Grahamstown Wesleyan Church.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4460, 21 April 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

Grahamstown Wesleyan Church.

The anniversary of the above church Wiscelebrated on the 3rd inst; by a soree. ■'■ and pnblic meeting. < The soiree was held it the sohoolroom, and was well attended. After doing fall justice to the tea, an J^lAßnt was made to the church. j^^^^^HEL Bull occupied the chair, and had' been opened with > prayer, called upon the choir O>. vow amiable are the HHHHk^v," which was done very creditably. The secretary then read a statement relative to the Trust Fund, which showed thVtotal receipts for last year to hare been £373 including a loan of £250 from Messrs Bollerson and Son. The expenditure had been £399 10 8 lOd, thus making . the total liability to date £276. Against this however, was the proceeds of the * present meeting. Choir£f'Awake, awake." The Chairman said there; was not time for'hihl to make a speech, but he had been thinking of the swift, flight, of time.' He had now been a year with them, and he had found the Thames people what he had been Hold they were—sociable- and pood workers. ■> The year bad been a successful one, and he was pleased to have . been , among them. He then introduced, The Bev^ Mr Adam, late of Bristol, who spoke on "Limiting God." After expressing his pleasure at being present, he said he had no doubt they had much to be thankful for in the past, but the future * should be the chief concern. They should work with all their might, but should ever trust.to God for guidance and blessing. It seemed a strange thing to him to limit God, but it was-.too often done by Christians, and this was one of the causes of, the work not prospering as much as it should. Why should they only pray for the. conversion of one or two; why not trust more 'to . the, Almighty Father's goodness,' and ask freely ? What were they expecting in the coming year P They had a great and a glorious gospel to pro claim, and they should expect large bless- ! ings. . God's mercies were also often limited by unbelief; they did not say * they , .disbelieved in His power; they" would not. even allow them selves to think so, and yet they did not look for tha answers to their petitions; they did not trust Him as they should. t-JJMHi|jtfv an earnest speech by ex hfl^^^^^Ht to have more faith, and to for greater prosperity, and blessed,in their work. i lift up mine eyes." S. J. Neill spoke on HP^uTolatry." He referred briefly to its ■ origin, which some thought had arisen ■'tfnrough man not being able to conceive a Wr spirit God, and therefore worshipped the X" Inn, moon, <fee. This state «f things led ■ onto the mythology of the Greeks, Scan-. H dinavians, and other nations. After thus preferring to the outward aspect of idolatry, Hhe explained that the words " idol" .and, VVfidea " had really the same, meaning, so Kwe were all idolaters in one sense of the ■word. The second part of the word ■ " idolgtry," however, qualified to a great ■extent the first part, making it mean the ■worship [of a hireling, and not that of a Hfree will. A warning should be taken by Kthis, for preaching in the past had, he HtitojUEhtt. appeared too much to teach the ■ doing, of good so as to go to heaven, and ■ the shunning of bad lest hell should be I the result;, whereas the real object I should be the doing of good for its own ■ sake/and not merely for the reward it" I would bring. I ' Choir: " Chord of Bemembrance." ' ■ The Bey. Mr Parsonson reminded them I that the wealth-of the church did not. I consist so much in the number of persons ■ •that could be brought together, but in the I right direction of its energies. The I present age was' n' great one for utilsing ■ Ike faces of*nature, which our forefathers ■ did not know how to turn to m account,' but no method had yet ■ been invented to utilise fully the ■ right * direction of its energies." The was a great one for utilising which our forefathers how fe turn to Ino method had ' yet' to utilize fully the' Hj|mHP|p thei „ Church. There was j ■too much waste at present; too much ■ energy expended in controversy/and ; ■speculation* If they could only be" satis-1 Hfied with what John said, " It doth not ■yet) appear what we shall be," a. great | ■ deal of energy spent now' in4ryin£to find ■ out, more qbout the fntu're state would be ] ■ saved. Again, there was too' much loss | I of time in quarrelling, and in grumbling, < ■ and the'view taken of Christianity was too ■ despondent/ The elements of !hope were enough, and to ensure, the HHHHH|esired the Church would -have to the primitive that was able to save, Talking but the»quiet influence of a holy HHHHp life was 'more, powerful to men. In conclusion he hoped • ■ that their labors would be blessed in the ■ coming year. -'""- - ■ Choir: "Theearth is the^Lord's." ■ ' JChe Sev. C; E. Barley thought they ■ must all be thinking there had been I thought enough, and enough work laid I 6ut for doing, that night,- and if they I would only dp their best, and worship the ■'.God to whom they bad been pointed by I Mr 'Adams, they would be sure to.meet ■ with success. ; He would not 'therefore I farther encroach upon their time. ■ ; Th» usual votes of thanks to the ladies ■ who had assisted in the preparing' of "the I tea, the organist, Mr W. Gribble, the ■ choir, and the speakers were then passed, I and the meeting was closed in the usual I manner., ■•' ' ', '* "■