Welcome Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3169, 16 April 1879, Page 2

Welcome Soiree.

Deipite the wretched state of the road* last night, a fair assembly met on the occasion of the welcome of the Her. Mr Watkins to preside orer the Wesleyan pastorate of this district, vice Hey. B. 8. Sunn. After a good tea had been partaken of in the schoolroom, the Church was taken possession of, aDd proceedings commenced by the singing of a hymn., Mr Ashby haying taken the chair, prayer was offered by Mr Mitchell. Mr Ashby said it was the lot of their ministers to travel about, one went and another came, and they met then for publicly welcoming their new pastor, the Bey. Mr Watkins. He called upon Mr Miller (secretary) tor read his report, which showed that- during the past year the expenditure was £110 16s Sd, the' receipts ,£6l}l£s 10d, and the debt OH the Church parsonage had been' considerably: reduced during'the year, and there only remained £351 to be paid off. : An 'anthem by the choir was bens i**«n with good effect. \taC^ . The Bey. B. Laishley address'edJh* D meeting. As had been said, he was quite sura the attendance would have been intich larger than it-was had the weather been jpropitious. He had met with. Mr Watkins aoba after arrival, arid had pro- * posed that he should lead their united service when next Jneld/and the way in whiph it was responded to impressed the speaker with! ihe opinion that * their oew friend was willing to do his duty heartily* He could appreciate the itinerant system, because it brought before them the whole array of talent at .the disposal of the Wosleyan Conference. In alluding to the viupitedyservicesjjha said they, were „ about to start on a fresh term. ' "

i Mr T. James,aaidjbe wouldn't make a speech—he would rather not say anything, but on this occasion, his regard for the Church induced him to rise. Me liked the itineraiit.l/Btoßi^and -reftrred to the many changes which had occurred to the , jjther churcheß, as well as the Wesleyan, eio*^, perhaps, their iriends th» Co«gre« Rationalists, who had managed to keep their pastor. They tod-had some good men, but each man had peculiarities, and he would be- a itrtnttf duo. who had .mi Eeculiaritiei. He bade Mr'WatkiniA , e'atfty'^elcafee.'^.-' n-^mUlnr . g>o<!s ■ -to ; The choir—" 0, how amiable are Xhf dwelling's]"- ii£exWll§W«yl». <*)«P vcircqToO ! The Chairman here said the difference of receipts and exp^Haiture of the yearl' (£49) touJA J>e i&dupxyby £15, the pro- f Oeeda of the tea. " L ' Bfl^JL J. Heill addressed the audience* and in starting said iteould not be ex* peeredthat many of our brave-soldieM-who had.been at Jhe. Waikato campaign could be"present. He adTocat*dTths' united effortiof. aUchurebes in' promulgate ing a go? 4 and proper jpitij, which was much better than thejeaching of doctrine in ihepUw,,, He. gave \he,, right hand of Mr.flidks^doomei their pastor ;Mho believed he waajhe^ttgaort' of a man, and there was,much work for him ? He never was in,a,place, he said,,.where,rj there were so many who had strayed from; the Church, and were wandering in sher by-way of ■ainiJl ''wmQ ■ ■ . j^.^r)' : Another selfotioa of musio wu five&T b/tne^jhttiif. v?-w^^ >^i<i%ib,\r Mr (Tamblyjtt! briefly addressed^tiuo. audience. He 7referred to the diminished^ debt; and he Wished tii« next three yeMrs would see more work done than the past tnree^eari; rTh^ere, was much work in the SundayfScliQol^ißlheGhur^^d i Mr Tredinmck _also addressed the meeting. conKratuUtiag jus hearers on the arrival of Mr Watkins, whom He was sure i Choir rendered ai^ aptheni in a very superior manner. 1 was rery kindly received. He had done more hand-shaking refteiitiytSan he had jdone-for,*long time^ Wf&i&S'Mfrm<^; ol\ijD, bi4^ke ? was thanlctuljti them for their very great kintfncis? Hd had been in the Chuwh 20 years» »ndt at finthe had/ B Utl«d *« a local preacher, and as a boy he had~preaohed. He had coHe/ft be their piitftr and h»trflsM*i L ba; woulS do his duty in'the sight of God mi fore 0w»; } SP^-M WSJ^Wstruoiinthe ftfimi TO#^J^H»is#efl*ft|o»l affair,,!the ; ji9]skt,o|j U^e; Church, between the peoplr aid t^e,pastor., H,eent^sias. ticalljufH^upcaparenvsJpwrim their iami lef^r^He.stajhejf.wfjul^fißiJwii a humhje, wan, r he 7 had f nothing '.to, % high minded about., r He, desirodtheat to '- a^quajitfhjmiftjbpre.wereanysickamobf them, so that he could soon .ministernnto them, and save misondefstancling perhaps. ,00 ajTASivr ■ B'KQj^ri ! A vote of thanks was moved by Mr Mitchell aatfi^^Df: Mr Pafeoe to the