PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1972, 21 November 1889, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Toe anniversary tea in connactiun with this Church took place on Monday evening last, and was a highly aqccesstul gathering. The building was prettily decoratad with ferns and flowers. The tables were presided'over by the following ladies i—Mesdaraas Maslin, Fly, Hammond, G. Prouting, and Kenningtoe, and •Misses Eakett, Hawke, and Prouting. The bachelors' table was under the sapervisioa of Miss Andrews. The attendance at the tea was very large, the tables being tnica well filled. At the pnblic meeting held afterwards the churth was packed. Dr &. Fiah occupied the chair, and on the platform were the Revs. Preston, Austin, Jones, Wdollass, Clement, and Mr H. W. Moore. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from, the Revs. .Barclay and Archibald. The choir was under the leadership of Mr T. Sherratt, with Mias Andrews as organiste. The meeting was opened by the singing of the " Old Hundredth " hymn, and prayer. The chairman, in opening the meeting, referred to the relation of the Church to society. He considered the present condition of things was very hopeful. He had ho sympathy with those .wbo considered they were going backi*. The .desire for union among the Churches was "a/ sign of progress. The desire for tfiiiqn among the Churches in thja Old pountry was very marked. There was also an earnest desire amongst men of all classes in the Old Country to raise the condition of the very poor." He (the chairman) sympathised with this thoroughly. He knew London thoroughly, and had seen more, probably, of ita poverty and wretchedness than any person in that room. They in New Zealand did not really know what poverty was. His sympathies were entirely with the strikers in the recent labor disturbances—'(applause) —and he hailed with pleasure every effort put forth to ameliorate the condition of the. poor and the working man of the world. The persons that were gathered together on the platform that evening showed that a spirit of unity existed amongst them. He was glad to be present that evening, and he reciprocated .the feeling which had induced them to ask him to preside. (Applause.) The choir— '* Hear the Trumpet Loudly Calling." Mr Huffey read the treasurer's report, which showed that the year had begun nith a debt of £lB, which had been increased, by improvements, lighting, etc., to £27. Of this amount the chair had raised some £4 ss, and he hoped before long to see the whole of the debt upon the church paid off, and the church handed over as a conneotional building during the present year. There would be little trouble in doing that if they were all united and worked harmoniously together. (Applause.) The choir—" Come, ye Children." The Rev. Mr Austin, who had seldom been on horseback before, but had bravely ridden out to Gleraldioe, raised a hearty laugh when he told those present he was glad to be there for more reasons than one. Speaking of anniversaries be said tb«y should be like the stocktaking of a merchant or storekeeper. They should examine their hearts and see what progress Vthey had made, what good they bad gained. They might not be growing so rapidly as they wouli like, but they ought to be able to look into their hearts and see that they had made some progress. He, r too, was greatly pleased to observe the [signs of uaauimity smoßg the churches that were so apparent in theed days. Thefoundation of all Christian growth was a living vital union with Christ. Withoutthat union with Christ there cenld be no union amongst his people and the churches., He urged upon his hearers to try and show by their lives that were, Christian indeed, and pointed out that they could nil do something te reliove the sorrow, distress, and shame that had accumulated in this world, and mike the sum total of joy and happiness larger. (Applause.) ~'■■' The choir —"Our Festive Day so Bright." The Rev. J. Preston also spoke of the very great pleasure he felt in observing the unanimity that was displayed by the various sections of Christ's Cbnrcb. One of the reasons why the Church was divided as it was, was because men of different temperaments, education, bringing ap, *c, looked at things in different "aspects and from different standpeinrs. They did so in politics, and in a great many other things. That was no reason, however, why tbey should fight about these things. He desired very much to see the whole of the Christian Church united, but the. perfect unity of the Chnrch would not be be brought about till Christ Himself came and put every man in his place. The followers of Christ must stand shoulder to shonlder and make coiimon war against Sin and Satan. The union that would bind people together was that Ihey held the faith of Christ in righteousness of life. There would always be something tor Christians to do ; as the followers of Christ they were bound to redreps as fur is lay io their piwer everything they saw in the world of sin, and poverty, and distress. Every man must be known by ins works and life. The speaker stated :bat the disunion of the ehurcbeo was

found to be one of the greatest bars to the work of the mieaieoary in the present day, and the man that goes out as a missionary most have bis beart filled with charity to hie fellow men. (Applnuse.) The choir—" Come, Oh Come I " Mr H. W. Moore was very glad to be present that evening. He also went on to speak of the unity of the Churches, and asked why they should be separated. Christians ull believed io the same God and the same Christ, and were strengthened by the same spirit, and he could Dot see why they should be divided when they only differed io a few small trivial matters of form. What a grand work could be done if tbey all worked together. Unity was strength. Great results were achieved by co-operative association?, and if they were, so to speak, to co-operate spiritually the result would be a great saving of souls. He felt that the time for this was drawing nearer every day, and he trusted that it might come soon. He would very much like to see them all joined together. He thought that 50 years ago they would not have united together as they were that evening. He had great pleasure in being there that evening, and he hoped they would leave that building more than BV9r determined to strive to work harmoniously together. (Applause). The choir—" From Heaven to Earth."

The Beve. Jonea (W»ddington) and Wollass (Timaru) also addressed the meeting in a similar strain. Miss Andrews and Maggie and Willie Morrison then sang " Where is Heaven," Miss Eskett acting as accompanist. The choir—" Abide With Me," and "On One and All." The Rev. Q. Clement also spoke a few words.iß which he expressed bis pleasure at the many signs of unity that were observable among the Churches in Geraldine. He was glad to see so many ministers and members of other Churches present, and expressed his appreciation of the very kind and cordial way in which he had been treated by the clergy of Geraldine since be bad come to reside in the town. He was very pleased to be able to tell them all a bit of good new*, namely,

that with the proceeds of the anniversary »od donations from several geitlemen. tbey were in a position to pay off the whole of tbe debt of £27 on the church—(Applause)—and have it handed over as a eonhectional property. He explained that whan, the church waß started in Geraldiae there were no connectional deeds drawn up, bit it was yeited in trustees. There was now a desire to have the property Made over to the conference, and when the debt was paid, as they were now in a position to de, it would be handed over to the conference. (Applause). Mr Clement also proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, tbe ladies who had assisted with tbe tea, the speakers, and the choir. Mr Huffey seconded the proposition, which was carried by acclamation, and after the choir had sung "The Parting Song" the meeting was closed with the Benediction.