PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOIREE.

Lake County Press, Volume VIII, Issue 447, 4 December 1879, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOIREE.

A soiree in aid of the harmonium 1 fund of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Arrow, was held in the Library Halloa Thursday evening last. Proceedings commenced at six o'clock by a choice and abundant tea—to which every jus. tice seemed to be done by the "large number present, there being more than could find accommodation at one sitting The tables were provided by the following ladies of St. John's congregation : —Mrs W. Paterson ; Mesdames Gilmour and Foord; Mesdame3 J.Reid and J. Chalmers ; Mesdames M'Hutchison and M'Arthur; Bachelor's table (presided over by Misses M. Henderson, M'George, M. Paterson, nnd E. Johnson). After tea the chair was taken by the R"v. D. Boss, and addresses were delivered by the Cnairman, the Eev. J. Patterson (Invercargill) and T. C. Johnson. Between the addresses Mrs M'Cracken and Miss M'George played several the harmonium, Mr J. Barlow sang " Resignation " (accompanied by Mrs Burrell), and five members of the choir gave " How Beautiful upon the Mountains," and some of Sankey's hymns. The soiree—although in point of attendance and returns a decided success —was inclined to be flat owing to the non-arrival of the new harmonium, which the majority of those preseut expected to hear. However, the disappointment, we are assured, was unavoidable, and, under the circum» stances, those who assisted during the evening did all that lay in their power to fill the openings in the programme, and succeeded fairly. Of course the piece de resistenca of the affair was the Hev. J. Patterson's speech, and the only regret we haye regarding it—as regarding all the rev. gentleman's uterances while on his visit here—is its brevity when compared to its meiifc. We envy Invercargill much the possession of such an accomplished aod earnest worker.