TRINITY WESLEYAN CHURCH HAMILTON, Welcome soiree to the Rev. J. Dukes.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1526, 15 April 1882, Page 2

TRINITY WESLEYAN CHURCH HAMILTON, Welcome soiree to the Rev. J. Dukes.

The members of tho Wesleyan Cbnrch in Hamilton accorded a public welcome to their new minister by giving a soiree on Thursday evening. Tea was served at 6 30 o'clock in the old church building, (now used^asa'Suiidary-school room) and at that hour a large number of people sat down;- -These -included., many -visitors from Cambridge and other places, and a number of friends of otherpanomiuations. The tables were presided over by the following ladies jtf :.-^ Mesdames Maunder, Meacham, GHeeson,, Misses Gribble (2) " and Rothw^&^fc),, After tea an adjournment was imtct© to - ,the new, church,; and here the second, or intellectual portion of the" entertainment was carried out. At the, inyitation of the Rev. Mr Dukes, Mr French took the chair. On the platform there were the Rev. Messrs T. G. Carr, (Cambridge) Wills, (Te Awamntu) Fulton, (Presbyterian Minister, Hamilton) Dukes, and Mr Stewart, of Cambridge. The proceedings commenced with the singing of the 678 th Hymn, (Wesley) after * which prayer was said by the Rev.- T. G. Carr. The Chairman in opening the proceedings, referred to the new minister, whom he said he had found to be an exceedingly nice man. He assured them 'that the more they knew of Mr Dukes, the better they would like him. (Hear, hear.): The Rev. T. G. Can- was then introduced, and expressed, his pleasure at being enabled, so soon after his-arrival in the district, to make the acquaintance of the Hamilton people in a public way. He then proceeded to speak on the sub* ject of how to make ' the church attractive. The Hamilton people had, taken oue very important step in this direction. They had built a, church, beautiful in its arohitectural design and in its proportions ; but that was not thes only thing required. They knew that some churches were rendered attractive by means of ' niilinery and candles ; well they could not do that, but they could cultivate ,gooc\ music, they could encourage their choir' and so make their religious services pleasing and attractive. They did not know to what extent a good choir cheered and encouraged a minister. He was glad to see that the Wesleyans of Hamilton had regard to this matter. They might -well be proud of the efficiency to which their choir had attained. But to make their church thoroughly attractive it was necessary that' the members should live in the niost cordial relations one with another, affording mutual help and encouragement, and, be ever l'eady to extend a kindly welcdlno ' to -strangers. It was not possible that they could all think alike upon religious subjects. God, who designed the Universe, did not make two trees or two blades of grass alike, neither did he create two men alike.' But with the greatest variety there existed the -most perfect harmony ; and so, though there ■might not be uniformity of 'belief amongst them there was nothing to exclude unity. He felt sure that if they attended to these tilings they would prosper as a church and as individuals. Anthem by the choir. Mr R. D. Stewart, Cambridge, delivered a short but pithy address on the text "Do not despise the day of small things." He traced the history of the church in Hamilton, and deduced therefrom the fact that the day of small things had not been despised, though the congregation had perhaps under-raided their own powers. They had been afraid to launch out for a long time, but they, were now realising their strength. He then proceeded to quote examples from ancient and modern history to show from what small beginnings great men and great enterprises have sprung, instancing the 'career of' Napoleon, . Garfield, and others, and dwelling on the growth of Rome, and the marvellous strides which the Wesleyan , Methodist Church had taken since the days of the Wesleys ami Whitfield. He warned them that "despising" did not necessarily mean scorning. They were guilty of despising, small things if they were indifferent to, or careless of their value, and concluded by impressing them with the fact that with ' individuals, no less than with societies the grandest results flow" from the' humblest beginnings. Anthem : Choir. The Chairman r«id a letter from the Rev. >W. Evans, i Presbyterian Minister at Cambridge, regretting his inability to attend. He would therefore call on the .Rev. 'Mr Fulton, who represented that Church there that evening. The Rev. D. Fulton, on rising, said he could not with truth say it gave him great pleasure to be present, for the reason that he had that day been suffering very keenly from a nervous headache, lie had, however, promised to attend, and as he deeply sympathised, with the object of the' meeting,' lie had, 1 despite his ill health, determined to be present. They would not, however, under the circumstances, expect along speech f romhim. The rev. gentleman spokebrieflyonthesubject of the relations which ought to exist between the minister and his people. He said that in the Old Country at any rate, circumstances combined to raise the minister above the mass of his people so that they almost, came to regard him with that reverent awe which a superior being would exact. He did not desire to see any diminution of that reverence which they ouglit to 'pay their minister as the ambassador of Christ, but he would" like to see more of that personal love and regard which ought to exist between them as brothers in Christ. Wherecithis did not exist there could not be much cordiality in the church. In conclusion, he hoped the Rev. Mr Dukes would, during the term he remained in Hamilton, be successful in his work, and prayed that every good might attend him. Solo-r-" Abide with me," MrMeachem. The Rev. Mr Wills commenced his address by referring to his friendship with Mr Dukes, who had entered the ministry contemporaneously with him, and after making a' few observations on the question of church government, he proceeded to speak on the subject of the duty of the congregation towards the minister.' -He-pointed, but the necessity for co-operating with the, ( preacher who was sent to" them, not' because he was endowed with any special qualifications which they were to admire, but because he' /was sent with the mission of 'unfolding to' theni the truths of the Gospel of "Christ. His work was 'one' which was specially in need of assistance, and I 'the rev. gentleman exhorted the congregation before him to take the lesson to heart, to accord their minister the fullest assistance in their power, and 'co-operate withihim 'iri/allf things which went to increase the prosperity]! of the ohurch. *' \ <-'<./«! •: Anthem — Choir. ;'u,» ;; * , ; <The Rev. "JV Dukca jwas , then^ introduced by the chairman and deljwi&l 'ft short though -excellent address.,) at jdojv^ gratulated the Wesleyanni o£ >>Hftmi\fon upon having so handsome a chutoh struc-ture,-and he, f rinoereiy*tauitodj;thab fche debt owing on the building would Boon be cleared off. - With regard to himself and Mrs ? Duke's, /they" ''had 1 Vthat day been introduced to a great many Christian? friends, 'atfd?fhe : j could safely,, Bay he : liad never, itf the 1 ;whole of hw life, ..received.' heartier , handshaking and imore kin<JW;vvishesf orth^irjfuture welfare , than tb&. Hamilton ■* people i;liid' ■•him.* 'He trasted (( tha^'in!tJie prosecution of the good Work whicHlay telofe him he

! I 1I 1 would have the hearty co-operation of the congregation^ for without their help the hands of a" minister were completely tied. He felt sorry that his friend Mr- Fulton had to leave before he had an opportunity of thanking that gentleman for hiskindness in attending that evening, but he had no doubt that he would be made aware of the fact. Nothing was conducive to i Christian-like feeling between ministers the welfare of the religion of a district than the existance of friendly, of different denominations. He trusted that when anything occured which required their presence on the other side of the river, they would lend a helping hand, and he expected the same in return from the Presbyterians. He also • "tti&iked the other rev gentlemen present *" for their services in connection with the evening's proceedings. In conclusion he "referred to the itinerant system, and adduced many arguments to show that the term of residence should be extended to five years. He thanked the ladies who had so ably assisted at the tables that evening, the choir for their assistance, and those present for their attendance. After some remarks from Mr llothwell and Mr Buttle, the usual votes of thanks were passed, and the meeting was brought to a close by the choir singing Hymn 1008. The choir under their leader, Mr Meachem, rendered the anthems allotted them in an excellent manner, and Mr Meachem himself was particularly successful in the solo "Evening." The harmonium accompaniments were played by Mr R. Salmon. The soiree, on the whole, M-as eminently successful, and gave unmisfcakeable evidence of the progress of the Church in Hamilton.