THE WESLEYAN SOIREE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1133, 27 September 1879, Page 2

THE WES LEYAN SOIREE.

A sojkbe, to formally inaugurate the opening of a Wosleyan Sunday School in Hamilton, took placo last Tuesday evening. Notwithstanding tho unfavorable •weather, there Avas a very numerous attendance. Several friends were unavoidably absent. Mr Sanfield, late Superintendent of the school, sent a letter, stating if lie could have been at the tea and public meeting-, it would have given him groat pleasure to have (lone so. After ample justice had been done to a really capital tea. presided over by Mesdanies Culpin, Gleoson, Murray, and Misses Bloomficld, Loyell, Gribble, and other friends, the company adjourned to the Courthouse, kindly lent for tho occasion by 11. W. Northcroft, Esr|.,R.M. Hero, after the usual devotional exercises, and the rendering, by tho Wosleyan Choir, of the anthem " In mercy hear us," Mr Gribble, the Chairman, said he felt great pleasure in occupying the position he did that night. Though it Avas his duty as a Chairman to nail upon others to spoak rather than to spoak liiuisolf, lie could not ! refrain from saying a Ayord or two respect- ' ing tho noble cause in the interests of Avhich they h.ul met together He looked upon the Sabbath school as the nursery of the Church. Ho thought that no one could engage in a better Avork, than that of the Sabbath school teacher. His oavu life, and tho experience of othors, had alU.o taught him that it was in the Sabbath school that tho dawning of a religious life took place. He trusted that the school just started, and which had already made groat progress, Avould progress more and inpre, ard that the religious instruction there obtained would j prove of everlasting bwieljr, to tho .scholars. 'J'ho school children then sang, "Go, wov'i in my vineyard." Mr French, tlfo superintendent of tho school, who, oi; j-Uiug to speak, was greeted witl) loud appln-iyo; said tho presence of such, a large uudionco .showed hat they had the «-ood Avisb.es of • the

people Avith thorn, in their Avork. Their school Avas started on tho 13th July. On the first Sunday they had 10" scholars, now thsy had /)() scholars, so that tho school had made rapid progress. They wanted to teach the largo number of j children in their midst tho way to their Great Master's kingdom. Those nations only that- had the Word of God were great in the earth. The two mainsprings of tho Wcsleyan bxly wore, the class meetings and the Sabbath school, ujid wililiout these two great institutions, . their Church could not cany on tho work .of Christian evangelisation. Ho trusted the . public Avoultl help them with their money and their prayers in carrying on the work they had bulo. (Lainl :i.ppl:m*u). The duet . •' Oh '. Lovely Pear'.!." was then' given by two well known lady amatucrs. It avs.i.« rendered with groat taste and sweetness, and elicited hearty applause. The Rev. Mr Bull, after expressing his pleasure a.t tho largeness of tho attendance, said, that some of their speakers had not put in an. appearance. Tho speakers present might, therefore, indulge in long speeches (laughter). He, however, would not speak long. Some pcoplb, when they commenced to talk, did not know whon. to stop. It was like a stream from an artesian. Avell, in Christchurch. (Laughter.) -Ho thought that tho present system of secular education increased tho importance of Sabboth school work. The great preacher, now in. Melbourne, the l.'.ev Thos. .Tones, of Swansea, stated, that > ho had never met with an instance of spiritual good being accomplished by bible teaching in day-schools. After referring to the wide sphere of Christian usefulness, occasional by the Sabboth school, and tho duty they owed to posterity,, in tho careful training 1 of the , children, tho speaker concluded, by paying a. high compliment to tho zeal and energy of Mr French, the .Superintendent of the Hamilton Wosleyan Sunday school. vYftor another hymn by the children, find Mr Dean had spoken on tho importance of religious culture, Mr Culpin sang, "Tho Cause of England's Greatness," in his well known, able aud effective manner. The TC.CA' Mr Evans, who was received with loud applause, in a most amusing speech, dAvelt on the importance of a good beginning. To do this, they must "take the Avorels of Solomon, as their motto, " Whatsoever they hand ftndeth to do, do it with thy might," whilst, to ensure a good ending, they mn,st dedicate themselves to God, and Avork heartily in his cause.--At this stage' of the proceedings, a collection was made, on behalf of the school funds, when £2 7s was obtained. Mr Cnlpan than sang, "The Village ftbioksinith." it waa rendered with great power and skill. In response to an • f neon; Mr Culpan gave, "The Anchor's Weighed," which was, also, heartily applauded. Rev. Mr Jones said he was afraid the charms of music had made him almost abscnt-miuded, and forget AS'hat he meant to say. He had not been long in the colony, and must express his pleasure and satisfaction at what he had seen of it, and confidence in its resources and future prosperity. After a humorous reference to the roads of Waikato, the speaker sat doAvn amidst applause. A lady then sang, " Consider the Lilies,' ' Avith much taste aud sweetness, and Avas heartily applauded. After a vote of thanks had been accorded to the choir, and the ladies who presided at the tea tables, the meeting Avas brought to a close. The folloAviug is the pecuniary result : — Subscriptions from trays, £-i2 3s (id; collections, £i Ms Id ; proceeds of tea, £11 Gs 6d; total, £2S is Id; expenses, £12 14s 3d; balance, £15 l)s lOd.