PRESBYTERIAN SOIREE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 83, 12 February 1879, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SOIREE.

Yesterday afternoon the Soiree in the Presbyterian Church, Masterton, was largely attended, three successive relays of visitors sitting down at the well-filled tables, which were liberally provided by the Committee, Mr James Thompson being the caterer.

Later on the Church was crowded in every part when tho time for the annual meeting approached.

The Rev. Mr McKee, after tho meeting had been opened with prayer, delivered the following address;—

Dear Friends—Another year of our exintence as a Church has drawn to a close ; it is therefore a suitable occasion for us to take a retrospective view of it, that we may be able in tho present to improve upon tho past. Tho year just closed affords us abundant cause for thankfulness to Almighty God, who has blessed us with a large measure of temporal prosperity. The increased attendance at Divine Service, also, is a source of heartfelt gratitndo, and gives us hope that the Word preached has not been in vain. In these we rejoice and take courage, Our Church is not without the evidences within it of spiritual life ; but, we regret to say, not to the extent we could desire, and which should be. The question forces itself upon us: How can this spiritual life be increased ? What can we do to foster godliness among us 1 Much can be done. Let us seek the causes of this spiritual inactivity and want of vital godliness, and we will readily see that we can do much to increase tho one and foster the other. Among the chief of these causes we would mention neglect of the private duties of religion, secret and family prayer, and the reading of God's Word. Here declension in religion generally begins, and the downward path which ends in ruin entered, The Christian's love, who forgets communion with his God, and the daily reading of God's law, soon cools, and he leaves the narrow path and saik among rocks in danger of making eternal shipwreck of his soul, When once these duties are neglected, then follow the irregularity in attending upon the ordinances of religion, Sabbath desecration, and a host of other evils. And as a natural result parents once religious become wordly, young men once pious, careless; and are led into many dangers, sinful pleasures, and evil companions. lam not drawing too dark a picture. Is it not a fact that even among Church-going people you will sometimes find homes where family prayer is neglected, the Bible unread, the Sabbatli desecrated, and the ordinances of religion irregularly attended. When this is the case in any family we cannot expect that the younger members, as they grow up, will cherish any deep respect for religion, Here we find the cause why so many young men are led astray, and seek pleasure at the billiard table, or in some other place where they breathe an unwholesome moral atmosphere. Now, cannot we do something to prevent this 1 ' Let us live pious lives ourselves, "prayingwithoutceasing," daily "searching the Scriptures," "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," and "remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Let parents make their homes attractive, and bring within the reach of their children innocent and harmless amusements, setting before them examples of godliness. Neglect of thess often lead young men to forsake the instruction of tho Sabbath School. and virtually lose them from the service of the Church. And let us all make prayer one of our first duties, and if so it will be to us a safeguard and prevent us from falling into many evils. In concluding, the Eev. gentleman stated that on that day he entered upon the fifth year of his ministration in tho Wairarapa. Mr Feist then read the following : ' Rrport or the Mastekton Presbyterian Church Committee for the YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1878.

In presenting to the congregation our Annual Report and Balance Sheet for the past year, your Committee beg to state that there is a slight deficiency of about £2O. This will be seen to arise from the fact that we took a Dr. balance at the end of 1877 of £24 155.7 d, accounted for to some extent through tho division of tho district into two charges. We have still some contributions to come iu from the various districts, and we hope to make up the balance shortly, We may say that, considering our Church property is free from debt, we are in. a sound financial position.

It has been thought desirable by your Committee to publish a detailed list of the amounts paid in by each subscriber for the past year, so that all interested in the work of the Church, more especially those in the out-districts, may understand our position.

During - the past year through the prompt and energetic assistance of the ladies of the congregation, we have introduced instrumental music into our Church, which has proved a very beneficial element in the due rendering of that acceptable part of God's worship-Praise. Before leaving this head it is with very great pleasure that we convey the hearty thanks of your Committee, and we feel sure of the congregation also, to the lady who has so efficiently presided at the organ.

The attendance at our Sabbath Services at Ma3terton has considerably increased," especially in the evening, and at the other preaching Stations we believe that there has been a good average.

The Sabbath Schools both at Masterton and the Taratahi, as will-be seen from their Report, are well attended, • and through their devoted band of teachers are, we trust, under God's blessing moulding the material for future Church work,

It would be found a very valuable addition to our Church property if we could raise the necessary funds to erect a building to be used as a Sabbath School, Perhaps tho congregation might at no distant date entertain the idea of converting tho present.Church into a School-room, and building a new Church,

Masterton Presbyterian Sabbath School, During the past year, although the actual number on the roll has slightly diminished—being 107, as against 121 last February—theaverage attendance is much higher and the attontion and diligence greater. During the yoar 174 have'attended the school, and the average attendance has been about 70, One hundred new volumes have been added to the Library,' at a cost of £l2, giving us a collection of 450 books, which are well kept and eagerly read by most of the elder scholars. On tho first Sunday of each month a Magazine is given to each scholar present, and at the beginning of the present year £5 worth of reward books were given to the children. The number of teachers are eleven, and the average attendance for the year has been eight.

RETORT OF THE TARATAHI SABBATH SCHOOL,

The attendance at this school has slightly decreased owing to' the departure of several families out of tho district. The total number of children is about 40 and the average attendance is about thirty. There aro in all four teachers, who aro very regular in their attendance. The. school is held in the afternoon only, but both teachers and children appear to be deeply interested in the school, Prizes were distributed to the children at tho beginning of the year, and never were prizes given to scholars more deserving.' The children in point of behaviour anil attention, are all that tho most fastidious could desire. There is little prospect of the school increasing rapidly, because of sparseness of the population,' in fact nearly all that are within reach, and are of age are abeady regular scholars.

The reports were unanimously adopted on the motion of Mr Wilton, seconded by Mr Holdaway.

The Rev. Mr Patterson then, at the invitation of tho Chairman, said a few words. _ Alluding in the first place to his first visit to the Wairarapa ten years ago, when ho found their former pastor, Mr Boss, who was respected and loved throughout the district, with his coat off nailing the flooring boards of the building they then stood in. Their present pastor, Mr McKce, was one of the kindest-hearted men he knew, and every way worthy of being their Minister. (Applause.) Tho Rev. gentleman then alluded to the progress of Masterton, the capital of tho Wairarapa, and its new Mayor. Ho always thought that " Duncan would bo King." He was also pleased to notice that their material prosperity was accompanied by.religious progress. He was glad that an organ had been introduced into the Church, God gave them a musical faculty and it was their _ duty to cultivate and consecrate it to His use. He had hoard in Wellington of tho exquisite skill and taste of the lady who played it, and regretted that music was not a part of the programme of that evening. He was gratified to find in tho report some intention of building a new Church. Ten years ago thier building was an ornament to Masterton ; now looking at the buildings erected by the Roman Catholics, the Church of England and the Wesleyans it was behind the time. Expressing his satisfaction with the progress of the Sunday, school he alluded to tho exclusion of 'religious instruction from the public schools and considered that their present duty was rather to make their Sunday Schools efficient than to agitate for a change of the Government system He next made an appeal to tho congregation to assist tho presbytery in organising a sustentation fund and concluded by a reference to the old friends whose faces he missed in tho congregation and to the young people who were coming into theranksto fillthevacant places. A collection was then made in aid of painting the exterior of the church, the chairman explaining that they thought with this improvement the existing building would suffice for another two years. The evening., terminated with an interesting lecture from the Rev Mr Paterson, being notes of a Continental trip lie made some twenty, years ago. The rev gentleman succeeded in enchaining the attention of his large audience, aud was frequently interrupted by applause, ' A vote of thanks to the lecturer, moved by MrD. McGregor, concluded a very successful meeting.

Balance Sheet. Eeceipta. £ B. D. Contributions to SustcntationFund 148. 4 0 Legacy from the late Mrs Graham 20 0 0 Sabbath Ofleriiigs-Mastcrton., . 98 17 1 Taratahi ,, .269 1 Opani... . .456 Tupurupuru 0 10 0 Foreign Mission ,. 1 10 9 Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund ..229 Sabbath School .. 318 0 Balance ,. 19 7 1 £301 : 1 11 Expenditure Stipend Bev J. McKce .. ,250 00 Balance from 1877 .. . 24 15 7 Aged and [Infirm Ministers' Fund 2 0 0 Sabbath School .. 3 18 8 Insurance, £3; Rates; £5 7s ..870 Lighting Church, &o ,..6 2 6 Sundries ... 6 18 2 £801 1 11 Organ Fund. Subscription 52 0 0| By Organ 50 0 0 Balauce 2 0 0 £52 0 0 £52 0 0

Statement, _ Dn. £ s. (1, Subscription to Union ... .. 0 10 0 Prizes .. ., — 5 G 0 Pic-nic expenses 17 17 G 'Library Books ... • ... ,. 10 0 0 Union, on account of Magazines 2 0 0 Carriage of Library Books 1 3 0 „ Periodicals .. 0 10 9 Hymn Books, Tickets, and Cards 3 4 6 Balanco 3 17 0 £44 8 9 Cii. £ s. el," Balance, 1879 5 14- 6 'Picnic .... 21 '19 G Monthly collection G15 7 Teachers' subscriptions 4 10 0 Sale Hymn Books.. 1 10 G Special Church collection 318 8 £44 8.0