EVENING MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 225, 28 September 1897, Page 2

EVENING MEETING.

Notwithstanding the inclement weather last evening, there was a good gathering in the Beresford-street Congregational Church of those interested in the Christian Endeavour movement, when the meetings in connection with the fifth annual convention of the Auckland provincial branch of the union were continued. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair presided, and after a hymn had been sung the Rev. Mr Williams engaged in prayer. Mr Sinclair said he must apologise for the absence of the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury, who was unable to be present and preside. Mr R. S. Abel gave a synopsis of the annual report particulars of which appeared in Saturday's issue. Miss Fear next sang very acceptably, "Light in darkness." Mr G. C. Garlick next read the statement of accounts, which showed that the expenditure balanced receipts. Mr Garlick said they wished to publicly thank an unknown donor who had forwarded £12 towards the Convention expenses. The Chairman said that some strange fatality seemed to attend the special meetings of the Christian Endeavour, for rain seemed to fall on their gatherings. As Endeavourers they could, however, have sunshine in their hearts if they did not have it in the weather. Mr Sinclair congratulated those present upon the j progress of the Christian Endeavour movement. The world's membership now totalled three millions. He hoped shortly to see the New Zealand Convention held in Auckland. He hoped something could be done this year in the direction of every Society in the country being visited by some officer of the Union. Looking backwards, he thought the Presidents had taken too much upon them, which had frightened others from taking the position. He hoped in future they would let their Presidents down a little lighter, and invite the Vice - Presidents to some of their anniversary gatherings. They got inspiration from these Conventions, but they should take care not to let it be dissipated when Lhey returned home. Mr Sinclair

then warmly welcomed the country delegates to the Convention. Rev. W. R. Woolley, of the Thames, responded on behalf of the country delegates. The common love of Christ was the bond of union that bound them all together. They in the country had work to do the same as those in the town. He hoped all would serve their God and generation to the best of their powers. The duet and chorus "I Waited for The Lord " was next sung, Miss Rimmer and Mrs Stewart taking the duet admirably, while the chorus was well rendered.

The customary collection was then taken up, the Chairman explaining that the offertory was devoted towards the Conven- ] tion expenses. SABBATH DESECRATION. Mr R. B. Heriot read a paper on the above subject. He contended_ that the Sabbath day was a Divine institution before the decalogue was written. As God ! had made the Sabbath for man, He should i have the principal say as to how it should be spent. What God desired was known in the fourth commandment. I Working men who clamoured to have the ! museums and art galleries open for their I benefit on Sundays should remember that jin getting such things they were compelj ling others to work for their selfish I pleasure. They had to thank to a great | extent the Puritans of England and the ! Covenanters of Scotland for the preservation of the Sabbath. Secularise the Sabbath and it would become' a question of : polity or convenience whether the Sabbath '■ be recognised at all. It was the recognition of the hallowedness of the Sabbath alone that would be the guarantee of the I continuance of the day of rest for the workers. The most barefaced Sabbath , desecration they had were the fishing ' excursions on steamers advertised for the ; day of rest. Another form of Sabbath ' desecration was that clone by the weary travellers who walked from the pavement to the pub for a drink. He was also sorry ito say that gardening and lawn tennis i were done on the Sabbath. He wished it i could be put down by law. As Endeavourers ■ they should not use trams, steamboats, or \ 'buses, even to go to church or fulfil preach- ! ing engagements. If they must go. they ' shouldeither paddle their own canoe, or ■ borrow the horse of a Seventh Day Adventist, or one belonging to an owner lof the Jewish persuasion. They | should keep out of their City Councils j men who would vote for running trams on j i Sunday. (Applause.) He also thought: ' there was too much cooking done on ! Sundays. A cold collation on the Sabbath would save work on the day of rest and also act as an excellent stomachic once a week. (Applause.) Miss Wood then sang "Nearer My God to Thee" very pleasingly, the refrain being also effectively rendered. THE EVILS OF GAMBLING. j Pastor J. Clark, of the Baptist Taber- j nacle, next delivered an address upon the j : above subject. He said he was somewhat ; handicapped in being a comparatively new : arrival here. Gambling itself was a j . terrible evil, and from it sprang out in- j numerable evils. Gambling also seemed | to be a widespread evil, and seemed to ! have existed in all ages. It owed its; existence to avarice and the excitability of the human being. When people attacked j | gambling they generally referred to horse- j racing, but it took many other shapes. In ' the lo'llie shop the prize'packets taught the \ ! children to gamble. In the Old Country : nine tenths ot the hairdressers' shops were j 1 gambling places. He had a shrewd sus- ; picion something similar existed here. The ; gifts in connection with the sale of so many i j pounds of goods were a form of gambling. ] | The promotion of petty companies started i to provide positions for certain people was : the worst form of gambling. Burglary was honest compared to that form of gambling. i He might also state at once that he held j quite as strong views with regard to raffles, bran-tubs, and other forms of gambling ,' carried on in connection with Sundayschools and churches. (Applause.) He was sorry to see that even their athletic sports were being degraded by blacklegs and bookmakers who infested the fields. ; Gambling destroyed affection, made ' thieves, and disposed to idleness. It also | drove people to drink and to commit 1 suicide. Gambling was anti-social, anti- | moral, and anti-spiritual, and an unmitii gated curse to the community at large. It ! was the most devilish of all the spells that | got hold of men, for it had not a single '■ redeeming feature. What hope had they I for the people unless they drove this devil j from their country. He was astonished that the Government should even take toll ' from that gambling machine, the totalisa- ! tor. They had power, and should use it 'to get better men for legislators. As I Endeavourers they should work to get rid of this crying evil.