Congregational Church.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4796, 6 September 1888, Page 2

Congregational Church.

Last evening a social tea, followed by a public gathering, was held at the Congregational Church, to moot and welcome the Kov. Dr Haanay and Mr Lee, delegates from the Congregational Union of England and Wales to the Jubilee Conference of that denomination about to bo held at Melbourne, who are “ doing ” New Zealand on their outward way. The programme of the visitors has been disarranged in various ways, one result being a postponement of their visit from last week to this, and another the hindrance of Mr Lee from visiting Timaruat all, he being detained by an engagement near Christchurch. Dr Hannay, however, came down yesterday from Christchurch, and his visit will be remembered with pleasure by all who attended the welcome meeting. As the rev. gentleman explained, the delegates had no business to transact with the Now Zealand churches, but they stipulated before leaving the Old Country that they should visit their New Zealand friends cn route for their rendezvous. The tea was well attended, and so also was the after meeting. On the platform, for the latter, the pastor of the church, the Rev. Mr Taylor, was supported by the Revs. Gillies (Presbyterian), Martin (Wesleyan), Brown (Baptist), and Woollas (Primitive Methodist). Mr Taylor, in introducing Dr Hannay, spoke of the visit of the delegates to the colony as matter for congratulation, as linking the churches of their antipodes with those of the Old Country, and expressed his pleasure at the sympathy shown by other churches; as manifested by the presence of their ministers and members of their congregations at the meeting. The other local ministers, on behalf of themselves and their congregations, heartily welcomed the visitor as the representative of an important church organisation, and as an individual whose work and speeches and writings had made him a man of mark in the Christian world. Dr Hannay then addressed the meeting, speaking for about an hour, in a quiet but most effective style, frequently enlivened with touches of dry humour, and “chaff” from controversial straw supplied by a suggestion made by Mr Gillies that the Oongregationalists are so nearly Presbyterians —through their “ Union ” —that they might as well amalgamate at once. He did not care for amalgamation, but for union of effort; a confederation of the churches for their one grand object, leaving each to pursue its own course in minor matters, on the same principle as the British Empire must federate if at all. Buch a union or confederation was evidently most necessary at the present day, ■when Christianity is being assailed on the one hand by sacerdotalism and arevivalof mediicval superstition (ritualism), and on the other by unbelief founded on science and historical criticism. The mutual relations of the preacher and his flock formed another theme of wise discourse, and the truly Christian life of the congregation was insisted upon as the measure of value for the church. In conclusion Dr. Hannay expressed a hope that the visit of the delegate would be accepted as a token of the interest taken in the colonial . branches by the churches at Home, and that ) their report oh their return would elicit sym-

pathy in a more practical form than had been shown in the past. The reverend gentleman was warmly applauded on resuming his seat, and a hearty vote of thanks, proposed by Mr Tennant, seconded by Mr W. Jones, and supported by Mr George, was carried by acclamation.

Dr Hannay left for Christchurch, to catch the steamer, by the first train this morning.