GERALDINE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2334, 24 March 1892, Page 3

GERALDINE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

tea meeting for a twofold purpose was held in the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine, on Tuesday evening. la the first place it was the Sunday School anniversary tea, and in the second place it was found a fit occasion on which to welcome the Rev. W. Woollass to the Geraldine circuit. The tables, four in number, were amply supplied with "• eatables, and were well patronised. Mrs Amos Sherratt provided one of the tables, and the others were made up in in small quantities by a number of ladies. The presiding ladies were: Mesdames Prouting, Maslin, and Kennington, and Misses Andrews, Prouting, Maslin, Stonehouse, anu Sherratt. At the after meeting Mr W. S. Maslin (superintendent of the Sunday School) occupied the chair, and an afficient choir of children, under the leadership of Mr E. Robson, accompanied by Miss Andrews at the organ and Mr E. Gibbard on the flute, opened the programme with the chorus " Anniversary Greeting," and it may be worth while here to mention that the singing by the children was a treat, and was praised by all. The chairman spoke of the condition of the finances of the Sunday School. He was sorry to say they had not been so prosperous as in years past, for various reasons. Since the sports had been established at Temuka on Boxing-day it had taken away a large number of adults ' from their annual school treat, and it was to those persons they had looked for the most financial assistance. The income for the past year to December Ist from all sources was £23 5s sd, and the expenditure £2l 17s lOd. Since then the income had amounted to £l4 0s 3d and the expenditure to £1616s sd, leaving them on the wrong side. They had now a great many more children than formerly, the attendance being between 140 and 150, and the outlay in books, tickets, and other things was considerable. Recitations Mary Ramble, " Goodbye " ? and Jennie Parker, " The Cheese and the Mice." Chorus by choir, "No More Fears." Recitations Lizzie \ Maslin, "The Missing One"; Bertha Sherratt, "A Little Bird"; Mabel Richards, " The Beauties of Nature." The Rev. A. B. Todd said he was glad to be present because he was fond of children, and also to welcome their new minister, with whom he hoped to be able to co-operate and work hand in hand. Mr Todd then addressed the children for a short time on influence. There wai an influence going out from them to others, and they were not to think that because they were little in their own estimation that they were little in God's sight. Longfellow, in his poem " The Worker," said—- " Nothing useless is, or low, Which in its place is best, And what seems but idle show Strengths and supports the rest." In life they should have some great aim, and see that they were going about it the best way in which it could be accomplished. They would require to study the characters of others if they wished to influence them in the right way. The recipe they should remember was that if they would do good they must be good. Chorus by choir—" I Will Trust Thee." Recitations —Robert Newport, "I am Great and You are Small"; Elsie Sherratt, " When Mamma was a Little Girl"; George Booker, «The Little Star"; Hettie Wallack, "Apple Time for Me " ; Gertie Ward, recitation. Captain Paton, of the Salvation Army, was the next speaker, and joined in the welcome they had given the new minister. She was glad to see the children present, and she hoped the teachers would see that they were not only brought,up with intelligence, but also in the fear of God. Duet Misses Annie Bowkett and Maggie Morrison, " Home Beyond the Tide." Recitations Sarah Fenn, "Pretty Robin"; Flo. Maslin, "Be Careful What You Say"; George Sherratt, " Work and Win." The Rev. J. Cocker gave a few reminiscences of life in the Old Country, which he had left 18 months ago, and he

' assured the audience that the folk there forward with great eagerness to tea ■testings. As they had listened to the recitations from the children, they had some very sweet little sermons preached to them. He had formed the acquaintance of Mr Woollass and many other ministers in New Zealand and was proud to count their new minister a friend of his. He was sure they would agree with him when he said that his friend's work had been strong in the past, and had he not worked too hard he would tc-day be able to do a greater work. The strongest recommendation he had was the noble work he had done a few miles distant from Geraldine. He hoped they would work for good spiritual results under his ministry, and good financial results would be sure io follow. Speaking of the dissimilarity of taste that might exist between the Revs. Wood and Woollass, he appealed to them not. to find fault with their minister if his style differed from that of his predecessor. They should have practical J sympathy for their minister, and not desert the prayer meeting. _ They should respect the minister's calling, trust him, confide with him, give him their attention, pray for him, and work in unison with him. Chorus—" Come ye happy children." VEecitations Fred, Maslin, "Only a "\boy" ; Fred. Wallack, " My best girl" ; Jane Fyfe, "Winter"; Walter Masliu, " The boy who helps his mother " ; Mary Billings, Recitation; Fanny Jones, " A child's dream"; Willie Fyfe, "The "Worker"; Annie Bowkett, #Qyer the Jordan." Duet—Fanny Gibson and Emily Maslin, "The glad message." Chorus—" Bring them in." Miss Jane Fyfe was presented with Mr Robson's prize for the best conduct at singing practices. The Rev. W. Woollass thanked them for the very hearty ministerial reception they had given him, and was very pleased at the kinds words which had been spoken on his behalf. He believed that God had sent him to Geraldine because he had a work for him to do, and he trusted, by help of God, that he would speak out T*the truth, and would ask them to do their part in the work. He would rather break stones on the road than be their minister and do nothing. Ho did not want to be in Geraldin9 and do nothing, and did not believe in those people who aimed at nothing and hit it. He wanted his people (,o realise, that " It is good to be here."

He had to move a vote of thanks to the ladies, and ho hoped they were prepared to help him in the church work during the coining year. In Timaru he found that" The ladies were the best men." (Laughter). When he went to the ladies be always got work done, but the men would get out of it if they could. The vote of thanks was for the ladies who had provided tho tea ; for Mr Robson, who had done nobly with the singing; for Miss Andrews, who had done her best at the organ; for the Revs. Cocker and Todd, and the Captain of the Salvation Army, for their presence, and to all who had helped in any way to make the meeting a success. Master W. Fenn was presented with Mr Robson's prize for the best boy during singing practice, and the meeting closed with the benediction.