THE WESLEYAN TEA MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1481, 18 March 1886, Page 3

THE WESLEYAN TEA MEETING.

The anniversary tea meeting in connection with Weßleyan Church' was held labt Tuesday evening, and was a great success. The ladies of the congregation provided the tea, end it was certainly one of the best we have seen in Temuka. Thare were eight tables, presided over by the following ladies, via. : Mesdaaes Holwell, J. Brown, Longston, Turner, and Reese Thomas ; Misses Brown (3), Wills, Cant, Collins, Jameson, White and McCallum. ,There *as a large attendance, the seataat the tables being several times filled, and everyone was highly pleased with the excellent quality of the viands, and th« tempting way in which they were set before them. The Rev. Mr Thomas presided, and grace was sung before the partaking of the good things.

After the tea had been done full jastice to, the hall was cleared, and the meeting was held. It commenced at a few minntes past eight, and was very largely attended. The meeting was opened with the singing of Hymn 585, after which ths Rev. Mr White, of Pleaa-mt Point, engaged in prayer. The Rev. Mr Thomas then explained that Mr J. Jackson had been unable to attend, bat sent a subscription. Also, he had received a letter from the Rev. Mr Mackintosh, who was unable to be present. He would now call upon Mr Brown to take the chair.

Mr Brown said hs was sorry the Mayor of Timaru had not been able to attend, so as to tase the chair. In hia absence he had been asxed to take the chair, and he did so with pleasure. He was glad to see so many present; also so many speakers and so many singers. It was, too, pleasing to see so many people belonging to all congregations present. He liked tea meetings on aocount of the way they brought pfople closer together. The meeting would be a financial success. He called on Mr Thomas to rtad the report and balance-sheet. The Rev. Mr Thomas said, in the absence of their Treasurer, he would read the annual balance-sheet. The figures showed that the total receipts were £35019s lOd, and the expenditure £366 16s lid, leaving a debit balance of £ls 16s Id. Adsbt of £36 Is 3d on the church had, however, been cleared off. The Ladies' Guild had collected £sl 9s 6d for the year. The spiritual report was next read. It stated that sometimes the congregation was large, but the attendance fluctuated. On the whole there was much ground fer congratulation. The choir, under Mr Harrison, rendered excellent service. The thanks of the congregation were due to him, and to Miss Brown, who had presided at the harmonium. (Applause.) The Sabbatb School and Bible Class were doing good work, and the teachers deserved thanks. The Band of Hope meetings were very successful. Their hearty thanks were due to the Ladies' Guild for the great assistance tbey had rendered them. At the conclusion of the report Mr Thomas spoke in the highest terms of praise of the late Mrs Miles, who was instrumental in getting up the Ladies' Guild. The Chairman said they ought to feel thankful for the many blessings they enjoyed. He would advise all Churches to adopt the Ladies' Guild system, for without it their financial position would not have been so satisfactory.

The choir, composed of several excellent voices, under the conductorahip of Mr Harrison, and with Miss Brown presiding at the harmonium, sang an anthem very nicely, and also sang well several times during the evening. The Rev. Mr Fairclougb next addressed the meeting. He always enjoyed coming to Te-muka, because he alwayshad received genial hospitality. Temuka was going ahead. By looking back they could see the progress they v. ere making. A little more than a century ago a navigator discovered these islands, and less than a century ago convicts were sent out, and from that we grew to our present position. He referred to each ftage of the growth of the colonies in the Southern Hemisphere, and propheciei that in the people io them, and that in New Zealand there would be 16,000,000. The present generation had in their own hands the moulding of these people, and the responsibility of their religious training rested upon the present generation. Were they going to lay a sound foundation for the ceming generations, or were they going to neglect it ? Mr Buxton said he was glad to be present. Be was glad to see so many ladies present. He wanted to see them present always: not only in the Ladies' Guild, but in the church. Some people said they ought to be silent in the church, but he did not hold with them. They would not be silent at home. (Laughter), lie wanted them to assist in all church matters, to pray for them, and t» take greater interest in our Saviour's kingdom. With regard to what the previous speaker said about our outlook, ho must say that it was very gloomy at present. There was nothing but oppressions whereever one turned, but his conviction was that some of chis must cease, and that the oppressors must eventually humble themselves. Thiiigs could not go on as they were ; these oppressors' hearts must be softened, and nothing would have such a good influence on them as religion. The speaker delivered a very able speech, and sst down amidct great applause. The Rev. Mr White, of Pleasant Point, congratulated thsm on the report presented that night. It showed that both spiritually and temporally they were getting on successfully. He was not one qf iueir phurch, but as he was a Christian he wished them God-speed. He would ask them to stand fast to religion, as it was iittacked on all sides. He referred to Freethinkers, and said that nine-tentha of the infidelity was engendered in bachelors' huts. Such meetings as these were calculated to promote matrimony. It was nepessary to have aniusemen is sometimes, and if j;he "hurch rose to her position shs ought provide, it, By doing this it was possible some of the wickedness and the evil amusements would be done away with. (Great applause). The Rev. Mr Thomas said he was pleased to see so many present, and also felt thapkful to the speakers fqr(th,e way they had sustained the'speaking. He would be glad to change pulpits sometimes with the Rev. Mr White, He read a book recently which held that the £ ar . den of Eden was at the North Pole. There might be some uncertainty a!*put the.site of Eden, but there was a P$P e regarding pa which there could bo no douSi, was ope gyand central site—tlUt

wrts Cilvary—the Oobs of Chris?. He thanked them all for their attention, nnd the way they had a«sisted him during the past year. He hoped they would prosper ; that the winter would not be ho gloomy as anticipated. He believed there was a grand future before Now Zealand. Religion wa* better now than 25 year's ago, k.nd he believed that it would improve in the fHture. Fifty year'i henoe he fe't sure there would be more religion and more Christian charity than at present. (Applause). Mr Thomson, of Pleasant Point, moved a vote of thanks to the ladies who provided the tea, to the speakers, and the choir. He hud some time ago prophecied that, owing to the trouble involved, ladies would give up these " tea fights," but he now realised he was a failure an a prophet. He did not then know how self-sacrificing the ladies were in the interests of religion. (Applause.) Mr Watson, of Waitohi, seconded the motion.

The Rev. Mr Thomas asked that the Chairman ba included in the vote of thanks, and this being done, it was carried by acclamation. Mr Harrison replied on behalf of the chair. They had done their best, and would be willing to do so again. He thanked them very sincerely for the vote of thanks.

The Chairman having acknowledged the compliment paid to him also, the meeting came to a close. During the evening the choir gave a number of anthems in first-class style-

[The Rev. Mr Thomas called on us yesterday morning to say that since the meeting a letter, which ought to have reached him the night before, had come to hand from the Rev. Mr Hamilton expressing regret at his inability to attend.]