ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETINGOF THE PRESBYTERIAN JONGREGATION, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 May 1869, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETINGOF THE PRESBYTERIAN JONGREGATION, LAWRENCE.

On "Wednesday evening, tbe anniversary tea meeting of the Prabyterian congregation, Lawrence, wai held in the Church. Tiie attendance was very large, and the ladies (lis)layed their usual skill in tbe commissariat department. After full justicj had been done to tbe numerous good things, the Eev. Dr. Copland toot tbe cbair, and, after tbe Choir had sum* a piece of sacred music, addressed "the meeting. Four years had passed, he said, since be commenced his labours in Lawrence, and among tbe congregration tbe changes had been few, considering tbe occupations of tbe population. "While the cbanges bad. been few in tbe composition of the congregation, considerable progress had been made iv temporal matters, tbe Church baying been lined, and tbe manse erected, and a glebe provided, and b. 3 trusted equal progress had been made in spiritual matters. No Sun day during the '"whole period had been, blank? and he bad been enabled tobold fortnightly services at the Blue Spur and "Wetherstones. He congratulated tbe audience on the number of good speakers who bad come foj^^ ward, to assist, and specially referre^^ to tbe Eev. Mr. Keall, who was comparatively a stranger among them. He called on Mr. Stenhouse|jto read: the financial report, from which it appeared * that the Church was in a flourishing condition, £100 of debt and two years' interest on £200 having been. paid off, and the manse and glebe sections fenced. Special thanks were due to Blue Spur and Wetherstoijes for their exertions on behalf of the Sustentation and Mission Funds.

Mr. M'Lelland next addressed the meeting. He humourously referred to the importance of the Blue Spur, alleging that . when the last digger with bis swag on his back passed down the gully, Lawrence people bad better think of making a start off. Blue Spur liked to attend such meetings as that addresssd. Though the extremities might be a little cold, it was to be expected tbat the centre would be full of life and warmth. He spoke highly of the Wesley.ins, and expressed his belief tbat all denominations were tba better of rubbing against one another. He regretted the small support accorded to prayer meetings at the Spur, and considered the most healthy si<m of a community was when the prayer meetings were xushed. In reference to the public services at the Spur, he remarked that the common belief was that Dr. Copland's sermon's improved •every Sunday, a state of matters highly creditable either to the Doctor or his bearers. They had the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, celebrated as often as at Lawrence, and be was glad to say) for bis own sake, tbat the Sacrament of Baptism was often administered. The speaker concluded by saying he had intended to make a few remarks on church music, but could not strike the key note ; however,' be would give a stave on that subject at some future time.

The Eev. Mr. Blake said he rose with difficulty, as he had ridden from Tokomairiro that day, and as it was the first long ride he had taken he felt very much exhausted and very stiff. He felt' refreshed however, by the sight of so many healthy and happy faces, and although he might break down, perhaps that was the best thing he could do. In proof of this he related an anecdote of an infidel blacksmith,- who had been converted by a few simple words of a pious elder, who had " broken down " in an attempt to argue with the sceptic. He had several papers in his hand, but the audience need not fear that lie would read them, and in reference to this he related another anecdote. A new minister^! •who happened to be very short sighted^ was' preaching his "first sermon, which was listened to attentively by two old.

women seated on thfe pulpit stairs. At last one said to the other, " Diz he read, wumman, diz hefread ? " " Na, ria, wumman^" was the reply; "lioo can he read fen hd's blin ? " " Hech, hfech," was the rejoinder, "a wush they were a' blin ! " / Mr. Blake then |ktfeiL most interesting account of the ■BJKJhurch Mission in India, cinlSucftng by an eloquent appeal on behalf of the mission cause, and by specially requesting the prayers of the audience fof Hmself in his labours among the Maories. Mr. Jamiscn congratulated the audience on the number of good speakers presmt. He was glad to say that the mssion cause was meeting the support t; deserved, the amount collected duriig the last quarter being £20. The Rev. Mr. Keall said he was neither the ddest nor the newest chum in New Zeaand, still he felt a certain amount of strangeness in appearing

before then. He cordially thanked the Committee for their invitation. , Mr. Keal advocated co-operation and cordialitt between the various denoini-

nations, out believed in each one pre-

serving its distinctive peculiarities. He defnded the Maories, and related many iteresting anecdotes of his own experience at Kaiapoi. He concluded by sojie judicious remarks on the two greatways of employing time, namely, secuing and imparting knowledge. Tie Bey. Mr. Sutherland said he bought up the rear of the army, which ws no dishonourable position. The 1,-fceness of the hour and the fatigue onsequent on a journey from Dun<din prevented him speaking at length, tlowever, he would make a few reaiarks on singleness of aim and earnestness of purpose. The rev. gentleman treated this themeJn a most able manner, citing numerous examples From history, and finally : raising the ninds of his. hearers to the contempladon of the pattern set before us by Dur blessed Saviour, the Grod-Man.

Mr. Smith, Wetherstones, followed Tvith a few appropriate remarks. Throughout the evening, the Choir sang many sacred pieces in a most admirable manner, displaying, indeed,; a degree of skill rarely attained by amateurs.

The proceedings terminated with votes of thanks to the singers, the

'adies, the speakers, and the chairman. We learn that the receipts of the oiree from tickets &c, amounted to ixe handsome sum of L2O.