SOCIAL GATHERING AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1579, 17 August 1882, Page 2

SOCIAL GATHERING AT CAMBRIDGE.

A social gathering by way of celebrating in a fitting manner the -placing of a peal of bells in the tower of S. Andrew's Anglican Church, Cambridge, was held in the Public Hall on Monday evening last. As the proceeds of the evening were not to be devoted to the reducing of any debt, but merely to defray the^ expenses of the evening, only a nominal charge was made, and the hall was filled w ith a gathering, representative of the of the various denominations of the district. It is just about a month since the last social gathering was held in connection with S. Andrew's, when the new peal of bells were arranged in order on the platform having only justarrived. Thatgathering was to celebrate the arrival of the new comers, and the one on Monday evening may be said to have been held by way of celebrating their instalment in office. The proceedings opened with a tea meeting, and the tables having been cleared away the musical part of the programme was brought forward. The chair was taken by his lordship Bishop Cowie. The Cambridge string Band rendered some excellent selections. The chairman opened the proceeding by a very interesting discourse on the progress of the English Church since its establishment j why they called themselves members of the Church of England, and what their pedigree was. Before the end of the third century a preacher of the Gospel had been put to death in England for professing to be a follower of Jesus Christ. In the fourth century episcopacy had been in existence in England for a length of time four English bishops had attended a convention which was then held in the south of France. During this ceutury the British people called in the aid of the Savons and the Christain people had to retire to Wales. In the sixth century some English boys were taken to Rome and sold in the market there as soldiers slaves. Gregory, who was then Bishoo of Rome, on seeing these boys was greatly struck with their, excel lent physique and intelligent appearance and he determined to send missionaries to England to make these boys Christian boys. Augusten waa the first of those missionaries sent from Rome to Chrystiauise, England, and after a long delay in France crossed the Channel to Wales, but thinking himself the superior of the W.elsh bishops, he being the representative of Gregory, they and lie did not get on well together, consequently his lofty conduct made his mission of little avail. The reverend chairman thenrelated thecircumstances surrounding the origin of the parochial institution, the establishment of parishes, top. At the present tinje there t was only one bishop's chair in Auckland, , bu^ in tlie course of tiini'he* expected to see the district subdivided and a bishop residing in Waikato. In the early ages large landowners and men of confirmed wealth built the Jchtirclies and endowed them,, and .those .fine, old buildings of which were, yet, to be found f to England, we.reerected "by ;>th'e ; contributions of a " few' 'wealthy Tmenl -^The' > term" cathedral meant.thechurcbTialwXic^ the , bishopjs clj^ir^Kbpound - He them detailed a^feV incidetifsr characteristic] of the dirk agelsj^e^etifofthefNorraans "arid^the causesand\effects ot;tlife Kelorma- , teWeir'^r^ Sr^aiid^SWn#f?g^wha|e>r ; ;

, .Church, of England was jipw 1200 years Told.' Before're&unjing^Jiis seat the rev. cliairmkn'' in a~ few -complimentary remarks introduced to the audience Archdeacon W. N. de L. Willis. , Archdeacon Willis, Jn a few suitable remarks, acknowledged! tlie remtfrßs -of the Bishop, and' the, warm manner nn which lie had been received by the audience. The following musical programme was, then, gone through' : — Piano ; solo* i Miss* Scrutton ; kmg, " Jack's Retiirn,"' Mr -W.-Jaggs-; song, 'Mra-Lr-8.-Ewen-; glee s - "The Belfry Tower;" song, "Dresden phina," Miss Coleman ; song, "Maid of Athens," Mr H. W. Moore. In response to^an .encore, Mr Moore sang, ," Believe me if all those endearing, yonng charms." Piano duet, Mrs Chitty and Miss Wilson (encored); duet (vocal), "All's Well," Messrs Moore and Jaggs ; anthem, ' ' Thine, 0 Lord," choir. > Each contribution was well received. The glees, which were taken part in by the members of the Musical I/nion' and of' the choir, mnder Mr T: Bell. " r ' >v '"' Mr J. P. Campbell, in, a few words, proposed a vote of thanks to the subscribers to the bed fund, for the very liberal ( mn'nner in which they had ebntributed. ) They had the gratification of ' knowing' now that the bells were not .only partly but entirely paid for. They had every reason to congratulate themselves on the fact that Cambridge was the first country district in New Zealand to possess a peal of bells, and such a church as that over which they swung. For these pleasing results they were mainly indebted to the exertions of two or three gentlemen belonging to the church. Not only had he to thank the members of the Anglican congregation, but also the members of the various denominations represented in the district for the liberal support and co-operation which they had so willingly extended. Mr F. Hicks seconded Mr Campbells proposition. Mr Wells, who also spoke to the proposition, complimented. Auckland on having such a bishop as their worthy chairman that evening, Dr Cowie. He also related the circumstances which had brought their present bishop amongst them, he having acceded to the request of Bishop Selwyn, when in England. They had also been fortunate in the choice of the minister who had been appointed to cotiie amongst them and administer to their spiritual wants, and who had lately and worthily been appointed to the office of Archdeacon for Waikato. Archdeacon Willis said Mr Hicks was the first to speak of a peal of bells for Cambridge. Speaking of the Auckland Bishopric the archdeacon said the people of Auckland had done nothing as yet towards supporting their bishop The office was snppoorted by a special endowment which Bfshop Selwyn had created at Home, and if tho bishop had not private means he could not possibly live in this country, the endowment being inadequate. He hoped to see , something done in the matter before long, and believed Cambridge people would do their duty in the matter. A paper on "Bells" by Archdeacon Willis, a song "Jack's Yarn" by Mr Rogerson, a glee "A Spring Day," and the National Anthem, brought a most entertaining programme to a close.