Job Brown, Superintendent of the Sunday School. The address referred to Mr Brown's long connection with the Sunday School, the zeal with which he worked, and the great regret the teachers felt at seeing hira retire from the superintendence. Accompanying the address was a presentation of books, which they begged of him to accept as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the teachers. Mr Brown said he never had the slightest idea of thi«, but he would highly appreciate it. He had conducted the Sunday School for about 15 years, and had done his best. Ha thanked them most heartily and said the present would act as an incentive to work harder for the Lord. As regards Miss Brown he might say she was the heart and soul of the Sunday School, not only by her playing but nlso by her teaching. She fully deserved far more than had been given to her, and ho felt sure that this recognition would make her play better and work harder in future. On the motion of Mr White seconded by Mr Hooper, a vote of thanks to the speakers was carried by acclamation. On the motion of Mr Fawdray, seconded by Mr Thos. Sherratt, a vote of thanks to the ladies was also carried. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Clark, seconded by Mr Diamond, a vote of thanks to the Choir and the Chairman was carried. Mr Harrison responded on behalf of the Choir. During the evening several hymns were excellsntly sung by the Choir. They were accompanied on the harmonium by Miss Brown. The speeches delivered were excellent, although the speakers were young men. The Revs. Clark and Rothwell are both young men, but we must say they are infinitely superior as speakers t ? many of t heir elders whom we have heard, while their equals are not very numerous. On the whole the meeting was one of the moet successful held under the auspices of Iho Church.