Thames Baptist Sunday School Anniversary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3688, 20 October 1880, Page 2

Thames Baptist Sunday School Anniversary Soiree.

' The anniversary soiree of the above school was held in the church, Willoughby street, last evening. There was a Tery good attendance, the room being quite full. After a good tea which was presided over by the ladies of the school had been partaken of, the tables were, oleared, and a public meeting was held. The proceedings opened by the singing of a hymn, " Lead me to Jesus," and prayer by the Her. R. Laishley. The choir followed with "Forward be our watchword." >

The Chairman (The Rev< T. L. Davies) said that though he would like to make a speech, time would not permit. He was truly grateful to God .for. the success which had attended their efforts in the Sunday School during the past year. He might say that never in his whole experience had he been amongst a more earnest and zealous band of workers than the members of the Baptist Church on the Thames.

Hymn, choir, " Beautiful home," whicl was rendered very nicely. The Chairmrn then called upon thi Secretary (Mr Hammerton) to read th< annual report, of which we make thi following abstract: —The average attend ance in the morning had been 70, and ii the afternoon double, that number; tha the number on the books was 200, 8( boys and 120 girls; that four new teachen had joined the school, makingthentfmbei 22,14 males and 8 females; that 3f nen books had been added to the library, at t cost of £3 2s 9d; that there were now oi hand 337 Tolumes; that the sale ol as popular as ever; and' that the officer* monthlyjmagazines and bound volumes wai of the school desired to return thanks tc the friends who had assisted the institution by their contributions. The Treasurer's report was read bj Mr Eenshaw, the Superintendent, and showed that the receipts had been £49 6s 2d, and the expenditure £49 11s lid, leaving a deficit of 5s 9d. Hymn, Choir, ■■' March onward." The Chairman then introduced to the audience in a few well chosen words the Bey. J. Upton Davis (of Dunedin) who then gave his lecture on "The life of Norman McLeod. In a few appropriate and humorous remarks the rev. gentleman deprecated the practice of young men.ileaving the Sunday School/when they are on the verge of manhood. He then gave a description of the difference between city and country lcds, and said the latter with training could aspire to any position in* the world. Poorness was no reason why men should not be great, as the life of the ministers of Scotland would' show. Norman McLeod was brought up in a Scotch manse, and had endured all the hardships and enjoyed the pleasures of such a life, and the result was he grew up athletic aud healthy.., He was Dot very well educated, but was a great reader, a good logician, and very fond of poetry,. especially the Writings of Shakespeare. It was at first feared he was not sedate, enough for a minister, for which vocation he was intended. He became the puoil of Dr Chalmers, who was one of tae leading divin tof the Scotch Church. Soon after this he went abroad, but soon returned to York, and here he made his first mark in public at a banquet in honor ot 'Sir Eobert Peel, whom he had assisted at an election. When at Edinburgh his brother James died, and this was the turning point in his piety. Soon after this he married. His diary showed bow changeful his moods were; at times he would be brimful of humor and wit, and at others he argued out great questions, showing i that he was an argumentatist of no mean standing. His first appointment was the charge of a

kirk in a small village in the south weßfc of Scotland, where he had a strange congregation, many of them being sceptics and infidels. Iv preaching he always learnt his sermon off by heart, and never used notes. Soon after receiving this appointment the great division of high and'low church parties began, and McLeod took an active part in the struggle. He did not agree with either of these parties, bat was one of a small party who were called the " Forty Thieves," by the other two parties, from their numbers, McLeod, though very unwillingly, took active steps in the debates of the subject. Not long after he was removed to Dunkei(h, where he continued hia labours. While here he edited " Good Words," and several other journals of a religions character. Most of his energies were, however, concentrated in " Good Words," which continues to flourish, his writings being generally liked, especially some entitled "The Starling," "Billy Buttons/ "Bemniscenses of a Highland manse," Ac. His views on the Sabbath did not find favor with the other divines of the city, and some even disliked him so much as to refuse to recognise him, and one even hissed at him in the street. This, however, blew over, and he soon resumed his old place, only it was made doubly secure. He was very fond of boating* He was next removed to India, but .had to return in consequence of ill health. His love for his profession never flagged* but seemed to increase as he grew older.: „ His jovial manner did not please some of his colleagues. (The lecturer then quoted. from several of Norman McLeod's letters, showing his humorous spirit, which highly amused the audience.) McLeod's manner was very taking with young people, and his witty and good-humoured nature toon gained confidence. A preacher, in Norman McLeod's opinion, should try to fix ':■ the attention of his audience, and he did not think laughter of a quiet kind was out of place in the pulpit. McLeod's style of preaching was not rapid, but was a continuous flow of words, explaining fully and simply his subject. He was industrious in Visiting, and no man was too low for him to visil and converse with. This useful and noble life, however, came to a close, and he was buried amongst the Campion Fells. The lecturer conohlded . by quoting Norman McLeod's last words in public." , ' " ' A hearty vote of thanks was then accorded to the Bey. lecturer, who briefly acknowledged the honor* ;,;■,: The choir then gave " Always Cheer* ful," after which Mr Jones (of Auckland) addressed the meeting, ana gave a very humorous speech, keeping his audience well amused. The Bey. B. Laishley followed in a few 5 'words, giving-some very good' advice , to teachers how to keep their young.men iv the Sunday School. He said they should make them their personal friends, and strive to gain their confidence. \ '.'-"'; Hymn, choir, "I ought to lore my Saviour." , "',...-. The Beys. S. J. Neill and W. J. Watkin also addressed the meeting. " The Bey. Mr Adamson said hd had intended to speak of "Mistakes," but he hoped to have another, opportunity of so doing. He thoroughly agrerd with the Bey, Upton Davis' remarks about the cheerfulness of Norman McLeod-, and thought that hilarity was. not out of plaoe in' the pulpit if used moderately." >.., Votes of thanks were then sseorded to the speakers, the ladies who hid jmmded at the tables, and the chairman. '-"" r'; The singing of the hymn "CHotiaiT and the pronouncing of the benedfotion , closed the proceedings. ' •* .'''::; ;