The Wesleyan Tea Meeting.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1604, 20 April 1887, Page 2

The Wesleyan Tea Meeting.

The Rev. M*. Bunn should feel flattered by the hearty reception accorded to hiol last evening. It ia true that one of the speakers hinted that their guest had been so often and so inucb flattered that it had now lost all effect ; but, taking the demonetration simply as a sign of the strength and vitality of the several protestant churches iv this community, it should afford encouragement to Mr. Bunn when entering on his labors to find time much preliminary work has been done, and that he has a large flock committed to his care.

In the early part of the evening an eir cellent tea was laid out in the hall. The tables were bountifully supplied with the choicest food, and every gardeD in the i ilistnet would seem to have been lai'4 under coutritmtiou to provide the tasteful floial decorations. There were six separate tablwa, each divided iuto two; and diev weie presided over by the following ladies, who had promi-ed to provide for them : — Miss Maunder and Miss Neilsen, Mrs. and Mies Keith, Mrs. and Miss Ctemoe, Mrs. Hoope*a»il Miss Alexander, Miss M. Watts aud Miss Ray, Mrs. King and Mrs. Twigg. The tables were calculated to seat 150 guests, and when we say that they were twice filled and that until about 7.30 there were still occasional hungry new-comers to be provided for, the success of this part of the eveaing's entertainment cannot be questioned. -,V' Sitors were present from all parts of the. district: about 20 pqrsqns ennje from Elthain ; Okaiawa was strongly represented, anil there were a number oi", Manaia'folti aiid others from the Plaius. That this class of entertainme.ot offers strong attractions to some of the community waa proved last ni«ht by the fact that several ladies were said to have walked all the way frcrn Normanby for the purpose of attending the meeting.- • The public meeting,, which was held afterwards, opened about 8 p.m. , The chair was taken by Mi-: M.Di Ku>g\. On the pklform were tlie' Ravs.^Baun, Youug, McLean, nnd Root.

The Rev. Mr. McLean, Presbyterian Minister, opened the proceedings with prayer. The Chairman introduced Mr. Bunn to

the meeting, welcoming him in weifchosen words. He reierred to the labors of tbe Wesleyan Ministers, Messrs. Skeffington and Woon, in this district 40 or 50 years ago, when their flock was exclusively composed of the dark-skinned race, and when from eight miles this side of New Plymouth to Wanganui there was no white eeltier on tbe who)e coast. In those days, and for many years thereafter, district and the Waimate Plains were looked upon by the early settlers us a sort of Canaan or Land of Promise. Now the white settlers of this part of the colony, which was the very flower of N.Z., had met together to welcome a new pastor. He referred to the fact that Mr. Buna was the firßt Wesleyan nriuister who had been actually stationed at Hnwera, but be was pleased to say that Hawera no longer bore tbe reputation it once had, when it

was referred to by the superintendent oi the province as " drunken little Hawera," and when Sabbath desecration was open and unheeded. He was pleased to be able to state that aWesleyan minister bad also been appointed to attend to the spiritual wants of the Maoris. He would reside afc Patea, ani would further Btrengten the hands of the denomination. This showed that whatever residents in these times of depression might think of the prospeits of the district, outsiders had confidence in it, and a belief in its future. The Rev. Mr. McLean next addressed a fe<v words of welcome to Mr. Bunn. He touched on the fact that the old isolation between sects was broken down.

and his pleasure at Beeing the various denominations represented. He urged - all present to keep one common aim steadily in view, viz., the building up of tbe army of Christ in the cosmopolitan Bpirit of the Master. The Rev. Mr. Young of Opunake, who was heartily received, next spoke. His address was well delivered, conveyed a

hearty welcome, and was hill of telling points. He expressed a hope that the word theology would nob he heard among them. He had noticed that persons generally got warm discussing politics; but when so called religious arguments were engaged he was quite surprised at the angry tone and passions which were roused up. He would like

to see the great Christian motto found both in Leviticus and inculcated in the New Testament "Love thy neighbor as ihy 8e)t " written up in all pnWic places. Mr. Bunn, affer thanking those present for the pleasant reception given him, assured them that in bis 20 years experience of New Zealand he had mingled with all sorts and conditions of men. He never remembered meeting a Presbyterian minister in a district where he (Mr. Bunn) was stationed without shaking hands with him. And with Episcopalian ministers and even ivji). bishops he had always contrived to • remain on friendly terms wherever he had been. He endeavored at all times to uphold the unity of the Prostestant Churches, all of which were he believed 'agreed as to the three R's — the ruin of man, the redemption of man, and the regeneration of man, as the ministers were all gospel and bible preachers. Here he saw several fine churches and hoped they were all free of debt. Hr> was pleased ' to find monetary matters with -the .Wesleyaa Church "as easy as an old shoe," and hoped the rest were in a .like position. He urged that the first duty of all Christians was to uphold their position as servants of Christ, and to live bolily. He wag, ot course, asked what he thought of Hawera. And so far he had every reason to think very well of it. He noticed a very large number- of travellers' houses; public houses, they called them. Perhaps they were all needed by the travelling public —he could not say. But so far he could tell them he had nob yet seen a drunken man; and only one woman, who might, perhaps, have been overcome by her ' feelings in some other way. He trusted that the several denominations would be able to work together in the cause of temperance.

Tbe Rev. Mr. Root also addressed a . few words of welcome to Mr. Bunn, and expressed a desire to cultivate a feeling of liberality among all denominations, leaving each man at liberty to think for himself. 1 Special votes of thanks were accorded to the ladies who provided the refreshments; also to those who acted as a choir and led the singing of a number of hymns, which were introduced between the addresses ; and to all who had given assistance. The organ was kindly lent by Mr. Duff.

The proceedings closed in the usual manner.