WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 8 April 1882, Page 2

WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

The anniversary was celebrated yesterday afternoon by a tea at the Town Hall, which -was very well attended considering the fact tljat many friends were holiday makiflu in Wellington and other places. Tlj.e frays were provided by IjfesdamesW. Berry, B, ft fem, J. f ijliams, Matthews, and Messrs Vile, Judij, and' Ralph, and were very liberally: filled witty" good things, wlfich found njucli favor with tho consumers,

tfje'sVening meeting the Ghurch was crowded, and Mrs, jf, Porry took the chair. Mr Gordon Iwving been called upon to read the annual report gave an extremely interesting record pf the p/tflt year'? efforts. The grand total of receipts was 6s 3d, made up of the following amounts {—Bazaar; fund, £226 6d; ordinary collectioons and' Bubs/sri'ptions, 1200 2s; foreign missions, ,£3 10a sd; homo missions, £ls ; education collection, £2 55.; Tararua relief fund, £26 ss; Supday pphooj anniyersary, £2l, Tho report was received wjtlf ijppj'auae.. The choir then sang a hymn, and the chairman called npon the Rev, Mr Isitt, whom lie had great pleasure in introducing to the congregation, The sev Mv Isitt said that if the kind welcome accorded to him by those Mas-; terton people he had already met was o,n earnest of the kindness which he would receive generally, it would be his own fault if he did not succeed, Referring to the Wesloyan polity he hold that though the itinerant system was a good one, and very few men had brains in their heads to supply material in one pulpit for ten or fifteen years, the present limit of three years might well be extended to five or six. He compliiriented Mr Gordon 1 on, the ability with which he had read the reoorfc, and wished that more Scotchmen were Methodists. (A laugh). He was glad no debt hindered thorn at present, because they were now all ready to get in debt again. (A laugh): From what they had done" jn\fcjie past lie thought they wonld be e.qual'to bu'fldingaiid furbishing a parsonage. Methodist pVrsqnj'got tfie credit of being bigger beggars thai) other people, bufc he would point out that if they wfli'fl tho biggest begrorsthey were also the biggest givers. TJje rev. gentleman concluded an interesting and very amusing address by au appeal to the congregation to be workers with him in Church matters, and sat down amid loud applause.

Mr W. Prioe, a visitor to Masterton, was then called upon by the chairman, He gave a very able address on Ohuroh matters which was listened to with great attention aud frequently applauded, The Chairman reported that the proceeds of the tea amounted to J77s6d, and the oolleotion to £2 7s 9d,

Mr D'Arcy being next called upon, expressed, in a few well chosen words, a welcome from the congregation to the Bev Mr Isitt. He ventured to predict that when the term of their new Minister expired be would cany with him as great tokfijlji of Jsßpoct and regret bs the Rev with bis wjfe and cljild at his destination on Wednesday last. A vote of thanks was then carried on the motion of the Rev Mr Isitt Jo Mrs Gapper and the members o£ the choir and to the Chairman.

The Choir sang at intervals throughout the evening, each piece \yi\B well received and one beautiful solo by Miss Marshall was very loudly applauded,