WESLEYAN CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2370, 16 June 1892, Page 2

WESLEYAN CHURCH, TEMUKA.

The anniversary tea meeting and public gathering in connection with the Temuka

Wesleyan congregation, which took place on Tuesday evening, passed off very successfully, although the inclemency of the weather caused the attendance to be not so large as could have been wished. The tea was laid in the Social Hall, and the tables were presided over by Mesdames Morrison, Opie, and Beaumont, and Misses Storey and Opie. After tea an adjournment was made to the church. Mr J. W, Miles was deputed to preside at the public gathering, which was opened by the singing of Hymn 224, and by prayer offered by the Rev. W. J. Williams. The Rev. Mr Dellow conducted a choir composed of members of the several churches, and in the course of the evening several anthems were sung in a particularly pleasing manner. After a few introductory remarks the chairman called upon the secretary, Mr H. M. Miles, to read the annual report and balance-sheet, which were as follows :

" Your trustees, in making their third annual report of this Church, have to state that the income from ordinary sources does not meet ordinary liabilities. The main source from which we receive our income might easily be doubled if a greater number of our people would take sittings in the church. The trustees think the low price of the sittings should be the means of all regular attenders becoming seat holders; if that were the case it would facilitate matters generally. It is not that such a very large sum is required to meet expenses, the principal expenditure being £3O a year to the loan funds, which has been paid up to date, reducing the original loan of £3OO to £2lO. We now have another loan (£75)

for the enlargement of the parsonage, repayable by quarterly instalments of £2 10s, which makes a total of £lO to be paid to the loan fund every quarter. To enable them to do this the trustees appeal to the members and adherents for regular support and assistance. The building is still in a good state of repair, but will soon need repainting. A lamp has been

erected over the gate, which is of great benefit on dark nights; for this thanks are nue to the Rev. Mr Dellow, who took the matter in hand and raised the money by Is subscriptions. Thanks are due to the choir for the valuable assistance rendered by them during the year, and to Mr James Harrison for acting as organist. A change has lately taken place by which Miss Every has kindly consented to act as organist, and Mr Harrison to take a place in the choir. The parsonage has been enlarged and refurnished, which has been needed for some considerable time. It now places us in a more favorable position. The income from Social Hall has not been so large as previous years owing to its not being let so much. With a good church, Sunday school, and parsonage, the trustees hope now to meet all requirements, and get more liberal support during the coming year. The balance-sheet of the trust account showed the receipts (including balance due to parsonage trust of £2O 9;3 Id) to be £65 4s lOd, and the expenditure to the same amount. Mr Low then contributed a solo, which

was very correctly sung. The Rev. Mr Wollass, of Geraldine, at the invitation of the chairman, delivered a brief but telling address on " Aggressive

Christian Work," prefacing his remarks by expressing his pleasure at being present that evening. He claimed that the trend of modern thought was to do away with fossilised institutions. The Church must justify its existence, and if it intended to survive as a power for good much more interest must be displayed by its members in its spiritual functions. The fashionable cloak of religion must be thrown to one side, and earnest members of any community must go in for more aggressive work. People were apt to make their comparisons of Christianity from the study of people they knew. They frequently made mistakes, and Christianity suffered. More earnestness and life was wanted, and they would score

success iu proportion, The Rev. W. J, Williams selected for his subject " The Church in relation to Moral Religion." This was a subject which he claimed demanded increased attention. Some people thought the Church had no business outside of its religions aspect; if it went outside its influence was weakened. Wesleyans, they considered, had nothing to do but save souls. This might be true, but it seemed to him the Church had a message to carry to individuals. If they really did their duty the church must be antagonistic to all kinds of evil, drinking, gambling, etc. He referred to the recent action of the Government in withdrawing prohibition from a part of the King Country, an action that he claimed called for a protest from Christianity. Pressure must be brought tq check gambling, and he was pleased to see that efforts are being made by the Auckland Ministers' Association to stop the totalisator. The various Christian communities would require to demonstrate their earnestness by making m emphatic protest against these evils. Mr "W. Gr. Rutland then sang in j excellent style " David before Saul," and i vas warmly applauded. j The Rev. Mr Dickson, the next speaker, I ifter a few preliminary remarks, devoted umself to pointing out " How Modern .

Discoveries in Bible Lands are confirming Gospel Truths." People now-a-days were not content with mere hearsay and superficial examinations. Many old ideas were exploded. Old notions with regard to the causes of rain, the physical features of earth and sky, were being swept away by the influence of progressive thought. It was safe to say that twothirds of the works of the present day were obsolete, and the text-book of today would not be used in a year or so. Was it not then remaakable that amid all these changes the Bible held its own on an unassailable rock. Antiquarian research daily confirmed the truths of the Bible. Investigations recently made showed that in the borders of the land of Goshen there were remains of a mighty city. Bricks were found there without straw, and tablets discovered pointed to the fact that there were records of a foreign people being employed to make bricks, etc. The statues of Egyptian gods had also been found, and one of Bamses VI., the man who employed the Israelites to build treasure houses, etc. Ramses 11. was also found in the form of a mummy. All these things confirmed in a remarkable manner the Bible history of the Israelites, and showed that the stories of them were simple truths, and not mere fables.

The Rev. J. Lawrie spoke principally on the subject of "Prohibition," and, after a brief address, moved—" That this meeting protests in the strongest possible terms against the action of the Government in removing from a portion of the King Country the prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquor, and calls upon the Government to restore the same without delay."

The Rev. J. Dellow then rendered in most expressive style " The Last Man," after which he formally seconded the resolution movei by the last speaker, and spoke very emphatically upon the subject. The Rev. Mr Dellow then moved a very hearty vote of thanks to the speakers, the choir, and the ladies who assisted at the tea.

This was carried by acclamation, after which the Doxology was sung and the Rev. Mr Lawrie pronounced the benediction.