PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2480, 23 March 1893, Page 4

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH GERALDINE.

The anniversary tea and public meeting in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church Sunday School, was held on Tuesday evening, when a goodly number sat down to tea. Altogether there, were four tables given, and presided over as follows :—No. 1 : Mrs A. Sherratt, assisted by Miss Stonehouse ; No. 2; Mrs Maslin, assisted by Mrs Taggart; No. 3 : Miss Andrews, assisted by Misses Bowkett and Billings ; No. Miss E. Sherratt, assisted by Miss E. Fronting. At the after meeting Mr W. S. Maslin, superintendent of the Sunday School, presided, and after a large choir of children, under the charge of Mr E. Robson, had sung “ Joy Bells,” Mr Maslin made a few few remarks. He said that their meeting had a two-fold purpose. First of all they had met as the annual school gathering, and also they had met to welcome the Rev. Mr Woodward, their new minister. He hoped Mr Woodward’s term of office would be a lengthy one, and that he would be eminently successful in the work God had called him to.

Duet, Fred Maslin and Master Stonehouse, “When we meet”; recitation, Elsie Sherratt, “ Pussy cat ” ; recitation, Miss I. Logan. The Society’s report was then by Mr Amos Sherratt as under :—Nunmber of teachers, 17; scholars 142, 61 boys, and 81 girls; giving an increase on last year of 10. The average attendance regularly every Sunday was 120, so that there was plenty of work for the staff of teachers. He called upon young people to enroll themselves as teachers and help them in this work.

The Chairman, in the absence of the treasurer’s report, intimated that the income of the year had been about £2O and the expenditure about the same amount. They were not in debt, but they were just about “stumped/’ but with the Sunday’s collections and the tea and public meeting they would now have funds to commence on another year’s work. The children sang “ March steadily onward.”

Captaiu Allan, of the Salvation Army, spoke a few words of welcome to their new minister, and addressed herself briefly to the work amongst young people. Recitations; Rosina Scroggie, “My little brother ” ; Bertha Sherratt, “ A little girl’s mission ” ; Gerty Ward, “ The sugar plum”; Mabel Richards, “Not accepted.” Duet, Misses E. Masliu and Maggie Morrison, “ How lovely are Thy dwellings.” Mr Colin McKenzie expressed satisfaction at being present, and wished the Primitive Methodist Sunday School all success.

Recitations ; George Sherratt, “ If we knew”; Sissoy Quinn, “Where is home V’ Chorus by children, “ Little children cry as the King draweth night.” A collection in aid of the school was next taken up. The Rev. A. B. Todd said he was present to show his interest in Sabbathschool work, and also to extend a hearty welcome to the Rev. Mr Woodward. He hoped the relations between himself and their new minister would be as brotherly and profitable as they had been with their late minister—the ‘Rev. Mr Woollass. (Hear, hear.) He quite agreed that there was work for each in his own field of labor without encroaching on another’s ground. Mr Todd then gave a stiriug address to the young, and was pleased at the success of their school. He deprecated, however, the system that parents in Geraldine had of sending their children to as many Sabbath Schools as js»ssible. Why they should go to the Presbyterian or Church of England. Sunday School in the morning and the Primitive Methodist SundaySchool in the afternoon he could not understand. He believed in children being brought up in one Church, and not taught to wander from one to another. He then spoke of the new relationship between Mr Woodward and his congregation. It should be one of mutual faith. There were three great capacities in which a minister appeared—first, a preacher of the Gospel; second, a pastor ; third, a friend. Duet, Miss E. Maslin and Maggie Morrison. Mr Maslin did not altogether agree with Mr Todd. He knew that parents very often sent their children to various schools for the sake of the prizes, but he thought it better that they should attend school in the afternoon than walk the streets.

Eecitations by L. Burridge, “ Another Adam anti Eve ” ; Fred. Wallach, “ Every inch a man ” ; and Mary Billens.

Lieutenant Lennie, of the Salvation Army, Geraldine, during her address mentioned that she was a Sunday School convert at the age of twelve. She urged the teachers to be zealous in their work and the children to come to their Saviour.

Recitations by Walter Maslin, “ The camel’s nose,” and Annie Bowkett. The Rev. W. Woodward, who on rising was received with applause, thanked all present for their kind reception of him. He believed that God had called him to his new sphere of action for some good. He was also pleased with the manner in which the Rev. Mr Todd had welcomed him. They could mett on one common platform. He thanked Mr Todd, especially, as representing the oldestablished Presbyterian Church, and also the Captain and Lieutenant, representatives of the Salvation Army that at the present day was doing so much good, and who practiced social Christianity. He (Mr Woodward) came to preach to the members of the Primitive Methodist Church of livin S Christ. He believed the panada for the world’s ill was the Gospel. He came »s a po-worker with them, also as a temperance reformer. He spoke of the evils of intemperance. He also came amongst them as a friend. Ho hoped they would tell him of his faults and they would accord him the same privilege, and that they would look on each other as brethren, He again thanked them for the kind words that had been said to him that evening, and hoped the/ would one and all work well together. (Applans-)-The chairman them JU a few words, called on the Rev. Mr Woodward to move the usual votes of thanks 10 all who had helped to render the anniversary such a success.

This having been done and heartily responded to by acclamation, the children again sang one of the Hosannah s and the Rev. Mr Todd pronounced the Benediction, which terminated a very enjoyable evening. Miss Andrews officiated at the organ and Miss Emily Burridge accompanied with the violin.