BLUE SPUR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 217, 28 March 1872, Page 6

BLUE SPUR.

(From our own Correspondent.) March 18th.

We have been favoured with the presence of another lecturer among us, whose reception was scarcely so gratifying 33 might have been expected, when we consider the object for which the meeting was held. - Certainly the night was. chilly, and our own comfort by the $re and elsewhere was preferable \o gorqmunioa.ting good or bestowing bene•flts. pn others.. And Chen,, yon see, the material aspect" of our affairs are so .absorbing that, we can scarcely attond <ib the intellectual and aspect at present:; consequently the "atten^a-ncw \-Wais small. Mr.; M;Le;llancf'.]ftra's'' Voted ' to 'the "chair, and "'H$~ h?"%a'cfl great; ;pt|aiu%: in. occupying '.fta,^pffltifli|". ; io:

> which they had placed him, for two reasons. The first was because of the object for which they had met , viz., to give their support to the Sailors' Mission. 'We enjoy great benefits by by means of the sailors. Our commerce entirely depends on them. If our products are. taken to distant countries, they are so by the skill and labour of the sailor ; if we enjoy the benefit of imported goods, it is because he labours, for us ; if our friends ab home communicate, with us, detailing their joys and sorrows and their many anxieties on our account, retaking us feel that we still have within us a latent hankering for the home of our childhood — our Fatherland — it is because the sailors' duties are performed. Therefore, seeing that we t njoy such material and social benefit by Ins efforts, the leasl that we can do in return is to give of our substance to support means already established for his intellectual, moral, and spiritual improvement, that the feeling of universal brotherhood may extend. My second reason for pleasure on this occasion is because of the knowledge I possess of Mr. Gilbert, the " sailor missionary "— of the many stei'ling qualities he has that specially fit him for the .work he is engaged in. I have frequently witnessed his indefatigable and self-denying efforts, his kind and insinuating manners in going about his work, which has caused him to be hailed as a friend bofh in the cabin and forecastle. With these remarks he (the Chairman) had much pleasure in introducing Mr. Gilbert.

Mr. Gilbert introduced his subject (•'The Pilgrim's Progress") by com paring the vicissitudes that befel the author of the last book (the Apocalypse) with those that befell the author of the "Pilgrim's Progress," and set it forth as being next in importance to the sacred volumes. I scarcely need attempt to give your readers an abstract of what was said, as your special reporter will have had that privilege at Lawrence — suffice it to say that Mr. Gilbert's effort was highly appreciated by those present. At the conclusion a vote of thanks was given him for the very clear and instructive manner the different scenes through which the Pilgrim had to pass in travelling to the celestial city were illustrated.