PARISH GAHERING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2397, 10 September 1892, Page 3

PARISH GAHERING.

The annual pariah gathering in connection with the Geraldine Presbyterian Church was held on Thursday evening, in the Volunteer Hall, when, as usual for such gathering, there was an exceedingly large attendance. This year the tables, eight in number, were laid out with good taste, and looked very tempting. There was, however, very little attempt at wall decorations, the bachelors being the only ones who had any desire for this kind of show. At their table, stretched across the wall, was the motto of the word “Bachelor” neatly worked in wattle flowers by Mrs Dunlop, and above this was a floral decoration designed and arranged by the bachelors themselves, which was in itself a masterpiece of art and beauty. The following were the ladies who provided tables : —Mesdames D, Shaw, John Shaw, Dunlop, McLean, Bell, McKenzie, Irvine, McKay, A. Reid, W. Patrick, J. W. Pye, Ashy, Annan, Walton, Grooves, Mundell, Steven, Skinner, Beattie, Archibald, Mr Mailer and _ the bachelors. The ladies who presided besides the names already mentioned were Mesdames Scroggic, Watts, Lawson, and Misses Shaw, McKenzie, Bell, Irvine, McKay, Reid, Boswell, Patrick, Scroggie, and Beach, Those who presided at the bachelor’s table were Misses McLean, Winney, Dunlop, and Morrison. At the after meeting was a very large attendance, and after tea speeches were interspersed with anthems sung by the united choirs of the several Geraldine churches. Mr G, Sherratt led with the baton, and Miss Fish presided at the organ. The Rev. A. B. Todd was the first speaker, and mentioned that the parish gathering had been held later this year than last year because it was thought advisable to have it when the winter months were over; consequently it was 15 months sines their last gathering. During that time the congregation had made steady progress. lie was glad to say that the attendances at their ordinary .services Sabbath aid,or Sabbat!i were well kept up, and he noticed that whenever they made an advance it was always kent up. During the .15 months 24 persona had bsen added to the church by examination and by certificate. TJiey had lost four fiiembers by removal to other districts and five by death, so they had really gamed j o since last gathering. They had also made great progress at Woodbury, and erected )t hew chuvyli jbuilding, and this waa till x vl ‘»ndid snirit ** S I K -- . * mirmony which oxisned amongst members thorn. During the year ho had made dt) pastoral and ho had officiated at live; ;,,amages and \\i if ( , WHa j)leased to see the congregation succeeding as ft'Jiad done, and R was very eimeuragingt.) him as their minister, ana he uoped the praui'osss i hey had made, would only bo li\a beginning Jf greater, work in, the (utuve, (AppUu-io).

Choir : Anthom —“ Praise Him.”

The Rev. White, Pleasant Point, congratulated Mr Todd on the excellent report he had to give. Mr White then went on to spesk of the freedom of speech which should be allowed ministars of the Gospel. A great statesman of Britain had once said to an audience “ I stand unmuzzled before you.” Mr White claimed that ministers should stand before their congregations unmuzzled. But he would bo ashamed of any church that simply gave its ministers carte blanche to retail any clap-trap in the pulpit to catch the ears of the groundlings and would build up a church on such a shaky foundation as that. He would allow no man to stand between him and the declaration of the truth, and no man, not even the wealthiest in the land, should prejudice him in his ministry. Solo—-“ Ora Pro Nobis,” Mr Robson. The Rev. Mr Ross, Otaio, was glad to hear of the prosperity of the Geraldine congregation, and he put it down to r the fact that they had a young man from Otago. Mr Ross spoke m glowing terms of the ability of Mr Todd as a minister, and wished him unlimited prosperity in the future. He hoped the church would go on increasing in strength and power. His ideal of a church spiritually prosperous was that it should have rest, be edified, be walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Ho'y Ghost, and be multiplied. Solo—“ He wipes the tear from every eye,” Mr Colder. Anthem— £< He leadeth mi,” Choir. The Rev. J. Preston spoke next. He had been knocking about the Geraldine district for something like twenty years, and had been to a good many Presbyterian gatherings, and, although he was not a Presbyterian himself, ho always tried to make himself believe he was a Scotchman. He was glad to congratulate their minister on his great success, and he noticed that there was a spriuklimg of his (the speaker’s) sheep present that night. (Laughter). He thought perhaps Mr Todd had got one or two who once went to the English Church, but he would not quarrel with him about it. Ho would give him this piece of warning, however, “ Stray sheep are very apt to stray again.” (Laughter.) In future he would have to look sharply after Mr Todd. Mr Preston then spoke of the unity which already existed between different denominations, and he said that the Presbyterian Church and Church of England at Geraldine had always been on friendly terms. He instanced as a sign of unity that the various churches used hymn books containing similar hymns. Solo —“Rest,” Mrs John Shaw. The Rev. Mr Dickson, Temuka, expressed his pleasure at being present on the occasion of their anniversary. He complimented the ladies on the excellent spread of good things they had prepared, and the splendid manner in which the tables were arranged. He was satisfied to see that Church matters were in such a position, and if they went on adding twenty-five members to their communion roll every year they would do well. Sometimes, however, ho thought their communion roll should be purged as well as added to. Mr Dickson then spoke at some length on the catacombs and the dangers which the primitive Christians had to undergo in order to hold divine worship. Solo —“ In Thee, 0 Lord, I put my trust,” Mr H. W, Moore. The Rev. W. Woollass spoke on usefulness. We were living in a utilitarian age, and had no use for persons who did not use the talents God had given them. There was a number of people who did not justify their existence by any useful work. He would like to see all the young people connected with the Geraldine Presbyterian Church taking an active part in the work. The Church had always been indebted to the lady members for a great amount of useful work, but there were some people who were as backward at doing anything as they were at getting their teeth drawn. He called upon the young men and young women to do the work God had wished them to do, and the Church would then see the brightest era it had ever seen. Anthem —“ Bless the Lord,” choir.

Tne Rov. Mr Clark, Mackenzie Country, commended the Geraldine people for their great amount of endurance, and the excellent report they had been able to present. It was a good report because it showed a steady increase of persons joining the Church for the first time by examination, and this was what was wanted.

Solo—“ Late, too late,” Miss Dunlop. The Rev. Mr Gillies, Tirnaru, hoped that as they were increasing in membership they were also increasing in liberality, and could show a good financial report. He warned them against gossiping and backbiting in the Church, and said that he had always delighted to come to Geraldine, for there was such a friendly feeling between the different denominations. Mr Gillies then commented humorously upon the speeches made by the previous speakers, and said that they wanted thorough harmony between the minister and his people. They should have one common end in view—to do good. Mr Stevens moved a vote of thanks to the speakers.—Carried. Mr Allan proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies, and thanked them for the trouble they had taken with the tea.— Carried Mr K. McKenzie moved a vote to the chair, and especially thankee the choirs of the other denominations for joining with their own choir in producing such pleasing music. —Carried. The Rov. Mr Todd moved a vote of thanks to all those who had assisted in any way at the tea, and the meeting closed with the choir singing “ All Thy works praise Thee.”