TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6083, 2 October 1903, Page 2

TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING.

A public tea and meeting followed, both being very well attended, relay after relay of guests: fitting down to the well filled tables which were provided by the ladies of the congregation, and attractively spread, the good things being greatly relished by all comers!

" At p%& public meeting the church was well fijlled. 'The chair was taken by the Rev. \y. L. Salter, who had with him on th« platform the Bey. G. D. Gox, F. Hales, J. .1. North .and B. Raine. Apologies for nonaitendancp yere rgcej.yed from the Revs. E. Whitehouse, G. B. inglis, aad ,W. Deters.

After the singing of the hymn " The Ghurch's one Foundation," the Rev. R. Raise, on fchg invitatJQQ of the chairman, Offered prayer, Tho reverend chairman then delivered a short address, remarking on tho faot that the Ashburton church had ooine of age that day, and it was vQvy gratifying to them to hive in their midst that evening the good brother, Mr Meddings (applause) who had been instrumental in securing the first baptist aervice3 in Ashburton. They had decided po celebrate tji§i£ cowing of age by clearing 'off' the mortgage' of "$360 still remaijjipgl on the churcH property', atfd siiice iife was made at' the afternoon session the pound nojLgs }}a 4 fee.BO coming in (applause),_and he fiope4 everyone interested would pray abput the matter and unite with them in the effort (hear, hear) tp clear qff fchejr (^e^t The Rev. Mr Oox. congtatulated Mr Salver on his accession tp th.c pastorate Of the Aghbur^pn Church, and" |,he church upon its anniversary and ths> atfcainn?3nt of ifcs majority, The pleasure of jjhe present gathering was all the greater in that they had the good brother with them who had been instrumental in starting the good work going. The reverend gentleman then pKQoe.eded ho doliyer on the principles q£ the Baptjst £}^urqh. pointing oui; the distinguishing 'fen^urei of the Uapttsfc profession, i(;s memberaiup being confined to "baptised believers." It was only a little more than 50 years ago — for it was only two years since thoy celebcategi |ij^eir jubilee at Nelson—that the first Baptist services wet,e hajd-jii-Ne^-Zealand. ; They ribw " had ''4000 bapti«"'-(l believers on their church' rolls, but this did uot represent the converiiions'which had taken place through the'instruine'ntility of their ohurchß3, as tMBy had givdn many a man, woman, arid dhil4 j;o othet churiihea

In the mission field they were glad to recognise the work done by the Baptist Missionary Sooiety in India and to know that the Union had done so much to train their colonial students, When they had such men as Dr North, the Rev J, J. North and others who were oomingj on they had cause to thank God for what had been and what was going to be accomplished (applause.) The Rev. J. J. North also congratulated the church on its selection of a pastor. He had a very high respect for Mr Salter, who, years ago, had, for conscience Bake, sacrificed much better prospects than any he could expect to command in the denomination he had felt it his duty to to join. He enjoined the Ashburton people to respect and treat their pastor well. The reverend gentleman then delivered an interesting address on character and obedience in their relation t) the Christian profession. The Rev. Frank Hales, after congratulating the Ashburton people on the settlement of Mr Salter as the pastor of the church and on the very creditable display made in connection with that day's meeting's, spoke on the necessity for devotion to God's cause, his remarks being attentively followed andjwell received. The Rev. R. Raine also delivered an interesting and encouraging address, the proceedings closing \ with!, a hymn and the Benediction, pronounced by Mr A, Ager. During the proceedings the choir rendered an anthem and several selections solos being also given by Miss A. Tucker and Mr A, Silcock, both vocalists singing well and their efforts being much appreciated.