RECEPTION OF THE REV. MR DELLOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2193, 25 April 1891, Page 3

RECEPTION OF THE REV. MR DELLOW.

A public reception was given last Thursday evening in the Social Hall to the Rev Mr Dellow, the newlyappointed Wesleyan minister for tbe Temuka circuit. The reception took tbe form of a tea and public meeting, at both of which there was a very large attendance. The tea was provided by Mesdames Harrison and J. W. Miles, and was all that could possibly be desired, the tables being presided over by Mesdames Miles and Longson and Misses Elsie and Gertrude Brown. After tbe tea the ball was cleared and a public meeting held, at which Mr J. W. Miles presided. After the singing of some hymns, and prayer being offeeed up by the Eey. Mr Dellow. The chairman said they bad met to extend a welcome to their new minister. ‘ hey were now to turn over a new leaf in the church, and he hoped theirs would be a successful career. They were not despondent as regards the future, and he hoped they would soon wipe off their debt They were told that Mr Dellow would please all, but he felt inclined to doub that, although from what they bad heard of him he (the speaker) was more than pleased. He had now the pleasure of introducing Mr and Mrs Dellow to them. He expressed pleasure at seeing them safe in their midst, and would promise Mr Dellow that he would be supported not only by purses but by prayers. He could rely on receiving a cordial welcome wherever he went. He was glad to find that not only was Mr Dellow an able preacher, but that he J was a strong advocate for temperance, and he hoped he would continue to work in tbe cause,

Mr Harrison seconded the proposal to extend a hearty welcome to Mr and Mrs Bellow. The Eev. Mr Bellow said he was much obliged to them for their kind ness and the cordiality of their welcome. He felt that a Church should he a kind of co-operation, with all working together, All should feel responsibility in connection with Church work, and all should work together. He looked cheerfully on bis prospects in Temuka, and he felt pleased to be once more in Canterbury as it had been bis home. He liked Canterbury, and be felt that there was more soul in the responses in the churches in Canterbury than anywhere else. He felt impressed by the responses in Temuka last Sabbath, and he had great hopes for the future. He would suggest that they should forget the past and go ahead in a spiritual sense. This should be their keynote. They ought to aim at Christian perfection, which was that God should be foremost in all their actions. He was a thoroughgoing temperance man, and he would stick to it as long as be lived, and do all he could to crush the liquor traffic. Before be was twelve years of age he had been drenched with beer by men, who tried to make him drink it, but not a drop of it entered his lips, although they emptied a bucket of it over him. He hoped to see the day wher there would be prohibition from end to end of the land. He would like to see young men and women coming to the Iront in Church work, for the old people could not do all He felt that music was a great power in the Church. He was only eight years of age when he arrived in New Zealand, and notwithstanding having to battle with Canterbury nor’ - westers he had learned to sing. He would try to encourage music, and would like to see a larger choir. He believed Mr Harrison was a man who would go in for improvement in that respect. He was glad of the assurances given by the chairman that he would receive cordial support. He felt, from the reception he had already received, that he would. He thanked them, on behalf of himself and his wife, for their kind reception. (Applause). Buet— Master and Miss Lily Brown.

Mr A. Bussell said he had come with Mr Matson t>o welcome the Rev. Mr Dellow on behal£ of the Good Templars. He then read an address, which was to the effect that Good Templars tendered a hearty welcome to him as one who had worked in the cause of temperance. They had read in the local paper an extract from the Wairarapa Standard, which showed that be (Mr Dellow) gave and received some hard blows on this question. They were glad he was none the worse for it, and they hoped he would continue to work in the cause, in which he would find them willing to assist. They welcomed him also as a Minister of the Gospel, and wished him success in all hxs undertakings. Mr Metson said he was glad to belong to the temperance party, for be felt it was the best side. During the last twelve months they had made 120 Good Templars besides 100 Juvenile Templars, He was glad to welcome the Rev. Mr Dellow as a temperance reformer, and hoped he would continue to work in the cause. He also welcomed Mr Dellow on behalf of the Primitive Methodists, and he hoped kis labors would be blessed by God.

The Kev. Mr Dellow thanked them very heartily. “ Grace be with all who loveth God,” said St. Paul. He would say the same. He did not care what peculiarity of creed a man professed ; he was ready to hold out the right hand of fellowship to him. Beading, Mr Barr ; song, Eev. Mr Dellow.

Mr J. Brown said he was pleased to be there to welcome Mr Dellow. He

felt there was a Providence overruling everythiag, and he was glad Mr Del low had come. When he came to Temuka twenty-three years ago be waa the only total abstainer in the place, and he refused to sell intoxicating drink when employed by Mr Turnbull. The result was Mr Turnbull ceased to keep it in his store. He bad always done his best,- and always would, in the cause of temperaace. He felt they had the right man in the jight place in Mr Dellow, and he would pray for Hod’s blessing to rest upon him. The chairman said it was their custom to hold their anniversary in May, and he would like to consult them as to the best time-this yean They were about to enlarge the parsonage at a cost of £l5B, and they intended to hold a gift auction. If they could raise half the £l6O they could get a loan of the balance without interest. They would want to infuse all the life they could into the work during the next few weeks. After singing of a hymn and the pronouncing of the benediction the proceedings came to a close. After the public meeting a meeting of church members was held, to make arrangements for the holding of a gift auction for the purpose of defraying the cost of improvements to parsonage, etc. It was resolved to hold the auction on the 21st May, and canvassers were appointed to canvass the whole distnct. A general committee, consisting of Messrs Miles, Harrison, E. Brown, and T. Buxton, were appointed to arrange details for the gift auction. The meeting then terminated.