KNOX CHURCH SOIREE.

Otago Witness, Issue 50, 29 June 1861, Page 4

KNOX CHURCH SOIREE.

The annual Congregational Soiree wai held in the Church according to announcement, on Tuesday, the 25th inst., the Rev. D. M. Stewart, minister of the Church, in the chair, when, the . evening proving fine, . a large number assembled, and the proceedings went off in a most satisfactory manner. On the platform, in ad r dition to the minister and office-bearers of the Church, the Rev. Mr. Will, and other friends, 1 it was gratifying to. observe his Honor the Superintendent, Major Richardson, whose attendance on such' an occasion, and no less the remarks he offered, which were characterised by good taste and good feeling, bore testimony to the Catholic spirit of his Christianity, for which those who knew, him best gave ; hjrri. credit, and which is befitting the high office he holds. In this he follows in the footsteps of Captain Cargill, of honoured mehiprv, and it is to be hoped that su'6h' fcUl^ Ke^f6li. lowed by all those members pf/fte^chjirctiM whose , Christianity is some'tliin^^feit'erC^anfa mere battleground foil sfrife. Letters 1 of ap&ogy^wir^i Wat ircfeh? Wv:.Dr:3,4ms^^&f«^tt^^a^? GilHeV; a th-^

public duty in the country, and his absence on such an occasion made a very perceptible blank. Mr. Harris also did not appear to take the part allotted to him ; and Messrs. Kettle and Dick being away at the General Assembly, there was altogether a great falling off in the number of those who usually take part in such Eroceedings. Nevertheless, with the help of md friends, matters were well managed, and the company spent a pleasant and instructive evening, separating about ten o'clock. The meeting was opened with prayer, by Mr. Will, and the singing of the 100 th Psalm. Tea was then served, and when that had been disposed of and cleared away, the regular business commenced by Mr. Street, the Treasurer, reading the Financial Report for the past year. From this it appears that after paying in full for the addition to the Church, and all othef r expenses for the year, the balance of liabilities is less by £137 10s. than at this time last year. The total liability appears to be now £1,472 10s., against which there is cash in the Treasurer's hands £108 12s. 7d., and subscriptions to be collected, £450, which reduce the sum to be provided for the completion of Church and Manse, as they now stand, to only £924. It is not too much to expect, that this sum will soon be provided, and .that the congregation will be able to go on with a school and class-rooms, which are much needed to render the arrangements complete and comfortable. The adoption of the Report was moved by Dr. Purdie, who took occasion to offer some interesting observations, and seconded by Mr. Douglas and carried unanimously. After which, Mr. Hepburn, elder, brought forward and presented the following handsome gifts from the ladies of the congregation '.'— A Silk Gown for the Minister. A Pulpit Bible and Psalm Book, and handsome Velvet Cushion. A Gown for the Precentor. Communion Service and Baptismal Bowl, in Electro-plate. adding a few suitable remarks in such manner as showed that the ladies had exercised their usual discrimination in the election of a spokesman. The Rev.D.M. Stuart thanked the ladies for himself, having first, with the assistance of his Honor the Superintendent on the one hand, and his elder, Mr. Hepburn, on the other, put on the gown ; and Mr. Dyer offered the thanks of the congregation to the ladies for the Communion Service, &c. His Honor Major Richardson then addressed the meeting in a few well-timed remarks, avowing the satisfaction and pleasure with which, while a stanch Episcopalian, and dutiful member of the Church of England, he united with his brethren of the sister church, in the promotion of their common Christianity. Mr. Street, Superintendent of Sabbath Schools, then gave a statement of their progress and recommended them to the support of the congregations. The average number of scholars is at present 55 boys and 43 girls. Mr. Cargill called attention to the Bible Class established by Mr. Stuart for the benefit of those further advanced in life, from 14 years and upwards' which meets before the hour of public worship on Sabbath morning, and has an average attendance of upwards of 80, who have already made progress and exhibited improvement, highly encouraging to Mr. Stuart. Mr. 1 Dyer then gave an address to the young men of the congregation. The Rev. Mr. Will next addressed the meeting in his usual vigorous and hearty style, which always renders him welcome on such occasions. It is to be hoped he will not take it amiss, however, if the remark be made i that it would have been more to the taste of j some of those present, including probably his Honor the Superintendent, to have omitted reference to certain proceedings of the Government and Council. The Rev. Mr. Stewart made a'few remarks, m the course of which he called attention to the handsome proportions of the church, and its excellent acoustic properties, for which a debt of gratitude was due to Mr. Langlands, who gratuitously and at great pains prepared and presented the designs and plans upon which the building had been erected. ! On the motion of Mr. Rennie and Mr. T. B. Gillies, thanks were voted to the several speakers, and to the precentor and his fellow i musicians, who performed various pieces in the intervals between the addresses. It should be mentioned that the musicians had taken great pains in preparing some suitable music, but at the last moment the only lady of their number, who had taken a principal part in the i preparations, and without whose aid they could not perform the prepared pieces, was consequently unable to attend. Notwithstand • ing this, they very obligingly favoured the meeting by singing such pieces as they could arrange with their reduced number at short notice, and, aided by Mr. Reichardt, the pianist, they thus succeeded in materially enlivening the evening's proceedings. The blessing being pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Stuart, the meeting separated, much pleased with their entertainment, and went to their homes fey bright and beautiful moonlight.