PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2279, 12 November 1891, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH TEMUKA.

On Thursday evening last, at the conclusion of the picnic in the Park, the anniversary tea and public meeting took place in the church. The tables were bountifully provided with good things, and were ably presided over by Mrs Burton, and Misses Metson, Robinson, Uden, and Taylor. Fully eighty or ninety persons partook of the tea. The tables having been cleared away the the public meeting took place, when the church was crowded and some were unable to get in. The church was very prettily decorated for the occasion. Mr Metson occupied the chair. Proceedings were commenced by the singing of a hymn "Anniversary Greeting," after which the Rev. J. Dellow offered up prayer. he chairman having given an address, Mr W. Smith made a humorous and interesting address on " Loyalty to the Church." Miss F. Brogden, recitation, K A leap for life ;" Master B, Metson, recitation, " The Children's Crusade;" hymn, " Come ye happy Children." The Rey. J. Dellow then addressed the meeting on the importance of Sunday Schools, and gave some very interesting reminercences of hia own experience. Miss Annie Woodley, recitation, " The Road to Heaven ; " Miss Emma Smith,recitation, " Samuel and Eli; " Missses F. Brogden, Williams, and E. Goodey, and Mr G. Hooper, quartette, " Love at Home." The Rev. Mr Cocker (of Ashburton) then gave a humorous address, and related a number of his experiences in England. It was the duty of churchmen to be loyal to their church and their minister. He gave a comparison of the connection in England and New Zealand. He then spoke to the teachers on the importance of their work, they were laying the foundation of character, having the virgin soil of the children to work upon. Parents also had to do something to help the teachers. The boys would be the men of the future and would have to fill important positions in the state and in the church, and so parents and teachers had a noble work to do in the training of the children. The chief attraction of children to the Sunday School should be the teacher's smile—not their companions or the beauty of the building, but the actions and words of the teachers. In concluding the rev. gentleman gave some very amusing anecdotes. Hymn, " Bring them in." The Rev. W. 0. Wood gave an address on the work of the home being of great importance as the place where the character is moulded and impressions made. These imprinted upon the young would not be removed. He then gave some particularsjiu reference to the progress of the Primitive Methodist Church. During the year they had cleared off the debt on their- ohurch, and he brought forward the work that is intended to be done in the near future. They had procured another site near the railway station, to which it was intended to remove their church and, increase its holding capacity to 200 or 250 persons. The cost was estimated at £2OO, and to assist in defraying it it was intended to hold a " Cake and Apron Fair" on December 23rd and 24th in the Volunteer Hall. £BO had already been promised among the members. Hymn GO7 from Sankey's hymn book was sung while the collection was being taken up. Miss F. Brogden, recitatlo i, " People Will Talk." The chairman the.a proposed a hearty vote of thanks to ail who had in any way helped to make the meeting the success it had proved, and this was caaried by acclamation. The Rev. W. C. Wood pronounced the benediction and the meeting terminated. The hymns sung during the evening were selected from various books, and were appropriate to the occasion, and were very nicely sung. Mr Duncan kindly presided at the harmonium During the evening the secretary's and treasurer's reports were read. The secretary's report stated that both teachers and scholars had reason to be thankful for the results of the past j year. Good work had been done, and they had lost none of their members by death, nor had sickness been very severe.'

The roll number was 82, and the average attendance in the morning was 49 (24 boys, and 25 girls), and in the afternoon 52 (26 boys, and 26 girls. Bight teachers ware on the roll, and the average attendance was five in the morning and six in the afternoon. Thanks were recorded to Mr Duncan for presiding at the harmonium, and to Mr and Mrs Woodley and friends, and to all who had assisted to make the anniversary a success. The treasurer's report showed that the receipts amounted to about £l2 6s 3d, and the expenditure to £8 14s 7d. This sum, however, did , not include the cost of printing the anniversary hymns, and the cost of the tea, which was not known. The expenditure included an item of £4 3s for prizes.