SHERIDAN-STREET CHAPEL SOIREE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3037, 20 April 1867, Page 5

SHERIDAN-STREET CHAPEL SOIREE.

A soiree in aid of the funds of the Primitive MethodiatChapel, Sheridan-street, Freeman'sßay.was held yesterday Afternoon and well attended. In the afternoon Divine service was held in the chapel, the Her. Samuel Edger officiating, and a tea and public meeting was held afterward!. Mr. Tremaine wai called upon to preside at the meeting, and made a few introductory observations respecting the welfare and prosperity of the Church; which is a branch of the parent Church in Edwardes-street. The Rev. Mr. Booth was then called upon to address the meeting in hit capacity as minister of the congregation, and spoke with great confidence of the progress made by the Church since its establishment in the freeman's Bay district. Mr. Coupland addressed the audience on the need for earnestness in the Church, and instanced the valuable services which individual members might render, if earnest and decided in their actions. The Rev. S. Edger next addressed the meeting, confining his attention chiefly to a fact the particulars of which, he said, were received from England by the last mail. The question had arisen amongst the ministers of the Primitive Methodist congregation in England, why do the working classes keep away from our places of worship ? A conference had been convened co discuss the point, and to decide why this was the case. The conference was composed of intelligent hard-working men, by whom the speaking was done; and the proceedings, which were of a very intereiting character, had been printed. The speakers spoke out what they thought and felt without mincing the matter, and told the ministers that they did not go because they felt they were not meant for them. There were the genteel seats, they said, for " the quality," and the free seats at the door or the extreme end of the chapel for the working people. Another objection urged was that they had too much of the world in their churches, and sold the Gospel over the country ; and another was that they did not get the Gospel in its purity, but mixed up with creeds. If they had a pure Gospel, they would listen to it; but they did not want anything else. 1$ was also urged that they did not know which to chooie out of the number of creeds and sects ; and if the ministers would agree amongst themselves, and put away their differences, then the working men would attend. The rev. gentleman went on at some leDgth to ftive the arguments used by the working men at the conference, and concluded with some practical advice to the members of the Church arising therefrom. Several other speakers followed, and the chapel choir gave selections of sacred musip at intervals throughout the evening in a very creditable manner.