GOLDEN WEDDING SOCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 2

GOLDEN WEDDING SOCIAL.

' x'he Methodist Church, Port Chalmers, waj ' crowded on Thursday evening, tho occasion l being a " golden wedding social," tendered by , the congregation to Mr and Mrs J, B. Monsoa I and Mr and Mrs C, Duke. The church was . tastefully arranged and beautifully decorated. . Oold and white flowers in all kinds of designs I abounded. The' 1 - singing of the "'Wedding hymn " commenced tho proceedings, and after , prayer and tho reading of the 23rd Psalm, the ■ playing of tho " Wedding inarch," bv Mrs A. Schnack followed. Rev. J. Ward, who presided, spoke of the privilege the congregation ! felt had been conferred upon them in being allowed to attempt to honour their friends. All loved them, and were glad to have that opportunity of expressing their love. He apologised for the absence of the Revs. T. G. Brooke, C. 11. Laws, Messrs Lang'.ands and Isbister, also for the venerable Rev. W. Kirk, who 50 years ago walked from Waikouaifi to , Port Chalmers to perforin the marriage ceremony for Mr and Mrs Monson. A short musical programme was rendered. Mr \\. Stewart sang "Blow, winds, blow"; Miss Ward, "Darby and Joan"; Messrs A. and E. Schnack gave i as a cornet duet " Pulaski's banner"; and Miss Agnes Glanville represented the young of tho congregation with the recitation " Growing i Old." Mrs Basire, one of the oldest members i of tho church, who had tho day before celebrated the fifty-sixth anniversary of her wed- ] ding, assisted by Miss Gladys Barker, the | great grand-daughter of one of the donors of , tho church site, on behalf of the ladies of tho ■ congregation, presented to Mrs Monson and Mrs Duko a floral spray, and to Mrs John. Taylor, one of Mrs Mon'son's bridesmaids, a . choice bouquet. To Mrs Monson's other bridesmaid, Mrs W. 11. Hansford, who was unable to be present, the company sent " a, smile and a cheer." The Chairman then, on behalf of (he church., presented to Mr and Mrs Monson a beautifully bound cony of the I Scriptures and new Methodist Hymn Book, and • to Mt and Mrs Duke a copy of the reccntlv--1 published "Life of the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes.'' All the volumes bore the inscription in gold: "A Golden Wedding Memento . from the Methodist Church, Port Chalmers." | Tho presentation were unexpected, and the recipients in unstudied language feelingly and 1 gratefully expressed their thanks. Refreshments were then served, and portions of the wedding cake, which was a large and handsome one, distributed among the company. Tho cutting of the cake by tho two aged and honoured '. brides in orthodox s(v!e excited considerable interest. After all had eaten, the health of both couples was proposed by tho chairman. This was responded to by Mr Monson, who tlien proposed the health 'of his wife's bridesmaids, which was responded to by Mr Duke. Short congratulatory addresses were then given by the Revs. Christian. Temieni, Tavlor. Captain Thomson. Messrs Walter Loqie, Herbert Logie, G. L. Asher. and 0. D. Flamank. Mr

; • Herbert Logic mentioned the fnct that he had ;in his possession—ami he prized it highly— i the Bible- the church nrcsented to his father

| on his removel from Port Chalmers 50 years | ago. The evening wa.s one of the happiest ! of the kind ever spent in Port Chalmers. " I liked it better than my own silver wedding," said a lady as she left the building. Numbers of members of other churches wero present, all glad to show their appreciation of those so well known and highly respected. The singing of a parting hymn to the old tune " Nativity," so often sung in the original church 50 years ago, and the doxology, followed by prayer by Mr _ Andrew Thomson, brought the 'sunny evening to a close.