Wesleyan Chutch Soiree.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 39, 8 April 1875, Page 6

Wesleyan Chutch Soiree.

The anniversary soiree of the Wesleyan Church, Balclutha, was held at Barr's Hall on the evening of Thursday hist. The meeting was largely attended. A service of tea nnd cake, provided by ladies of the congregation, having been disposed of, the hull was re-arranged, and the after portion of the programme gone on with. jVIr P. Oakden was voted to the chair. He said — When we last met here twelve months ago, 1 then stated our meeting had a three-fold character — to bid goodbye to Mr Isitt, to welcome Mr Williams, and to hear a statement regarding the aflfairs of this section of church. At that time very few expected we would be again called upon at so early a date to take part in a similar meeting. We are now brought together to take leave of Mr Williams, nnd I feel convinced you will all join with me in saying that we do so with feelings of deep regret (applause.) Although he has only been amongst us lor some twelve months, or rather I should say six months, for the faot is that one-half of his time has been spent in Tokomairiro (also inoluded in this circuit) • still I feel every confidence in making the statement that he has succeeded jn gaining the regard of all with whom he has come into coatact, and your presenoe here this night testifies to the fact, that you would much have liked if he had been allowed to continue his ministrations amongst us for some time longer. Rev. Mr Williams, who was received with applause, said that when he stood before them a year ago taking part in a similar service, he little thought his connection with the Balelutha congregation would terminate so soon. When nt the last meeting they bade adue to their old pastor, and wefoomed him as their new minister, he had to confess he came amongst them with some fear. Their late pastor (Mrlsitt) rendered such a terrible account of his experience in the place — his journeyings on horse-back, his perils by land, his perils by sea — that he (Mr Williams) felt grave suspicions as to his ability to discharge the duties of a position surrounded by so many difficulties (hear, hear ) He felt, however, that their presence there that evening 1 was to some extent a testimony that, despite the difficulties of the position, he had managed to get through them with some degree of satisfaction (applause,) He was conscious of very many short-comings on his own part, and he had not seen all the results lie wished for from his ministrations ; still he was otherwise hopeful that his twelve month's labor and intercourse with them had not been in vain (applause.) It afforded him no small gratification to see so many resident ministers belonging to other denominations present to take part in their proceedings. It afforded him equal satisfaction to be able to say that with his brethern in the ministry he had all along been upon good terms. However much their opinions may have differed regarding the mode of doing the work, they had all striven with one accord for advancement of the cause.

Rev. Mr M'Ara (Presbyterian) next addressed the meeting, choosing Christian worship and Christian work as the subject of his remarks. Referring to the contributions made to the church on Punday as a branoh of his subject, the speaker said these contributions implied three things — first, the acknowledgment of a dependence upon God ; second, that we are desirous of expressing gratitude to God for his goodness ; and, third, the sense of our desire for extension of Christ's kingdom, Alluding to the Christian worship of tlie church, the rev gentleman dwelt at considerable length upon the importance of the psalmody/ The musical part of the services were, he said, a great secret of the grand success which attended the efforts of those two great revival preachers, Messrs Sankey and Moodie. He was glad to find the attention of the church was to a great extent directed to. this important matter. He was not there to express an opinion as to the propriety qt otherwise of introducing 1 instrumental music into their services. So long as the whole congregation joined in the psalmody, he did not look upon it as a matter of so greai importance how or by what agency their congregational melodies were led ; but unless joined in by the whole, the act itself became nothing more than one of solemn mockery. Years ago he had been present at one of the Rev. Mr Spurgeon's services, where at least 5000 persons were congregated, and the united voices of that vast assemblage lifted up in praise to almighty God, had made an impression on his (Mr M'Ara's) mind which would not b8 readily effaced. In further illustration of Christian work, the rev. gentleman alluded to an observance of the Greek Church. The congregation met together at mid-night of New Year's eve, the meeting taking place in the first, instance in complete darkness. Immediately 13 o'clock struck, the officiating 1 clergyman lighted a torch, the light being communicated from one to another until the streets of the whole city were lighted with torches, 'that was symbolical of the work of the Christian Church. The true flame was first light from God's alter, and com* municated from one to another until it became a lamp for the path of the whole outside world. In concluding 1 , Mr M'Ara spoke in reciprocal terms of

the good feeling and harmony which existed between him, Mr . Williams, and the clergy of the other churches represented at Balclutha, and expressed the hope that a similar state of things would continue to exist in the place.

Rev. Mr Withey (Church of England) said he had come to the Clutha with some considerable amount of misgiving-. These had not, however, been realized. So far from any spirit of hostility being manifested towai'ds the English Church, be had to acknowledge much kindness at the hands of members of all denominations. A good deal of friendly feeling, not to speak of substantial aid, had been extended to his congregation in its efforts to erect a place of worship (applause). The true spirit of charity had been manifested towards them— a charity which rose above mere forms, and which united them together in the bonds of Christian brotherhood. It was with much regret be bade Mr Williams good-bye, and in doing so the speaker testified at some length to the good understanding which had all along existed between him and Mr Williams. He (Mr Withey) earnestly wished him God-speed, and hoped he would be equally successful in gaining the affections of his people in the new position upon which he was about to enter (applause,) Rev. Mr Isitt, after making a few introductory remarks of a light and pleasant character, went on to say that by way of solacing them for the loss they were about to sustain in the removal of Mr Williams, he would tell them something about their new pastor. When he had done so, he felt convinced they would see they had not much reason after all to grumble at this removal. He (Mr Isitt) visited Oamaru some four or five times. At first he felt deeply disappointed with the state of the church there. Three years ago the Oamaru people stood in the unenviable position of beingachurch withouthaving a church at all. They met in a public hall, the church building being in somebody or other's hands. The truth was the building society had a hold of it for some debt the people could not manage to get paid off. After two or three attempts had been made to retrieve matters, an effort was made to work Oamaru in conjunction with the Timaru circuit. In that endeavor things went from bad to worse. Instead of paying off the debt upon the church, they managed to incur fresh liabilities for rent for the hall. This then became their position. They were deep iu debt for the church, in debt for the hall, and in debt to the circuit. In this unpromising state of matters Mr Dewsbury was appointed ; and although it was" only ten months since, to such an extent had he managed to retrieve matters, that last month he (Mr Isitt) was asked to go up and open a new church— a handsome stone building, erected at a cost of £1000, only £200 of which remained upon the building as a debt, Mr Dewsbury when he first went to Oamaru preached in the hall, and from the first day the hall was crowded out. A minister who could manage to do such great things for Oamaru in such a short space of time was not at all likely to be a man who would fall short in what was required of him at Balclutha. Leaving Mr Williams' removal out of the question altogether, he had not the slightest hesitation in saying Mr Dewsbury's appointment was a good one for Balclutha. The speaker went on to revive the question of church door contributions. Last Sunday, he said, some 1200 persons assembled in the theatre, Dunedin, to listen to the Rev. Mr Clarke. Of that number the contributions of 750 were, as had been shown by one of the Dunedin papers, represented by threepenny and sixpenny pieces. These persons knew that it was not every day they had an opportunity of contributing to that very meritorious oause-^-the Benevolent In-stitute—^-and yet their donations were represented by sixpence, aye and even threepence. Clutha as a district was said to have the specimen mean man of Otago living in it. He had been known to go to a hotel of a Sunday to get ohange of a shilling, in order to get a small enough, coin to put into the collection plate. Men who acted in that mean, paltry way could not recognise the needs of the Gospel. The speaker in continuation gave a detailed account of the work of evangilisation as oarried on at Port Chalmers, and concluded by exhorting his hearers to more earnestness in the cause.

A short statement of finance was read, showing receipts on circuit ac£23B 18s Id; expenditure, £237 2s 9d ; balanoe, £1 15s 3d. Receipts on trust account: proceeds of bazaar, £185 17s 6d ; seat rents, £29 4s 6d j due treasurer, £7 14s, Total, £222 16s. Expenditure ; outstanding ac* counts, &o. f .£B9 4s ; interest, .£29 12s ; insurance, £4 ; mortgage, £222 16s.

Mr Hope, Treasurer, remarked that a sum of 411 remained in arrears to Mr Williams. He thought that was not creditable to the congregation, . and with the view of getting 1 it wiped off at once, he asked them to leave their donations as they retired at the door.

The invitation was duly responded to, a creditable sum being- collected. The proceedings of the evening wore enlivened bj of number of musical selections. Miss Bruce presiding at the pianoforte,