Congregational Church Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3712, 17 November 1880, Page 2

Congregational Church Soiree.

The anniversary soiree in connection with the above fehurch was held in the church, Mary strest, 1: at evening. A very fair number assembled, end did full justice to the tea, which was presided over by the ladies of the church. A{'er the tables were cleared awij, a public meeting was held. The proceedings opened with a hymn, and prayer by the Rev. Mr Taylor The choir followed with " Forward be oti.* watohword." The Chairman (Mr B. LaiehWy,) aaift

he had a good report to give them of the progress of tbe church during the past year, as they were now in a much more prosperous state than they had erer been before. Until lately they had been obliged to solicit aid from friends in England, but now he thought they could get on without it. He would not detain them, but would leave the speaking to the friends on his right and left, (Hers. Taylor and Robertson). He would much like to see better congregations on the Sunday mornings. He*hoped the church would be as successful in the coming year as it had been in the one past. Hymn, choir," Jerusalem, my glorious borne," which was received with applause. The Rev. Mr Adamson was next called upon, and in opening his address, said he always had a great difficulty in choosing a text to speak from. The meeting present was an example of cooperation, which was a very good idea. He could remember the time when there was hardly such a thing as cooperation among the different churches, and they were often at loggerheads. That was now past, and the churches of the present day had learnt to be more forebearing with one another. He then spoke of religious co-operation, and gave good advice as to the manner in which they could most easily secure success in the work of Christianity. After a solo from Mr Hilton, the Rev. Mr Taylor (of Auckland) came forward, and said he thought their Chairman bad a Very pleasant way of finding fault, and thought he must hare taken some lessons from Eowland Hill, as he certainly had that gentleman's style. Many young men of the present day were of opinion that reason and re relation were opposed to each other, but he did not think so. In his opinion reason was given that we might better understand revelation. Some person* disbelieved in the authenticity of the Bible because of its simplicity, and others on account of its mysteries, but they should remember that the Book was the thoughts of God written by men. Hi asked them if there was anything in [ the Book of Revelations which was opposed to reason, for he could not find it. Where would the world have got its moralityfromwithoutit was from theßible? If they were to allow all the objections raised to the Bible, there would soon be nothing left for them fa go by. After another hymn from the choir, the Chairman called upon the Rev. Mr Robertßon to address the meeting. The rev. gentleman, who was received with applause, said as the had been told of some of their weakness, he would tell them of their virtueß, and say a few words on "Punctuality and ..Regularity," of which he had heard the Thames people were models, (laughter). Punctuality was both a science and. an art. It had several definitions, and one often applied to it was the art of being just in time to be too late. It had many causes, one being clocks, some of these articles had a strange habit of being always wrong on Sunday, and making people late for church, though they could keep good time through the week. Regularity was another virtue, though people differed as to its meaning, some calling themselves everyday worshippers, when they did not nearly come up to that standard. Many people were subject to attacks of a strange disease, a kind of weariness, which generally came on on Saturday night, but disappeared by Monday morning. The punctuality and regularity of congregations would greatly help the work of the ministers. The speaker interspersed hit remarks with amusing anecdotes, which 'thoroughly illustrated Jke different points. The Revs. T. L. Davies, S. J. Neill, and W. J. Watkin also addressed the meeting, but pressure on our space prevents us giving a full report of their speeches. , The proceedings closed by the singing of the Doxology and pronunciation of the Benediction.