WESLEYAN MISSION, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1567, 19 March 1887, Page 3

WESLEYAN MISSION, TEMUKA.

There was a very large audience in the Volunteer Hall in Wednesday evening. Mrs Smalley commented on Epheaians vi., from 10th verse, giving an exposition of " The whole armour of God"—the panoplia divine. After this the lady evangelist presented the rpqnests for" prajer, and expressions of thanksgiving for blessings received. A solo entitled " Seeking to save," whh next given by Mias Brown. The Rev. J. S. Smalley then delivered o telling and most forcible address on the subject already announced : " Sunken Rocks." As an illustration he said that thr captain of a large ship, would not believe in the existence of a certain reef concealed just beneath the waters of the deep, and rashly tried to run the keel of his ship across the spot. Thai act of madness wrecked the nob'e vessel, and though all the crew were saved the captain perished in the ship. In daily life, Mr Smalley said, there are—morally speaking—a great number of sunken reefs, and thousands make shipwreck of faith in them. Bad books were corrupters of minds, and should therefore be shunned. Bad company was the fatal means of destroying the bodies and souls of thousands of our race, Improper amusements were also most dangerous in their influence and results. Mr Smalley commented on the theatre, and said that its moral influence was bad —that the purest form ot drama was usually excluded ; that it seemed the rendezvous of all the black-legs and degraded characters, and that the ballet was indecent. Horse racrs were next made the subject of severe condemnation, They were cruel to the jockeys, many of whom died under the sweatingdown process. Fred. Archer, the succesefuljockey, had suffered from typhoid fever, evidently brought on by the low state of health be was reduced to by the endeavor to keep down his weight, and ultimately committed suicide. He held that people who resorted to races should be indicted under the offence of cruelty to animals. Gambling, the speaker held, was nothing short of highway robbery, no proper equivalent being given for money taker, a distinct breach and violation of the Bth and 10th commandments of the moral law. Dancing, he held, was most immoral, and quoted authorities to show that the ball-room was the means of mining thousands of women in health and morals. In his reading ot Pagan history be never read of anything so bad as " the round dance." The ancient dances were usually religious, and confined to one sex. He warned the young Women against this amusement, and Said that the quiet parlor dance was simply a rebersal for the ball-room.

On Thursday evening there was a splendid torchlight procession, accompanied by the Temuka Volunteer Brass Band. Fully 250 joined in it. When the Hall was opened it was soon crowded. Requests for prayer were offered by Mrs Smalley, and Miss Brown gave a solo entitled " Where is my boy to-night ?" In bis opening remarks, prior to bis special address, the Rev. J. S. Smalley : said a few kind words for the Salvation ! Army. He then proceeded to address himself to the great social topic of Gospol " Temperance." The speech was a good one, well lighted up by apt and telling illustrations, and ably buttressed by an array of quotations from the best authorities, and also by arguments against the use of alcohol, whether as a beverage, as a luxury, or as a medicine. According to authorities quoted by Mr Smalley, pure brandy, whisky, or . port wine could not be obliti&id in New Zealand tor "lore or

money."—Mrs Smalley after that addressed those present in a telling manner. She spoke from her great expeiimce in dealing with many of her own sex who bad been wrecked by strong drink. She held that if tin* women had a vote on the prohibition of the sale of liquor all the public-houses wonlrj soon be shut up. At the concluion of the addresses upwards of 50 persons of all ages signed the pledge and " donned Che blue," Mrs W. U. Thomas, and Misses F. Brown and l£, ' Wright pinning on the* blue, and Messrs J. Watson and W. Holwell acting as secretaries. Before separating ihe Rev. W. G. Thomas said a lew words to those present, in which he expressed his sincere gratification «nd thankfulness for the threat success of the mission. tie thanked God, and he thanked the Rev. j. 8, Smalley and h's devoted wife for their very eminent and successful services. The acclamation of those assembled was followed by a brief and touching reply by the Rev. Mr Smalley, j and the audience then dispersed.