MASTERTON PRESSYTERIAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4938, 30 January 1895, Page 3

MASTERTON PRESSYTERIAN CHURCH.

i ©. _ i CONGREGATIONAL MEWING. The annual congregational meut- ' ing and public tea in connection ! with the above Church was held last (Tuesday) evening. There were 'a creat number ofpeopleprescnt,and I the whole affairyis in past years.was a great success. At six o'clock every- ! thing was laid out ready in the • Church for tea, and many,both young i and old, sat down at the several II tables, each of which looked so inviting with vases of freshly-cut > i blooms placed among an abundance of fruit and dishes of good things, 'iand needless to say, ample justice • j was done to the repast, one which '. reflected the greatest credit upon the ' | many ladies of the congregation who - had taken this matter in hand, '"hey J also deserve great praise for the way • in which they attended to the com- ' forts and welfare of all, and the ! 1 annual tea of 181)5 will not soon be ! forgotlci:. After tho tea was over, ' and everything put in order, the ' people re-assembled for the aftermeeting, tilling the Church in all ' parts. The llev. R. Wood occupied the 3 chair, and after a few brief remarks ■ in which he told the people that he was not going to detain them with a lengthy address, called upon the

Rev. John Ross, of Turakina, to address them. He was sure they, l one and all, were pleased to have him once moro in their midst, and although he had heard a great deal ( about Mr Ross and his good works , in past and early years, lie had not mot Mr Ross until the last few days, and had the pleasure of conversing with him, and he could assure them that he was heart and soul in sympathy with Mr Ross. The Rev. .1. Ross, who was greeted with applause, then rose to address the meeting, alluding to the many

events in the pust history of the church and the people in the early days of the Wairarapa, calling to memory the scene as far back as five and twenty years iijjo, when settlement was very much different to what we now find it, and times and customs much more primitive. Ho could assure his hearers that ho was quite at home with the people of Masterton that night. The greater portion of his residence in New Zealand had been spent iu Masterton The coach over the Rimutaka brought the settlers, a few at the time, who now were scattered in many parts of the Valley, and in those days each settler wondered what each newcomer in their midst was going to do. Jt was a time of great wonderment over small things. The question was at once asked, when the people heard of the arrival of q Minister of Eeligiou in their midst," What kind of a man is he ?" "He must have left all his religion over the blue waters." He (Mr lloss) did not know whether he had left liis there or not, but what remained he had used well, and was more than doubly rewarded for all his troubles. The past quarterof a century had wrought so great a chango in the Wairarapa, and the town of Masterton especially, that he did not think it was too great a thing to calculate what would arentur ally he the outcome of the next live and twenty years, when he hoped everything would have increased in goodness and prosperity. His prophesy of a quarter of a century ago when he had reached the extern limit of civilised habitation in tin Forty-miio ]3nsh (Mr Harvey'i house) on which occasion he hai told Mr Harvey that in live am twonty years to come tho railwa; would pass his door, had comi true, and jt was not too mucl to expect that the same would be th case with that of the npxfc simila period, even though he might no be spared to see it himself. He lnu been the first Presbyterian Ministe: iu the Wairarapa, and in those day the only other clergyman in Mas tcrton was the Rev, Mr Itonaldsor at time an Anglican missionary Ho felt fateful indeed for the hel] he had received in the past from on and another both in times of pros perity and adversity, and hoped tha peace and prosperity would be cvo in their midst, (Applause), The Rev. R. Wood said lie be lieved Mr Ross' prophecy regardin ecclesiastical and other mattci would coma true as temperance an other reformations advanced. Mr B. Feist was then asked to rca the annual report and balance slice which showed tho church to.he i good financial position, and tho wpr of the church generally advancin in many ways. The report an balance-sheet were adopted as real The Chairman then called upo the Rev. J. Dukes to say a few wore to the people. Mr Dukes said he rejoiced at tl: successes of the Church, and coi gratulated them upon their goo financial position, it was also pleasure for him to hear Mr Ros one of the old pioneer Ministers wb had" made the rough ways smooth for those, who like himself, can nfter, and he was pleased to (lii such, a buoyancy of spirit leftwithi him. He hoped the church won! Bver continu'o its usefulness jnd n naiain its. mesonfc fiawial p

perity, and as it was the sixth an- ! niversary at which ho hud been present, and being perhaps the Inst at ■ which he would have the leasuro of i al tending, lie had a special feeling in regard to the mttttor. Mr Wood awl himself had, during that period, worked in harmony together, and he j hoped that, Mr Wood and his Church • would continue in their good works. The Chairman (Rev. R, Wood): sincerely hoped that Mr Dukes ' would be spared to Masterton at : j least ono or two years more. riifcSKXTATIOX. At this interval the Chairman said! ho would leave his duties as Chair-! man for a brief space, in which he i had a most pleasing duly to perform; on behalf of tho choir and the eon-' gregation. It was well-known that I Miss A. M. Feist had performed the j arduous duties of organist for both j Church and Sunday School, sparing: neither time nor energy in the per- i formance of the same for a period of over ten years. This young lady had tho very bust thanks of the congregation for the maimer in which : she had contributed so long and ■ faithfully to tho service of praise in

connection with the Church, and as showing their appreciation of her | past service and good work, lie!' would, on behalf of the congregation and choir, have great pleasure in' presenting Miss Feist with a gold I watch, suitably inscribed, and also a . beautiful gold ring set.with jewels,! the hitter to be a covenant between ! tlio congregation and herself, and the whole to be a slight acknowledgment of her most valued services, which they hoped wopld bo continued at least for a few more years. , 1 (Applause). Mr Feist, on behalf of Miss Feist, ina few well-chosen words, thanked the choir and congregation, for the way in wliiclithey lnulacknowledged his daughter's services, which were t;ivuii freely and without the thought 1 of reward and praise, and which he

hoped raid be continued the same as ever, at least for some time, He was sure she would ever keep and value their gift. Whilst he was before the people, he might mention that he was pleased indeed to see Mr Ross with them on this auspicious occasion. He had known Mr Ross since his arrival in Masterton, and remembered the text ' of his first sermon, delivered in the old schoolroom, now forming part of ! the Temperance Hall, He had been I a great admirer of Mr Ross ever •since he had lirst known him, and ; appreciated all the good he had done; ;in the past, and of which ho was | well nwaiu. j The Rev R Wood, resuming the I chair, said it was usual to keep the ! best speaker till the Inland he would I therefore have much pleasure incalj ling upon the Rev. Mr Murray, of J Carterton, to address them upon the | I I subject of the Christian Endeavour | j movement, (Applause,) j The Rev. Mr Murray said he had; twice had tho pleasure of attending < the Anniversary services of t-lie J ' Church,aii(l was iu every way pleased I with the prescntoue. He was pleased | to have witnessed the presentation j to Miss Feist, as that lady had, on j many occasions, helped tho services conducted by him at Gladstone, with J her music, much to the pleasure ofj his congregation there, who would be pleased to hear of the present appreciation of her services. The Christian Endeavour Society had been in existence thirteen years, and had done much valuable work for the Church, especially among the

young people, '2,000,000 of whom were bound in its faith, throughout the world. At the thirteenth Convention, held in Cleveland, U.S.A., it was found that £50,000 had been collected by them, and mostly spent on Foreign Missions. Altogether, it was a good work which he hoped would have the prosperity it deserved. The Chairman expressed his debt of gratitude to the speakers present, and the choir which had, during the

evening, contributed so largely to j ' tho success of the meeting, and | ] called Hpun Messrs D. and Jan. McGregor to second the various mo- ' tions, which also included the ladies who hud done so much towards the [ evening's enjoyment; and to the people assembled, for their presence and patient hearing. j These motions, and a vote of , thanks to the Chairman, were carried J by acclamation, and the gathering dispersed.