NEWLANDS CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.
The anniversary services of the Primitive Methodist Church at Newlsnds were J conducted last Sunday by the Rev. P. W. Jones, who preached both morning and evening to large and appreciative, congre--3 gations; the attendance at the latter r service being especially good. Last night the usual tea and public meeting were held, when, in addition to the large ..copcourse of settlers in and around the-dis-i trict, there was a good sprinkling of visitors from Ashburton township present. The ladies of Newlands had an excellent spread of dainty edibleswithwhichtqsatisfy the seen appetites of all present, and their energies were taxed to the utmost for a considerable time in attending to the demands of as large a crowd as was ever packed in the Newlands church. Tea over, and the tables being removed, Mr Lloyd, an energetic member of the Connexion, took the chair, and after a hymn had been sung, in a few words opened the proceedings by referring to the pleasing experiences of the church at Newlands during the past year, and the encouragement which reminiscences of that period led them to hope for in the future. The chairman did not resume his seat until he had taken occasion to give a gentle hint to the young folks to show some consideration in manifesting their appreciation of the engagements of the evening. Wp were, sorry to observe that Mr Lloyd’s kindly advice was not acted upon, as the l lbtid guffaws and excessive stamping of feet' from one or two members of the larrikin
element testified. The Eev. P. W. Jones was the first speaker to address, the meeting, and in a lengthy speech, the rev.' gentleman held up the system of Christianity as that which was to elevate and 1 ennoble mankind. Mr Jones, in the preliminary part of his address, referred to a report of the church’s proceedings for .IhfiE ’ past year not being presented... The Rev. John Nixon, the succeeding speaker, explained that for some'time past the finances of the Newlands and Ashburton churches had been amalgamated ; but he believed that the tealli debt on the Newlands church amounted to L 122, and the roll of membership twenty-nine. Mr Nixon, in a subsequent part of his remarks, paid a high compliment to the lay preachers of the cause ; the services of the Newlands church beings principally conducted by these willing ‘co- " workers ; and it would be a sad day for Methodism when its churches were closed to the ministrations of local preachers,.. _ There was work for such men to do which 4 could not be done by gentlemen' of“ the “ white tie and as an instance of by his consistent life and kindly precepts, had led others of his comrades to join hinrip, in his adherence to the cause of God. The ;> Rev. W. Keall, who was next called on, made mention of what he considered the improved tone of speeches given at meetings of this description, and contrasted them favorably with those which were.-in vogue some years since. However, by the , way, it is questionable whether unasked- or, fdr and gratuitous advice to junior minis? ol • ters on the platform, followed up by a resume of the preceding evening’s sermon, ; >; is what is expected on the occasion of a church anniversary celebration. Messis Isaac Scott and Puddicombe followed with brief addresses, and after the chairman" had stated that the handsome sum of iL2B 11 would be netted as one result of the an-1 niversary engagements, votes of thanks dp the ladies, proposed by M r Maidens, and-'' seconded by Mr Lill, were carried by- .ao; , r clamation. The usual votes .of thanks to the chairman, and the singing of the Doxology, brought the proceedings to a close. At intervals during the evening, the choir of- ; the Ashburton church rendered several saci;ec| selections, which ' were evidently mfich appreciated, and solos by MesdamesNixpn i. and Vaughan narrowly escaped haying to be repeated. The evening was very showery and cold, but this in ho way militated against the success of the gathering, the prospect of a soaking wet night imparting a certain arpount ■of cheerfulness to the farming element present, and no one regretted returning home in the drizzling rain.
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Bibliographic details
Ashburton Guardian, Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 501, 6 December 1881
Word Count
705NEWLANDS CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 501, 6 December 1881
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