TEA MEETING AND CONCERT.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 28 April 1877, Page 2

TEA MEETING AND CONCERT.

According to previous annouhVemenfc a Tea Meeting and; Concert m- connection with the Church, weritf held m the Foresters' Hall, Palmerston, on Thursday evening last. The tea, as most of our readers are aware, was given as a reception to. the Refc^F. Gv Hammond. At this meetiog, wliwß^as' fairly attended, ihe arrangementt.^Kth.' ' the exception of the lighting ofthgßjpl,- ■, were as perfect as could be desii^dVxhe Hall itself was tastefully; decorated with ferns and flowers, the tables were plentifully loaded with good things, andevery attention was paid to visitors by those who presided. We understand that Mrs Stace, assisted by Mrs Marsh, supervised this department, and ■' topmuch praise cannot be accorded to these . ladies' for the cheerful aud efficient manner m which they T performed a very difficult task. . ' ■ . The tea having been cleared awayy after an interval of about an. hour the" Concert commenced. After the overture and first anthem, the Rev. JV'Hv Simmo nds, Superintendent "Wesleyan Minister of the circuit, said they had to some extent departed from the usual course observed at such meetings by placing . speakers' names upon the concert pro--gramme, but as most of the audience were aware that the meeting was m re- 1 cognition of Mr Hammond's coming amongst them, he felt assured that they would approve of the procedure. He" would now call <upon Mr Hammond to address them. • - The Rev. Mr Hammond, who was received with applause,, said he felt a little, out of place m standing before them that evening to the interruption of the sweet oiejody to' which they had been listening, and because of that feeling he knew they would be grieved. He was, however, going to be very brief m his remarks, but there 'were'bhe "'dr two things which he was glafdof having the opportunity of putting right. They'had afL heard of the conflicting' statements that had been made m reference to his coming to Palmerston. Some might be inclined to blame their church organization for the dissatisfaction occasioned by these statements, but he would as-'' sure them that their church organisation was not to blame. Others might blame the worthy President of their Conference. At one time he felt inclined' to blame that gentleman himself ; bjil he did not wish them to do so ; some people take liberties that they will not permit others to take. He remepibered an occasion upon which a good. lady had told' him that her husband was a very bad man, and on hearing his faults he had taken the liberty of agreeing, with her, but he was very soon sorry that he'had done so. He had been appointed to Palmerston by the Conference and was preparing to come, when he received i£ telegram instructing him to go to the Three Kings Training Institute, so ' that he have an opportunity of studying the Maori language. The reason of this alteration was thattwoyoung ministers had arrived by the ship WaimateJgad one of thefse, a Mr; PurcheOn,^J|py ; were toldj was. to . be sent to iJ&iaierston. Afterwards, he received another tele- ■ gram stating that this was altered, and that he was to proceed to Palmerston- ' The President had thought it better to send him to a, place m which he was known. He was very pleased to meet all present that evening, but he felt thatthey were over estimating his worths * However* he had come amongst them to do what he could-r-as quietly, as earnestly, and as thoroughly as he could; ; He desired not theirs but .them. He had come to do the work of a minister of* Christ; and whilst laboring for his Master, they would find him the uncompromising foe of all that was wrong, and the friend- of all that was right. Later m the evening the Rev Mr Lawby was ; called, upon to address the audience. He said that as they had met together to hear sweet music, he felt it wouldbe out of place for him to say many words. : Mr Hammond had ■ warned them not to form too high an expectation of his (Mr Hammond's) work amongst them. His- advice ta them m the matter,- m order that they should not be disappointed; would be not to act as many people do .m allowing and even expecting their ministers to do everything. Some people expect their ministers to do impossibilities. He would advise them not to act so, but to heartily co-operate with their minister, and then he felt assured they would not be disappointed m him ; and would witness great success attending /church, -efforts m Palmerston. • This was ah age' of progress, and if every one did his . duty m affording sympathy and prac« ticalhelp to Mr Hammond, his heart would be gladdened to see the progress that would be made. , Three lady amateurs m turn occupied

the chair of Euterpe during the evening, or, m other words, performed the very important duty of accompanying the singers. The published programme which was well selected, was strictly adhered to throughout the evening; and the vocalists displayed their ability m sustaining no less than their taste m choosing the parts. Not the least attractive portion of the entertainment were the spirit stirring Anthems "0 Praise the Lord," and " Praise him." These were renderedin a manner that left no que stion open as to the matterof careful training. The songs and 'duets, which are at all times taken by the public as the test of individual merit, were listened to with appreciative 'attention . We thin k that m this part of the programme the public anticipation of gratification to the refined sense was fully realised. Many of the pieces were difficult as well, as beautiful, and although- there were degrees of merii; m the rendition, yet all the performers succeeded m becoming, to use a spiritualistic phrase, en rapport with ,the audience. A most hearty and well merited approval was yielded to the Scandinavian quintettes. Were it not for this very important element m the Palmerston concerts we fear' that the gentlemen would be put quite out of countenance by the vocal talents of their fair compeers. Our Scandinavian friends, jiQwever, manfully sustained their rrilmjri Thursday evening, and they M|iio reason to be , disatisfied wi.th tflW^ed of praise which they receiyedr^<he entertainment was terminated by t£e singing of the National Anthem at about 10 o'clock. We should not forget to mention that the piano which did service on this occasion Was kindly lent by Mr Gilbert.