LAWRENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOIREE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 127, 14 July 1870, Page 5

LAWRENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOIREE.

The anniversary soiree of the Presbyterian C.iurch was held on Tuesday evening. The attendance although large was not bo numerous as had been anticipated, but considering the inclemency of the weather, the coldness and dampness of the night, and the awful roads in the vicinity of Lawrence, it was really wonderful to see people gathered from all quarters of the district. The tea department was excellently managed by the ladies who would only have been better pleased had they had more work to do. The tables were supplied by Mesdame Jamison, Stenhouse, Stewart, Dale, M'Kinlay, M'Donald, Anderson, Walker, Copland, and Miss Clark. After the tables were removed the Rev. Dr. Copland, pastor of the congregation, who presided on the occasion, briefly addressed the meeting, and then called upon Mr. Stenhouse to read the annual report which we publish a3 read. EEPOKT Report of the Presbyterian Church Committee for the year ending July, 12th 1870. The Committee are happy to report that the financial affairs of the Church during the past year have continued in a satisfactory state. The income from the ordinary sources has steadily improved, especially the Su3tentation Fund the collection of which has been regularly carried out and liberally responded to. The

grant of £50 from the General Church Trustees has been received so that th j Committee have purchased the glebe as ;i freehold, and now hold complete, title deetls both for it and the ground round the manse. The cost of the title deeds amounting to ten guineas, was given as a donation by Mr. Copland, solicitor. The Committee have also fenced in the church and erected a six stalled stable for the convenieice of those who come from a distance, which has been fully taken advantage of. The cost of the fence and 3table amounted to £74, which, however, the Committee regret to state that only £30 have been as yet subscribed, and it is very desirable that the balance, amounting to £44, should be subscribed as speedily as possible. During the past year the Rev. Dr. Copland has held three services every Sabbath day ; in the forenoon in Lawrence, in the afternoon at the Blue Spur' and Waitahuna alternately and in the evening for a time at Lawrence and Wetherstonts alternately, and latterly at Lawrence every evening. In addition to the Sabbath services he has conducted the weekly prayer meeting in the vestry on Wednesday evenings, weekly service in the hospital, fortnightly service on the Tuesday evening at the Blue Spur, and occasional services on week nights at Waitahuna, Wetherstones, Clark's Plat, and other places in the district. During the past year the Sabbath School has been regularly conducted in the Church, under the superintendence of the session, on the Sabbath afternoons. The School meets in the afternoon at half-past two, and is opened with praise and prayer. It then divides into classes, which are engaged for about an hour in reading the Bible, and reciting passages of Scripture, and the Questions of the Shorter Catechism. It is very desirable that all the parents in the congregation, who reside within a convenient distance, should encourage the teachers by securing the regular attendance of their children, hi addition to the opportunities thus afforded for the religious instruction of the children of the congregation, Dr. Copland has several times delivered sermons especially addressed to the young. The Committee feel it to be very gratifying that the congregation have manifested much greater interest and liberality in the cause of missions since the formation of the Missionary Associations, so that instead of about £10 collected during the previous year, there was gathered this year, from the Tuapeka and Blue Spur districts, a sum of about £40. As the period of office of the present Committee is now expired, the annual business meeting of the congregation will shortly be held. The detailed report of the Treasurer, along with the auditor's examination of the same, will thus be submitted, and the congregation will be called upon to elect members for next year's Committee. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the necessary building and fencing in connection with the church and manse is now complete, so that the work of next year'd Committee will be mainly confined to the ordinary routiae work of the church. It may be found necessary to repaint the outside of the church, to preserve it against the weather ; and it is to be hoped the Committee may also see their way to make a vigorous effort for the extinction of the remaining debt on the church.

The meeting was then addressed by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland (of Inch Clntha), Mr. M'Lelland, the Rev. Mr. Menzies, Mr. Jamison, Mr. Petpr Robertson, Mr. A. M'Nicoll, and the Rev. Mr. Chisholm (of Tokomairiro).

Votes of thanka to the Ladies, the Speakers, and the Chairman, brought the meeting to a close.

We took a lengthy report of the speeches, but our space will not permit us to publish them.

The address delivered by Mr. Peter Robertson, descriptive of the emigrant from the first thoughts he entertains of leaving his native home till his arrival in a foreign country, was so excellent — so full of quiet humour and genuine feeling — that we shall not apolocjise if we reprint it in extenso, in our next issue.

The children of the Sabbath School were treated to an abundant tea last evening in the church.