WESLEYAN CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2070, 10 July 1890, Page 3

WESLEYAN CHURCH, TEMUKA.

IMnLLL CONGBEGATIONAL MEETING. The annual congregational gathering of the members of the Wesleyan Church at Temuka was held on 1 uesday evening in the Volunteer Hall. A very sumptuous tea was provided by Mesdames J. W. Miles, E. Thomas, E. Brown, and D. McCallum, and their several tables were presided ovecby Mesdames J. W. and H. M. Miles, Longston, and E. Brown, assisted by the Misses Wright, Storey, and Brown. Aftar tea a public meeting was held ' the -attendance at which, owing to I several counter attractions, was comparatively small. The chair was taken at 8 o'clock by the Eev. Mr Bunn. He was supported by the Eev. T. A. Hamilton (Anglican) and the Eev. a . B. Todd; theinewly-appointed minister to the Presbyterian Church at Geraldine. A choir of some twenty voices, with an orchestra led by Mr Harrison, also occupied a position on the stage. Hjinn No. 66 in Sankey's collection having Wen : sung, the chairman said that it was usual on such occasions to seview the work of the year. It had been, say, a year of development, 'The great question of the day -was" between labor and capital, and iow4he Chureh of Christ had fared in the meantime waß a matter of some concern. On the whole it had been a pacific year. If there had not been bo gVeat'an edvancement in Church work, still there had been development', and great results might be •xpected to follow. It was well to remember, and it was daily becoming !more apparent, that money did not mean everything. Christianity came to rich and poor alike witn power and blessing, and its effects were shown constantly in the struggle now going on. Ihe workinsj classes respected law and order, and showed themselves under the influence of Christianity. In the Old Country during all these struggles Christian ladies and ministers •f the gospel had given their substances and time to the amelioration of suffering and the promotion of God's Work. He cited instances •which occurred during the cotton famine in Manchester ot the influence of religion in restraining the suffering people from riotous conduct. It was the office of the Church to.prepare people for what is to come. In the struggle that was now taking place kings and princes had taken part, and in relation to the Churches there was now an admirable opportunity for people with wealth to do much-to bestow as God had blessed them. He then deferred briefly to the position of their own Church,'and requested the secretary to read the balance-sheet. Mr H M. Miles then read the balance r sheet,as 'follows:—Keceipts : Beceived from building committee, i £4,7 7s 6d; seat rents, £34 10s 6d; Xadies' Guild, £3O; »*ocial Hall, £7 19s 6d; Temuka Town Board, £4: 10s; total, ; £124 7s 6d. Expenditure: To amounts paid for improvements to new church, £42 repairs to Social Hall, £2l lsa lid ; caretaker, £l4; lighting, £4 16a 6d ; ' insurance and rates, £4 16s 3d ; deed and registering, £3 10s; printing, &c., £2 4s; credit balance, 4s 4d; total, «fil24 7s6d,

After an anthem bad been admirably sung by the choir, the Eev. T. A. Hamilton expressed the pleasure he felt at being present at their annual gathering and at having such a good report. It gave him especial pleasure, because at the recenfrgatherfng to welcome the Bishop the Kev. Mr Bunn, in . a very kindly and graceful speech had referred to the Wealeyan Church as a daughter of the Episcopalian body, 'J he Bishop, with ready wit, had said it was a daughter who had run away from home, and he, (the speaker), felt sure that if the mother church had only been more patient and kept open the door the daughter would never have run away. He was pleased to express his isympatby with their church, and with any religious body working in the common cause of Christianity. They needed sympathy with orw another, the pastor with the flock, and the flock with their pastor, ihe church looked after the moral wellfare of the people, but many of them bad such a struggle to exist-that they forgot the good done by *he church, and neglected it. The Church had to go forth to make men more gentle and women more able ( to bea*;-4beir »any burdens, and to take sigleamof sunshine, as it were, into their:liomes.Jß[e could assure them that did sympathise with but in theif temporal affairs. Ihe rev eentleman read some poetry entitled ««Prayer and Potatoes," illustrative of the spiritual benefit of temporary care. Where tie agonising burden of poverty was crushing out religion, true sympathy and kindly deeds would reach the hearts of sufferers and win them pea*? to M- ■ &*&*'& Jf K»re jn "Looking &ck. ward'' of thp work of the clergy, but he could P P t reajis 6 religion proSessing W»der such circumstances. & was poplapesp likely to pause a them tP sympathise w>th. pne anpther I SSS t/*n attending a common Surch All they wanted was stirring He urged them to come to church on'principle, and did not scruple to refeV them to the prayer book for r LI First, "Ihey should go to foS tblr sins before God," second, to give God thanks," third, tfo & God/'fifth, "-To ask God

for what they wanted." The sermon, although really what so many people went to hear, came last of all, and why ? Because it was only a poor human being like themselves who preached to tbem. He might try his best with prayer to put them on the I right track, but it was no use when exhortations were shifted on the backs of their neighbors, and not taken home to their own hearts. T'be speaker then with much earnestness went on to say that the highest teaching was to trust in God for all things, that Christ was ever near and willing to forgive the foulest Bin repented of, to console the weary and bring them eventually to everlasting rest. 'J he youngest among them could help in the work of the church. It was a duty. The Wesleyan body had a special mission, and the speaker believed they were nobly fulfilling it. The Rev. Mr Hamilton's address was illustrated by some very touching anecdotes, and was very heartily applauded. A solo by Mrs Bunn followed, after which the chairman introduced the ftev- Mr Todd, who, after a few preliminary remarks, proceeded to speak of religion in every-day life. Eeligion was that that binds us to God, and every nation hail some form of religion, some believe in a Supreme Being. It was innate. Eeligion did not consist in merely going to church. That 1 was only the way in which religion found expression. Religion was a whole life lived out to God, and should be seen in all our actiens. Some people kept their religion a matter between themselves and their God, closely locked up in their hearts. This was a false idea. Others assumed it merely on a Sunday. The true idea was realised when it was seen to be making a man better in all his thoughts and actions, If religious professions were not supported by actions, then a man's religion was of little account. The speaker illustrated the subject by comparing religion to Cologne Cathedral or the Eiffel tower, which stood out clear and distinct from all surroundings. In some places and under some circumstances it was doubtless difficult to carry out religion. If a man found himself placed in sueh a position, it was his duty, no matter what the circumstances, to give it up. Such a case might be the man engaged in the liquor traffic. He believed the day | was coming when no Christian man would engage in any traffic if it was calculated to injure hia fellow men. The young, very often, had a false impression about religion. They considered it a gloomy thing. This was a libel on religion. The only true happiness was to be found in a * truly religious life. In the colony the chief evils that beset the young were gambling on the part of the young man and the love of excitement that possessed the womer. This prevented them living the noble lives they might do. They need not be afraid of losing their manliness, as witness St. Paul All the true graces of a woman's character, too, were developed when she gave herself to God's service. The speaker gave a brief account of the work done in America by the bands of women styling themselves "The King's Daughters," and in conclusion said that he was convinced that there was now more need of religion than ever. There would always be such a need while men were sinners.—The rev. gentleman's address was listened to with much attention, and he made a most favorable impression, as was evidenced by applause. The choir having sang an anthem, Mr White moved a vote of thanks to the ladies who had provided the tea, to those who had dispensed it ? and to the ehoip. The chairman seconded th e motion, which was carried by acclamation. He stated that the Rev. Mr Dickson hod promised to look in during the evening, but he presumed he fca4 npt been able. The Be?. Mr Clement was also elsewhere engaged. Mrs Harrison then sang " The Lost Chord," with much expression. The anthem " Praise Ye the Lord " having been sung, the phajrmaji expressed his thanks to those present for their attendance, and the meeting terminated with the doxology and benediction.