Wesleyan Social Gathering.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 59, 26 August 1875, Page 6

Wesleyan Social Gathering.

A social gathering was held iri the Wesleyan Church, Baiclutha, on Wednesday evening, the 18th instarit. A goodly number sat clown to tea, which was provided by the members of the congregation. After tea, the chair was taken by Mr W. L. Salter, who commenced the proceedings by devotional exercises. Affer the hymn, " Hold the Port," had been sung, the chairman stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of having a free and easy conversation on church matters generally ; he hoped that all members would freely take part. He then called upon Mr Hope to perform a pleasant duty, viz., to make a presentation to one of the members of the church who would shortly be leaving. Mr Hope then came forward, and said, Christian friends, I have a very pleasant duty to perform. As one of our members is about to leave the district, the friends have decided to show the esteem in which she is held by them, by presenting her with this tea and coffee service. The person to whom I allude, is Miss Bruce. He then said — Miss Bruce, I am entrusted by this congregation with the honor of presenting you with this tea and coffee service as a slight token of their esteem and respect, and beg you to accept their sincere wishes that you may live long to enjoy it. At the request of Miss Bruce, Mr Salter returned thanks for her, for the handsome and useful present. . The hymn, " Come to the Saviour," was then sung, after which the chairman called on the circuit steward (Mr Hope) to lay before the meeting the state of the church financially. Mr Hope said he would go right to his subject at once, and stated that the circuit expenditure for last quarter amounted to LSO ls, and that he had in hand L 26 3s lOd with which to meet it, but as the half-} r early sustentation fund would be collected this quarter he hoped soon to see the circuit clear. He, with most of the congregation, thought that the time had come when Baiclutha required a minister to themselves j he would beg to remind them that though the contributions from Tokomairiro were but small, they would have that amount extra to raise. The Chairman said he thoroughly coincided with their views relative to Baiclutha' having its own minister* they would not have the horse expenses , they could turn the land to good account, and have extra services. He also suggested that as great inconvenience arose from having the collecting plates stationary at the door — some almost being forced in without an opportunity of giving — that they should conform to the Wesleyan Methodist custom of haying collecting bags. The suggestion was approved of, with few exceptions. He hoped to see a good part ofthe deficiency cleared off by the collection which was then made, amounting to L 5 15s. It was decided to introduce the bags at once. After the hymn, "Safe in the arms of Jesus," a vote of thanks was proposed to Mr Hope for his valuable services to the church, by Mr Brewer, who advised Mr Hope to hope on ; soon he hoped, they would be in a position to show their gratitude in a more practical way. Mr Matthews said he was sure that all that Mr Hope had done for the church, was done from love to Jesus, and that he would be gloriously rewarded hereafter. He had very great pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks. Mr Hope in reply, said his greatest pleasure would be to see the circuit out of debt, as that would relieve him of a great amount of anxiety. The meeting was brought to a close by singing the doxology.