WESLEYAN CHURCH TEA METING

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 52, 6 February 1869, Page 3

WESLEYAN CHURCH TEA METING

Tho anniversary ol the "Wesleyan Chapel, Evans Flat, waß observed by a soiree trhich took place on Wednesday evening last. There was a large attendance ; parties from Lawrence, Blue Spur, and Munroes, swelled the number to something considerable. Tea was provided by Mrs. Drappcr, Miss Evans, and Miss Grilfillan, occupying three tables. There were three removes, and the ladies must have had a*busy time of it. There was a bountiful spread, and we observed basketsfull of fragments carried away. There is a charm. about the free and easy method which the "Wesleyan body are famed for in the management of their tea meetings, that we always come away powerfully refreshed; and it must have been the fault of the visitors and not of the caterers if they came away empty, the inner man having been amply provided for, and the good things enjoyed. The tables were cleared away and the scats arranged to -hold & public meeting. A platform was erected at one end, where we observed tho following ministers and gentlemen, viz: — theEev. Dr. Copland, the Rev. Mr. M'Nicoll, Mr. M' Lclland of the Blue Spur, and Messrs. Bloxhamand Matthews, local preachers also from the Blue Spur, and Messrs. Whiteside, and Parghio of Evans Flat. The Rev. Mr. M'Nicoll occupied the chair. A hymn was sung and the divine blessing implored. The chairman in introducing the business of the evening remarked that the text as usual had a good deal to do with cash, that although the chapel ■was out of <leut, a remarkable thing in itself, yet they wanted money to make this little chapel comfortable. It must be lined before winter. We also want a stove, and the ground fenced in and beautified. The speaker went on to say this was the second birthday of tho chapol. Ho congratulated them on their prosperity, saying small quantity was made up by quality, and reprehended the practise of leaving the country as soon as a pile was made, saying it was nothing better than sucking the blood from the country. The Chairman then called upon Mr. Whitesido, the patriarch, or Moses of that community, to address the meeting. Mr. Whiteside said, the great drawback to people settling down was tho lack of females, stating there were no less than ten bachelors within cooey of his tent. Ho enlarged humorously on the pleasures of domestic life, and •was loudly applauded. Mr. M'Lelland pleaded the cause of religious brotherhood, and said the question, Who is my neighbor ? ought to be answered by rendering assistance to all who needed it. He expressed his fear that there were some little "Balaks" in the present day who ' hired mercenary Balaams with a cup of tea, in order to have their assistance in cursing that woman or that man without any provocation being given. This he denounced as unworthy of men professing to be teachers of others. A hymn was then sung. Mr. Bloxham humorously expressed his belief that Mr. Whiteside's speech wa,s highly appropriate, and would serve as an advertisement to young ladies. Dr. Copland said, although on that occasion he had neither lost his way nor his tea, he had lost the speech hie had prepared, so he would take a subject ne had prepared for a former occasion, namely, the " Bible." He quoted a dream related by Isaac Taylor, where a man dreamt the Scriptures werelost, and had to be restored by memory ; and called the 'attention of those present to what their condition would be without the Bible. He pictured persons travelling to the ends of tho earth to sco a single copy which might happen to be preserved ; and alluded to the old custom of chaining a bible in the churches for tho convenience of readers. Ho said as a book of law it compelled the admiration of even the sceptical ; and as a History, was more interesting than any other. To ifc, he said, Britain owed her greatness, which had changed them from the painted barbarian of former times, to their present position. He said a very small loaf is shown in the arsenal of "Venice aa a sample of the bread served out during the siege in 1848, and as a warning to the people of the horrors consequent on another siego ; in many museums were shown racks and other instruments of torture, which no one could behold without praying all might be brought under the influence of the blessed book which prevents a return to those horrors. Mr. Matthews said, he had several years experience of tea meetings, but very little experience in the art of Bpeechrnaking, still when the aim was the glory of Grod and the salvation of the world, no great eloquence was required. Mr. Matthews treated of the Christian duties, and quoted the famous dream in the Spectator, where Fortune permitted all men to throw their troubles in a heap, and then pick out those they wanted as an instance of how each man wa=! best qualified to bear his own burden. Mr. M' Alpine from Lawrence addressed a ' very interesting address which we aro obliged reluctantly to omit. Votes of thanks were prop O3ed to the Ladies by Mr. Farghie, and to the chairman ; the strangers, including Dr. Copland, aud Mt. Mr M'Lelland, concluded the business.