WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2270, 14 April 1886, Page 2

WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

......1..1ft1,.. The anniversary in connection with the above Church was celebrated yesterday by a tea and meeting, the lea being held in the schoolroom, where the tables were plenteously provided and presided over by Mcsdames Hoar, Neill, Redman, Temple, and Shute, and the Misses Perry and Jago, and were extremely well patronised. The meeting held in the Church was well attended, the proceedings commencing with a hymn by the choir, and a prayer by the Rev Mr Fulton. In the absence of Mr B. P. Perry, who had promised to preside at the meeting, the Rev Mr Buttle took the chair, and read the report of the past year, which shewed that the attendance on fSundyaa was well sustained. The Women's Mission, instituted by Mrs Scott,, was well attended, as were also the other week day services. The young persons class for Bible study and literary work was held every Friday evening and Wtts a great success. Theie was an increase of nineteen on the roll of Church members, which, considering the departure of members from the district was very satisfactory. Mention was made of the loss to the Church of two of its most prominent members during the past twelve months through death, and also of the great good done by Mrs Scott's evangelical misSion. There was an increased attendance at Sunday school but a lack of teachers who were badly wanted. Good work had been done by the ladies sewing class, £l3lßs being added to the funds through this class during the year. The choir, Mrs Gapper as organist, and Mr Temple as leader, received great praise for its efficiency. The financial portion of the report showed the Church to in a satisfactory position in that respect. Tho Chairman concluded with a general word of praise to the congregation and officials for their assistance during, his residence among them. Tho Rev. Fulton, who was well received congratulated the Wesleyans on tho satisfactory report, and also upon having such an energetic preacher among them. He expressed the great pleasure it gave him in being able, though a clergyman of another church, to attend the meeting and address them. The Rev. Gentleman then delivered an address on " Christ's Kingdom," dwelling specially on its invisibility, and pointing out this as the most powerful motor to the wonderful advancement Christianity had made, In dwellineonthisquestion, the question that of Church disestablishment and'disendow-

ment forced itself upon the speaker, who said that by the events of the last six years, the churches had been compiled to make up their mmdß that it must come to pass sooner or later. The Rev. Mr Isitt, who was-'loudly cheered on rising, commenced by expressing the pleasure it gave him by : ; being amongst them again, prognosticating a further happy time for their pastor, and congratulating them on their. faVorablo report, and especially the good workdone. He said the 1 Masterton report wg'far better than one he had recently hewa Wellington, and caused some sayine that when he asked a member of a church in Wellington who waii eijjortiiig his hearers to attend the' ,»ek-day services how often he attended, tne reply was, " Not at all." He said lie did not believe in '•'•Ecclesiastical cuckoos," that was clergymen who liked to Bay everything that was pleasant, and avoiding unpleasant truths. He thought they should spoak plainly to the people, no matter whether the truth was 'unpleasant ;or not,"'because in whatever community they wont to there was sure to be some people whti'wantodai much studying as a Dutchman's clock before they could be brought to see thing* in their proper light. In an address on "Individualeffort,"'Mr Isitt said that tho Church did not get the credit due to it for its work from some people, and predicted that if the churches were closed for a short time all kinds of infamy would be rampant, If Christians would ehdeavoi to make the churches fche/ycenfcrt of Christian work, a placo to'-'molt and _ confer together, and out into the highway and do good, how different the position- of '' *he Church would be to-day. Instead of that, tho Churches were regarded bythemembers in the same light as a business'man regards his shop, and when , they !go to worship they expect their spirlttial .food served up in real Mothodisfical. tJJpiscopalian, or whatever style thoy v goin for. Some again thought the Ohurch.a coach to heaven, and when they pay'their'usual visits to it, imagino they are on thq right road, and nestled among tho :cushions singing "Roll the old chariot. : albng," and if they get bogged in the" Slough of Despond" or get stuck at the ; " Hill of Difficulty" they turn round and blamed the parsons for being a. slow lot,- instead of getting out and putting tlioir shoulders to the wheel to help the chariot; along. In giving a retrospect of the Wesleyan Church, tho speaker said 'that the position the Church held those day was through individual effort, a characteristic that was greatly needed among tiifim in these days, Tho selfishness of/modem christians wasjciwelt upon at some length and severely condemned, the congregation having the triple advice given ffflbn tb " Be at it-, be always at it, be allfflsiitJ r To work for tho good of theirTiew* 1 creatures should bo their constant aim, By tryin?, there would be some one they could influence. They must expect failure at first, perhaps often, but; with continued perseverance would 'come final triumph, Referring briefly to the: temperance question, Mr Isitt said lie was sorry to see that there was likely to be two' more hotels in Miwterton,- and hoped that there would not be an increase but that others would be closed/ He said thero would be no decrease in business in the town through closing them, but that many would have money in tho bank who now spent it in such places. In conclusion he paid a touching tribute to the memory of two members of the church who had died since he left Masterton, and exhorted his hearers to strive to do their duty on earth so that when the time came. they would be found ready to join tho ranks of the blessed in heaven. 1 ■ Ihoßev L, M. Isitt was frequently applauded during his address which waa listened to attentively throughout. Mr GorJon proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies who provided the tea,' tho choir (who sang sweet anthems'during the evening) and the Revs. Isitt and Fulton. vjk, This was seconded by Mr Smifjund carried by acclamation, the meeting dip. • persing with tho doxolo gy. ' f