The Congregational Church Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5253, 18 November 1885, Page 2

The Congregational Church Soiree.

The Congregational Church, in Mary street, held their anniversary soiree last evening, and was, on the whole, a very successful affair, notwithstanding the absence of some of the speakers who had been invited and expected. Their places, however, were most satisfactorily filled. After the preliminary tea, which was very bountifully provided, and done fall justice to, and at which there were 120 present, the Rev. R. Laishley took the Chair, and apologised for the absence of Revds. E. Best, W. Potter, S. J. Neill, and F. Gr. Evans, all of whom had been invited, but were unable to be present owing to other church engagements. There was reason for! congratulation in the fact that now there are no less than 6 Congregational Churches in Auckland, and all flourishing. This Church is in a very satisfactory state; if no better, at any rate, no worse than any of the other Churches at the Thames. Referring to the teachers' library attached to the Sunday School,-he announced his intention of delivering a lecture soon on "The later English Poets," the proceeds to be for the benefit of this library. It was the intention of the ladies of the Church to hold a bazaar on or about the sth of December, for the purpose of raising money towards the extinction of the debt which he regretted to say was due by the Church. In speaking of the rapid spread of infidelity all over the world, and even in this yonng country, he spoke of the, vital importance of our young people especially being made thoroughly conversant with the evidences' of Christianity, so as to be able to meet sceptics prepared to answer and refute their sophisms.— Mr Laishley referred to the deep Byrapathy which he in common with all persons present felt for Mr Smith in his sad bereavement.—After an anthem " Exalt Him all ye people," by the choir, the Bey. W. Wool ley gave a very earnest and interesting address, on the subject of true religious revivals, which he thought should rather be called what they really are, a reawakening inside the church, and not a gathering in from outside the church, too often caused by excitement, and not of a permanent character. There are so many inside the church, professedly Christians, but who need awakening out of the sleep into which they have fallen, and to be of real value, the excitement must be of God, and not of man; He hoped that this church might in the year on which they had just entered experience such a soul stirring reawakening. The choir than sang " IS ow let the gates of Zion ring," after which Mr R. D. Stewart spoke on "Advantages and Disadvantages of Denominationalism." Among the latter he said that it cuts up Christian work, and is sometimes overdone. Then followed ■ the anthem, "Oh that I had wings" by the choir. Mr, Cheal then spoke niopt strongly on the necessity of having

our young men and women thoroughly made acquainted with the evidences of Christianity, and said that if our belief was not worthy of defence, it was not worthy of belief—The Eev. B. Laiihley now invited Captain Field of the Balva« tion Army to bring Mrs Hutchinson on to the platform, this lady having kindly consented to speak a few words to them. —Captain Field said that this was the first time that he had ever been invited to speak in any church on the -Thames, and then made a few earnest remarks as to the work which the Army carried on, which in no way clashed with that of any other Christian Church, as they tried to reach a class of persons whom no other churoh could perhaps reach.—'Mrs Hatchinson then gave a deeply interesting and graphic description of the work that she has been carrying on in connection with the Female Prison Gate Brigade in Auckland for now ten months, in which time they have received into their Home over 100 persons most of whom had been released from prison, 30 of them having been young girls whom she had taken from the Police Court cells to the Home; half of these, she was rejoiced to say, were now repentant and leading honest, virtuous lives, but the other half had gone back to their old ways. But even then they were not given up; she visited them still at their wretched haunts of misery and vice, and in describing the scenes which she had seen in her visits to the slums of Auckland, and the welcome which was always given her by these poor outcasts from society, she was listened to with the most wrapt attention. She concluded with a touching appeal to every one present to do something for those around us needing our help and our sympathy, and after the hymn, " Forward be our watchword," the Chairman closed the meeting with prayer.