PARNELL WESLEYAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6054, 13 April 1881, Page 6

PARNELL WESLEYAN CHURCH.

A soiree which served the double purpose of the anniversary of the Sunday-school of the Parnell Wesleyan Church and a welcome to the Rev. Messrs. Oliver and Isitt, the newly-appointed ministers of the Grafton Road circuit, was held yesterday evening at the Parnell Wesleyan Church. There was a large attendance, and the following ladies presided at the tables : —Mesdames Dennett, Cooke, Whitburn, Hervey, Nicholson, and Good, and Misses A. Lay bourne, M. Laybourne, M. A. Laybourne, Sherwin, and Creagh. Arter tea a public meeting was held. It was presided over by Mr. W. Thorne, who opened the proceedings by giving out a hymn. There was a very good choir (under the conductorship of Mr. Ryan) in attendanee; and the opening hymn, "We are marching on," as well as the succeeding hymns, were very well sung, the congregation joining in the singing. Mr. Girling engaged in prayer. The CilAlßitAN, in a few opening remarks, referred to the dual nature of the proceedings, and called on Mr. Keightley, the Secretary of the Sunday-school, to read the annual report. The report was of a very satisfactory nature, showing a large increase in the attendance of teachers and scholars, morning and afternoon. It pointed out that new books were required for the library, and thanked Mr. Le Roy and the Good Templars for the assistance they had rendered. Mr. Laybourne, senior circuit steward, said there were two words iu the English language well-known and most significant. They were Farewell and Welcome. They must all know the plaintive sound of farewell when bidding adieu to some dear friend whom they might perhaps never meet again. But to-night they had to deal with the more • joyous; word, " welcome," and it gave him great pleasure, as senior circuit steward, to offer a hearty welcome to the Rev. Messrs. Oliver and Isitt. To many Mr. Oliver was no stranger; for, not many years ago, he laboured in the Auckland district, and resided in Grafton Road. It was a high compliment to Mr. Oliver that he should be recalled to the circuit in the i shortest possible time. One qualification which, in his (Mr. Laybonrne's) mind, overtopped all the others, was that he was a Scotchman, that he belonged to his own country, and he hoped he would turn out to be a worthy son of the country that had produced such gianfa. (Cheers.) Mr. Isitt came amongst them as the resident minister of Parnell, to take the place of Mr. Girling, who had laboured amongst them for the last 15 months with such success. He believed they would find the Rev. Mr. Isitt the right kind of metal, and a good worker. He came with a noble testimony from his late district, Pukekohe, where he had won golden opinions. Mr. Laybourne then gave the right hand of fellowship to the new minister. The Rev. W. Morley, Superintendent of the Auckland Circuit, said he was glad to be present, to congratulate the Sunday-school on the progress made, and the satisfactory report submitted. He alluded to the advantages of the "Itinerancy" system, and welcomed amongst them the Revs. Messrs. Oliver and Isitt, and wished them success. He spoke of the relations i between the minister and people, and the minister and the Sabbath-schools. The address, which was full of humour as well as'good feeling, was frequently applauded. The Revs. Messrs. Oliver and Isitt each addressed the meeting, and the proceedings were brought to a close by singing and prayer.