TEMUKA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2727, 20 October 1894, Page 2

TEMUKA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual gathering in connection with the Presbyterian Church at Temuka took place on Thursday evening in the Volunteer Hall. The evening was delightfully fine, and the at tendance large—far better than for several years past. On this occasion the gathering took the form of a conversazioni. Tables, crowded with the good things usually provided at soirees, were placed along the east side of the hall, and the seating accommodation was altered to allow greater freedom to those present to move to different parts of the hall for friendly chats. The provisions were provided by the ladies of the congregation. It was intended to open the proceedings with a musical item by the choir, but at the last moment it was found necessary to alter this arrangement and commence with the tea. About 7 o’clock prayer was offered up by the Rev. Mr Ross, and all in the hall were soon engaged in discussing the innumerable dainties and refreshing cups of tea handed round by a veritable host of ladies, assisted by a few gentlemen friends. The fair waitresses were most assiduous in attending to the wants of those present, and had the latter been as willing to take as the Radies were to give, the tea would have'lasted the whole evening. Shortly after 8 o’clock, the Rev. J. Dickson, who was suffering from a severe cold, ascended the platform and made a few remarks commenting on the length of the programme of speech and song to be gone through, and called on the choir for an anthem. After this the rev. gentleman was relieved by Mr Ferguson, who acted as chairman in a very happy manner.

The Rev. Mr White (of Pleasant Point) gave an eloquent address on“ Echoes and Responses,” giving a number of apt quotations from Tennyson, Butler, and others. When a boy sent a atone skimming across a lake, he was philosopher enough to notice that it caused tiny wavelets which spread and spread until they reached the opposite shore, but the boy also noticed that when. ha threw a ball on to the ground it simply rebounded. Echoes of unbelief were not new, and they might feel sure that the eternal rock of God would still withstand them. In the 17th century a Puritan doctor of divinity wrote a book which he entitled “A Bruised Reed.” The book might not be considered by some a very able one, but it fell into the hands of Richard Baxter, and in consequence he wrote a book which fell into the hands of Dr Doddridge. A book by Dr Doddridge led William Wilberforoe to Christ, and a book by him came into the hands of Thomas Chalmers, and showed him that he had never really understood evangelical truth, and the result was that he made the truth ring from end to end of the country. The rev. gentleman concluded by calling on young men to so live and to so labor that whatever record comes to light they may never be and sat down amid great applause. The Rev. C. H. Standage (Temuka) expressed his sympathy with Mr Dickson on his indisposition, and expressed the hope that he would be quite well by next Sabbath. After a few amusing,remarks on the length of the programme, and congratulating the pastor and officebearers on the excellent attendance, he delivered a thoughtful address on “ Spiritual Communism,” which he thought it would be well to recognise in the Christian Church. Communism is a working factor in the growth of tlqe Church. There are parts of the work of the Church in which the ministers would be glad to associate more of the ladies and gentlemen of their congregation with i hem, and the work would be better done. The New Testament view of the question was that every member should be a. worker. The wanted an increase, too, in the elements of love. The rev. gentleman pointed out that the minister could often do more good by directing than by actual working, and he felt sure that it would havo been well if they had had some laymen of the Church to address them that evening and given them their views besides the ministers. If they could get their ladies and gentlemen to co-operate more in Church work it would be well for the Church. He forcibly pointed out how some could assist with the psalmody of the Church to the mutual benefit of themselves and others, emphasised the lesson contained in Mr White’s address on “ Echoes,” and concluded by expressing the conviction that if the ladies and gentlemen of their Church would go forth in love and use their influence it would much increase the and strength of their Church. (Applause). The Rev, Mr Todd (Geraldine) opened with a few congratulatory remarks on the attendance (the best he had seen at Temuka), which evidenced the prosperity enjoyed; on the hall they were congregated in (it was not always so comfortable and bright), and on the weather. Very many of those present had kindly recollections of a former pastor, the Rev. Eneas Macintosh. Be had just received a paper giving an account of the induction of the rev. gentleman to the charge of the Church at Hollyburu, in Hampshire, in the south of England. He had begun his work under the happiest auspices, and if be kept his health he had no doubt he would do good work. The rev. gentleman then delivered an earnest address on “ Giving.” All agreed on the subject of giving, but they did not all agree with the way. There were various ways of giving. Some gave £lO at one time and half-a-crown another, or they gave when the spirit moved them, and then at the end of the year they found that the Church’s finances had gone back, and a special effort had to be made to make up the deficiency. He disapproved of special efforts. An old Scotch minister at a Church meeting where such an effort was necessary was reported to have said “Wo have tried all honest means to make ends meet, and failed; now we will have a bazaar.” The speaker then dealt with a number of ways of giving. He spoke of the “ selfdenying ” way, in which one deprived oneself of some necessary or luxury for a time in order to be able to give. There was much to be said in favor of this way, but he thought it savored of priggishness. Another way waa the “equal” way in which they gave as much to God as they kept for themselves, but very few could do that. Then there was the “ heroic ” WJl y^, w hich John Wesley carried out. He spent as little as possible on himself, and gave the rest to God. Usually they were just the opposite to this, and this was very wrong. What he believed in was “systematic” giviug. Those who had much should give much, and those tylw had little should give little. As their mo!U)s Increased, so they should increase their gifts to Gqtj- TM 8 system combined'many advantages jpd C^reim* would prosper if it was carried qqt. "No business could be carried oa Tfithout system. The money they iqade was not their 0171}. They were simply stewards of God, and ‘} a d a v \S]\ i to (pk tl}em what they had done with it. G}od wm constant to them, and they (S constant in return. God' said 'to

“ Freely ye have received; freely give.” As God had given to them, so they should give to others. He gave to them systematically, and so they should give to others. Mr Todd’s speech was listened to with marked attention, and elicited much applause. The Rev. Mr Boss (Otaio), who commenced to speak shortly before eleven o’clock, made a few humorous remarks as to the eloquence of the speech he was to have given, but which the lateness of the hour prevented his delivering, and was voiciferously applauded. His speech would have contained “ Fire ” at the beginning, “ fire ” in the middle, and “fire” at the end. (Great laughter). He had heard their lights had shone far away. Speaking seriously, he said he hoped the work they were doing for God would spread, and illumine the southern ocean. During the evening the following choice musical programme was gone through, under the direction of Mr J. G. Proudlock, the organist of the Church:— Anthem, “ Praise the Lord and call upon His Name ” (Elvey), choir; anthem, “ O Give Thanks” ( Rea ), choir; anthem, “ Thus Speaketh the Lord of Hosts ” (Stainer), choir; sacred song, “Calvary” (Rodney), Miss B. Smith; solo, “But Thou did not Leave ” (Handel), Miss A. Taylor; chorus, “ Lift Up Your Heads ” (Handel), choir; anthem, “Bles ed be the God and Father” (S. S. Wesley), choir; solo, “Jerusalem” (H. Parker), Mimi Campbell; anthem, “ Praise the Lord OMy Soul ” (Mozart), choir; duet, “’Tis Winter Wild” (Fawcett), Misses B. and M. Smith; recitative, “Fear Not” (Fawcett), Miss B. Smith; quartette, “Lot us now go” (Fawcett), Misses R. and M. Smith and Messrs Boulter and Whitehead; solo, “ How Glorious is the Moan Abode” (Fawcett), Miss A. Taylor; quartette,"The Eastern Magi” (Fawcett), Mimes Taylor and M. Smith and Messrs Boulter and Whitehead; chorus, “ Worthy is the Lamb” (Handel), choir. It is needless to say that the whole of the pieces, were well given, and showed the care taken at the rehearsals. The solos and the single duet were a treat, and the applause of the audience at the conclusion of each item showed how they were appreciated. Mr Geo. Steven (Winchester) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers, the ladies who had provided the tea, and to the choir. This was carried by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of the Doxology.