PRIMITIVE METHODIST ANN VERSARY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1661, 17 November 1887, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST ANN VERSARY.

1 The anniversary services in connec- ’ tion with the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine, were to have taken place on Sunday last. The Rev. G. Barclay occupied the pulpit in the morning, and preached to a good cenk gregation from Nehemiah iv., 6. The 1 unusual severity of the weather en--1 tirely prevented either Sunday school : or evening service being held in any | of the churches. The usual anniversary soiree in the Church was held on Tuesday evening i last. The threatening appearance of ! the weather no doubt had the effect i of keeping away a large number of people as the gathering was not so satisfactory in point of numbers as is , usually the case at this meeting. The,, Church was decorated with large from the Geraldine Bush. Two large ■ tables, running almost the entire length of the building, were placed on either side of the church, and fairly groaned under the load of tempting edibles placed upon them. , The tables were presided over by Mesdames Dean, A. Sherratt, G. Fronting, Major, and Sutherland, and the Misses Dean (2), Andrews, and Kirby, one and all of whom vied with 1 each other in making their guests feel at home. Tea having been disposed of, and the tables cleared away, a pub'ic meeting was held. . The chair was occupied by the Rev. W. J. Dean, and on the platform were the Rev. G. Barclay and Mr Raggett, of The meeting was opened with devotional exercise. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, regretted that the weather had kept so many people away, but expressed the pleasure he felt in seeing those who were present, He then requested the Treasurer, Mr J. Huffey, to lay before them his repolfc. The report showed that the year was commenced with a debt upon the property of £GS. During the year strong efforts had been made by means of a bazaar and gift auction to clear this off, and the debt had by this means been reduced to £35. The incidental expenses of the church had amounted to about £lO, and he had strong hopes that with the proceeds ef the anniversary and tea meeting J this would be about m#t. , He thanked those who had so kindly assisted with the bazaar and otherwise in ing off the sum mentioned, and trusted they would still continue to render their assis’ance. Mr Huffey then, went on to address the meeting on u the subject of church work and how . it might be made more efficacious. The Rev. G. Barclay addressed the meeting in one of his happy and instructive speeches. He expressed the pleasu ; e he felt at hearing of the satisfactory state of the Church finances. He referred to tho difficulty which is so often.pyc.'red by ministers in finding a

and efficient staff of fellowworkers in the church, and among other things expressed the regret he had always felt, that at the time of the Eeformation the church had not taken up one system of church worship. If this had heen done, the many various sects now in existence would probably not have sprung up, and there would be more unity and zeal among the members of the church, and consequently more work would be done in the cause of God. He also J regretted that np regular State provision was made for the cause of religion, but that the church had to provide their own funds for everything. He remembered when he first came to Timaru the Provincial Council set apart some £30,000 for the purpose of enabling the various denominations to build churches and parsonages. Some of the churches partook largely of that sum, while others again refused to have anything to do with it, their members considering that the church should not receive such help. He knew some people objected to receiving such help, but he was strongly of opinion that it was a most desirable method of providing money for the churches. Then the money could be collected with the other rates instead of the churches, as now, having to go round continually with subscription lists, and resorting to every device to obtain sufficient funds to carry on the church work. Then all would contribute alike, whereas now some had to find all the money, while others gave almost nothing at all. Mr Barclay concluded by again expressing his pleasure at hearing of the state of their finances, and hoped they would still go on to labor I' zealously for the spiritual welfare of |' the district. , :

Mr Maslin and Mr Haggett also briefly addressed the meeting. The Kev. Mr Dean was glad to see Mr Barclay and Mr 'Haggett there. The latter was an unexpected nleasure. Mr Haggett had only arrived in Geraldine that afternoon. He (Mr Dean) regretted with Mr Barclay the majy splits there were in the Christian church. He had had this very prominently brought under his notice while in Amerinca, where there were almost as many sects as there were days in the year. He thought this was greatly owing to the masterful spirit that prevailed among so many church members. A great many wanted to be the head of everything, and if they could not be that they frequently broke away from the church, and, getting a few followers, established a sect of their own. This was to be deplored, and he would very much like to see the various divisions brought into one common whole.

Mr A, Sherratt proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies, who had supplied and presided at so excellent a tea, and to those speakers who had so kindly come forward to assist them that evening. During the evening several hymns were sung by the choir. The singing of the Doi:ology, t and the pronouncing of the Benediction terminated the meeting.