PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3769, 25 March 1891, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Aaaual; Gathering.

The annual congregational tea in connection with the local Presbyterian Church was held last evening and was a most successful affair, The tables, under the supervision of the ladies, presented a most charming appearance, and it is almost needless to say the fullest justice was done to the good things provided. The following ladies presided :—Mesdames Wood and James McGregor, Miss Feist and Mrs McKeuzie, Mrs Alexander and Mrs King, Miss Johnston, Mrs Finlayson and Mrs McLennan. The congregation at the after meeting was very large, the chair being occupied by the Rev R Wood. The Eevs Bowse, Murray and Ogg were also on the platform. A couple of psaln,s having been sung by way of opening, the report and balance sheet for the past year were read by Mr JUdwin Feisfc. The report showed the Church to be in a flourishing condition. The receipts for the past year had been £307 10s Id and the expenditure £314 Is lOd, whilst the deficit was .£IOB. The adoption of the report was moved by Mr Feist.

Mr D McGregor, in a brief address, referred to the financial position of the Church, and seconded the adoption of the report.

After a few words from the Rev, Wood, the motion, for the adoption o the report was put and carried unani. mously.

- The Chairman then made a few observations upon the condition of the church generally. He had personally, he said, reason to tike courage from his experience during the past few months. In no departineut of the church had he been disappointed. He was gratified at the success utttndiug the work in the Bunday schools, . He had done as much pastoral visitation as possible, and was pleased to see that the preaching of the Gospel had not been without spiritual blessing. A Bible class had been established,. together with a literary society, the latter tjing unsectarian, He urged the congregation to band themselves together for evangelization work. Already eighteen missionaries from the congregation were going to do a house-tchouse visitu tion and distribute evangelical literature. In the work of distributing this class of literature he would gladly co-operate with the other churches. He was a strong believer in tract distribution.

The JEtev. 0. S. Ogg, after mating a brief but pointed allqsion to church finances, gave a very intereating address on the objects of Bible classes and literary institutions. Whilst he believed that teaching the Bible was not a substitute for preaching the Gospel, he thought the young would be far more able to co'nprehend the meaning of the Gospel as expounded in the pulpit by the aid of Bible classes. He believed literary societies were most excellent tilings for stimulating the intelligence of young people. The Chairman here stated that he would be glad to meet the young people on Thursday night with a view to properly establishing the literavy society. The Rev. W. Eowse referred to the pleasant times spent with the Presbyterian congregation, and gave an earnest address on the duty oi preachers to non-churchgoers. He contended that all men in these colonies were Ohrisiians, but many had lapsed from their faith. It -was these who required restoring. He was strongly in favor of an house-to-house visitation, and also advocated encouraging the poor to attend the place of worship. The Eev. Murray followed with an interesting account ojf the foreign Mission work, giving a nuinbor of amusing incidents in connection with bis own experience. He urged upon his hearers tlie necessity of procuring and studying missionary works, and —o«led for the sympathy and assistance'of all in the of the Gospel abroad. The Chairman suggested the formation of g, Missionary Society at Masterton.

Votes of thanks to the chior, which diversified the proceedings with a number of choice selections, the ladies, and the speakers brought a uost successful gathering to a close.