WESLEYAN TEA MEETING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 October 1868, Page 3

WESLEYAN TEA MEETING.

A teameeting in connection with the Sabbath School was held in the Wdsleyan Chapel, Lawrence, on Tuesday evening. The Rev. Mr. M'Nicoll occupied the chair. At half-past six the . company sat down to a sumptuous repast, to which every justice was done by the large number present. After a short interval the second portion of the evening's entertainment was commenced by a hymn sung by the children, whose fresh young voices and happy faces would : have warmed the heart of the veriest cynic. • ' The Rev. Mr. M'Nicoll then implored the Divine blessing. The rev. gentleman then addressed the meeting.- He said it was his lot to urge pthers rather than to run himself on this occasion. It was a children's meeting, and he believed much, good might be derived from associating with them. The rising generation of to-day were the risen generation of. to-morrow. Tlie d}scip>s had been reproved in a marked, manner by our Lord, when they slighted the claims of children to- his attention. That it was eighten hundred yeara since then, and the Christian world had grown in experience, and now seemed mote inclined to give the education and training of children its proper prominence in Christian work. He trusted parents would co-operate heartily with the teachers ; — too often the work of the Sabbath was obliterated by neglect through the week. With an exhortation ta all to assist with their prayera and influence the good work, the rev gentleman concluded. Mr. Bloxham, Superintendent and Secretary, then read a report, from which it appeared that twenty-six boys and 27 girls had attended the Sabbath School, the average attendance being thirty ; four male and five-female teachers aided in the work ; and on an average, ninety verses had been repeated every Sunday. The expenses amounted to £4 165. 6d., which, it was hoped, would be defrayed by the result of that nightVmeeting. "Miss Harriet Darton then recited '• The Secret," and Master William Thomas "The Harp of" Heaven," in a manner highly creditable to their teaching. . The Ohairman next called on Mr. W. M'Lelland for a few remarks. Mr. M'Lelland said he had not expected so early-,a.calL- He thought that several of the "great guns" were to "gooff" before him. "He had a deep sympathy with the. Sißbath School * movement, or rather fact, -for- it wasa fact; Hecould, enter heartily into the feelings of the young, although he was a" few years past the age of childhood, _ He had been a Sabbath School teacher for a quarter of a century, and during that time had seen many ups and downs in the efficiency of such classes. He "was now at issue with the supporters of the movement on one point only — the name. Many people objected to send their children to " school" on the Sabbath; if they were called " Sabbath Services for the Young," this objection would be done away with. At home Sabboth Schools had to <be schools, as but for them many would be ignorant of the ,difference between A and B ; but here there was no such necessity. Ministers could hardly be expected in their public preaching of the Word to" come down to the intellectual status of the young, and on that account he -would specially urge the importance of services pecuUarly adapted for children. Mr. MfLelTand continued by pointing out the good results already apparent from the ..Sunday School system, and , eloquently iirged its claims to support, both by the prayers and purses of the Christian commnnily. .He compared the Sabbath School to a nursery, where youths were trained up by the Church to beautify God's domain. Ahymny followed by a recitation by Miss Jessie^Robertson, " The Bible in the House," very creditably performed,led the way to an exhibition of proficiency in the Catechism by Masters Caudle and Campbell, which was followed by a really good recitation— ".The Child's Talent "— , by Miss" Alice * Darton. The Chairman called next on* the Rev. Mr. Martin for an address. . *-r*M~Mr. Martin said he wouldjMLglad to see more laymen come forwanpjwneetings like that ; there seemed to bfpSptendency to make Clergymen the/omy? speakers. He was glad to he present on such an occasion, which showed that however? they might differ on minor points., they^ were united in the grand principles of, true religipn. The rev. gentleman gavethe following maxims for the benefit of parents, • illustrating them with much Humor and many apt examples : — Ist. Parents, especially fathers, should make their cliildren fond, of them ; 2nd. Always to punish them when, wrong-doing .was committed ; 3rd. To make all punishments felt ; 4th. Not" to give too. many indulgences. A hymn followed, when Masters F. 'Bently and Robert Taylor showed Iheir dialectic skill by recifing a section of the Catechism.; < and; the' rfbllowing young ladies recited': — Mias Margaret Bruuton, " The Way, the Truth, the Life ; ", Mws Mitchell, •• l*he Dying Child j " and Miss .Lilly Hay,;/' The Crucifixion.," ; ,'* ' * T£e Rev. Dr. Copland was next called upon to address the meeting!, I r . . J -The Rev. Doctor began by-compliments ingthe chairman arid congregation on the excellent buiMing m they: were

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assembled. It was a healthy sign, he attention paid to the training of the young. They might forget the niceties of grammar or the facts of geography which they were taught through fthe w£ek, bsf they jiev'er could forget the ; fcternaHruths'* explained to 'them at the Sabbath SchooL Theßey. Doctor then v expressed his ocbnc'iiri'ence -with- 1 * Mr. M'Lelland's plan of services for the yoifyg,JJjM'l ftien&onfecl se^etfai ftistapces wh^rfc Jke 3iß.dikeenJ!tnem«!^uccessfiilly carried on. He said that children should be brought to church were'it drily' for the sake of learning the habit of regular attendance. He noticed, however, that some parents who sent their children did oipjs^comejfhemselves,. which led to worse behavior on the part of the young people than would otherwise be' the case. The Doctor then related an anecdote of some ladies whom he had heard running down a preacher. In all simplicity he had asked them what was the 1 subject of the discourse., and found, to- his , astonishment that none of them could , tell any tiling about either text 'or* sermon. He feared -tiiis kind- of' thing -was far too common. The Doctor concluded- by urging the excellent opportunity tlie Sabbath .Schools afforded .to young men for the devotion of their talents to the cause of religion. He hoped every good fortune and success might atteud-the school which was more immediately, before them on that occasion. After a hymn had been sung, Master Johh'Downe recited the "Missionary's Pearl ; " Miss Marian Campbell " The Star of Bethlehem ; " and Miss Elizabeth l Mitchell "The Last Day" in a very pleasing manner ; after which Mr. Bloxham made a few remarks on the benefits he had personally received from Sunday School tuition. Mr* Cooper next proposed a vote of thanks to the Ladies who had so kindly given their services, and without whose presence a tea meeting would bo a very tame affair. Mr Williams briefly seconded and the vote was awarded by acclamation. A Doxology was then sung, and the meeting dispersed ifter an innocent and pleasant evening's entertainment.