WOODBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2392, 30 August 1892, Page 3

WOODBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

A large number of members of the Presbyterian Church and their friends sat down to tea in the schoolhouae, Woodbtiry, on Friday evening, when a parish gathering was held to commemorate the opening of the new church. An excellent spread of good things was provided by Mesdames Webb, Dunlop, Campbell, Glanville, Cormack, McLeod, and by the bachelors. The tables were presided over by the ladies already mentioned, assisted by Misses Campbell (2), Webb gI), Dunlop, Glanville (2), Orton,Patrick, ormack, and McLeod (2). After tea the schoolroom was cleared, and the rest of the evening was spent in listening to addresses by Ministers and others, interspersed with songs from the united choirs of the Geraldine and Woodbury Presbyterian Churches, which were led by Mr T. Sherratt, who officiated at the instrument. The Rev. A. B. Todd was chairman, and after the choir had sung “ Gospel Bells ” he congratulated the Woodbury congregation on the completion of the work they had taken in hand, and he was pleased, as their Minister, to be present and rejoice in their joy. How the church was finished it should exist as a witness for Christ, where His gospel would be preached, and where men would not only be helped to live for Christ, but where others would be induced to come. Mr Todd then went on to speak of four marks of prosperity in a church. A living church was a working church, where every member recognised that he or she had a duty to perform, and performed it. Everything, however apparently useless, had a place, and everyone had a work to do. John Wesley had once said that his idea of a living church was where members were “At it, at it, always at it.” This was the motto they should choose for the Woodbury church. The church should also be a praying church. Tennyson had said “ More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” The church should be a growing church, and lastly, what constituted a living church was a giving church. Choir, “ Blessed Assurance ”; Mrs John Shaw, solo, “ Jesus, Lover of my soul.” The Rev. Mr Todd apologised for the absence of the Rev. J. Preston and Mr Musgrave, and called upon the Rev. W. Woollass to speak. The Rev. Mr Woollas said he believed in churches maintaining some signs of life and he thought that a church that had enlarged its borders, as the Woodbury Presbyterian Church had done, showed signs of much life. He commended them on the success of their eS'ort, and he gave them a good text to think over : “ Be ye also enlarged.” He hoped now they had enlarged their church they would also enlarge their Imarts and endeavour to do more good than they had ever done before. He spoke at some length on the great amount of gospel work which had yet to be done in the world, and mentioned that eight hundred million heathen had never yet heard the Gospel. Men required to-day were men of the W illiam Carey stamp, who denied themselves everything for the Gospel’s sake. Choir, anthem/* Lift UP mine eyes ” solo part taken by Miss Dunlop, Solo, “ Too Late,” by Miss Dunlop. Mr Colin McKenzie spoke next and expressed his pleasure at being present at the enlargement of the new church. He congratulated the congregation on the advancement they had made since the time when they first met for worsiiip in the schoolroom, and lie urged them to still continue to work for the advancement of the Gospel. Mr McKenzie then took up the subject the cultivation of the mind, and dealt with it in its varied aspects, and especially addressed himself to young men, whose duty he considered was to train their minds find store them with wisdom and knowledge. Solo, by Miss Webb, “ I’ve read of a Beautiful City,” assisted in tbe chorus by thecboir. Song, by the choir “All the way.” lur J. Webb, on behalf of the church committee, returned their hearty find sincere thanks to the ladies for the kind manner in which they provided edibles and assisted at the tables. The local ladies wished him to give special thanks to Mrs Dunlop, who had not only provided a table but had come from Geraldine to attend to it.

Mr Thomas Morrison proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers. Mr. D. McDonald said that the members of the Woodbury Presbyterian Church had found that the church was too small for their use, and they made up their minds that they would have an addition to it. Tenders were called for the work, and the lowest received and accepted was £B7. Subscription lists were immediately got out,

and in all £7O 10s Gd was collected. IV un this and money made by the tea meeting and Sunday’s collection they had in hand £B3 3s, leaving a debt on the building of about £4, which he would be glad to receive from anyone present who had a spare £5-note in his pocket. A gentleman pi’esent hereupon beneficiently offered to make up the deficiency, and it was then announced that the new church was totally free from debt. This was received with satisfaction by the audience.

Mr McDonald moved a vote of thanks to the choir, especially mentioning those who came from Geraldine, for the beautiful singing they rendered during the evening. The choir sang “ Peace be Still,” and one of the moat successful meetings of its kind ever held in Woodbury was brought to a close by the choir and audience singing “ Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”