TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1891, 13 October 1880, Page 2

TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

A very auoceßtf ul conversazione was hold lait evening m the Mechanics' Institute Hall, to celobrate tho fourth anniversary of the opening of the Trinity Prosbyterian Ohuroh, Timaru. The festival took the usual form — a tea followed by a meeting at which addresses were given, intersperßod with musio — but m details the festival preientod several excellent features which wo believe are now to Timaru. The tea tables, were arranged along the walls of tbe hall, and along the centre were placed ' a couple of rows of double lasts, leaving plenty of space for locomotion. Ucro people sat down to take thairtea, dispensed to them by numbers, < of willing bands, or clustered about the tables i with the same end m view, afterwards : wandering about the room chatting with ', friends and welcoming new oomers. Tha | itage was also ocenpied by several tables, : whioh were ohiefly patronised by the younger I members. Tbe tables were provided by the ' ladies of the congregation, and were pienti- ' fully aupplied, aud nicely decorated with vases i of flowers. The walls of the room were also i dooorated with foliage, and apraya of flower- i ing shrubs, and a couple of strings of banners i were) hung acroM the room. One of th» I

latter, hung acrosi tbe middle of the roam, tended somewhat to prevent tboae at the back of the hall hearing the singing properly. One Tery appropriate ornament wob the architects large pcripeetive view of the church, its frame, hidden by a wreath of foliage, which was pliccd on the front of the stage. During the first part of the evening, while tea wae being partaken of, a number of ladies and gentlemen relieved one another at the piano, and a constant itream of muaio filled the ball. The instrumentalists wore (giving the names m the order of their contributions) — Mr Muller, Misi Jamioson, Miss Evan?, Mies Allen and Mr Bilton, Mines Smith, Miss J. Cramond, Miss Mansfield, Mrs Murdoch, Mrs Davidson, Misi Evans and Mr Biiton, Mils J. Cramond and Mr Muller. Tbe tables having been cleared away, the seats were to nooio extent rearranged, so as to give more sitting room, and tbe hall was speedily filled, so that there could not have been less tban 500 people preßeot. The Ohoir then opened tho musical part of the programme, singing the anthem "Incline thine ear." The Key. W. Gillies then addressed the meeting. He expressed his pleasure at seeing «o large a gathering to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the oponing of the Church, and alto, it might be said, tbe first of the talcing possession of the new Mnnse. They hod met m a friendly and informal manner to rejoico over what they had been enabled, under the good guidance and providence of God, to eccompliih during the last four yours. They had had to put forth strong efforts, but by union and per•erarance, and the accumulation of littles, they had been enabled to accomplish a good deal towards perfecting the ontward organisation of the Ohurob. In ihe four yean that had passed since tho new church was opened tbe congregation bad raised, for building purposes, for the maintenance of ordinances, and other objects, something over £8000. (Applause.) This was very gratifying, considering the hard times that had come, and which he hoped would come again no more, Thorn wm etill a considerable debt upon tbo Church property —about £3500 : £2000 on the Church, and £1500 on the Manse — bat. there was good value to show for it. Their Churoh property would bear comparison with any other, he might aay m New Zealand. He hoped that during the next three or four years a suitable building for Sabbath School work would be added, and then the Church property would be complete. He hud not a financial report to present, at the financial year would not terminate till the end of the month, but he might stale that during the year about £800 liad been received for ordinary purposes, and £500 m addition towards the reduction of the debt. (ApplnU9e) Considering the times, the receipt of such an amount was a mutter for great gratulation. Mr Gillies again expressed his pleasure at seeing so large a gathering, and slated that owing to the length of the mueical programme, no encoreß would be allowed, and sat down amid loud applause. Mr R. Foster then sang, " Thus goes the World Along," followed by the anthem, " Oh, How Amiable," by the Choir. The Her. Dr Stuart addressed the meeting. He was pleated to hear that so much had been done financially m the past, and the debt remaining would be easily disposed of. A debt of £3500 was nothing to the inhabitants of a district so fertile as thiß. On hie nay to Temuka he bad seen more clover and wheat fields m this district than ever he saw m his life before, and be could not help laying to his travelling oompanion that Timaru and Temuka would certainly become great citieß m tbe course of tbe next fifty years. It was ovident that tbe people here knew how to work, and also how to giro. Dr Stuart went on to speak m impressive terms of the value of honest labor, illustrating his meaning by reference to historic, works, upon which the workers had bestowed more labor tban the set price would adequately pay for. Everyone ihould make bis work a part of his religion, or m other words should do his work, whatever it was, religiously well. Thorough earnestness, even amounting to enthusiasm, was essential to success, whether m matters of religion or m secular pursuits, and m pfooi of this tho speaker referred to the working maxims of Charles Dickens and other eminently successful workers. The enthusiasm manifested by the Dunedin Naturalist! Society was quaintly referred to m worthy oi emulation, by church people m the management of their affairs. The rev. gentlemac concluded a very impressive address bj wishing all success to the endeavors of tbe congregation to promote the welfare of tke churoh m the land of their adoption. The following pieces were then sung : — "Come unto me," Mrs Gray; "To thee Great Lord," choir; "I hear an ange' eing," Mrs Outhbert j " Caller O'u," Sin Andercon j " Jessie's Dream," Miss Innes : "In the Gloamin'," Mr« Jamieion ; " Th( Murmur of the Shell," Mrs Nelson. The Rev. D. Gordon then gave a humoroui address on mistakes made by young men oi coming out to this colony. Many made th< mistake of having no definite aim m life, bul were satisfied to get alone anyhow, alwayi carrying their swag. They should aim at giving up their vagabond life, marrying, ami ■ettling down m a comfortable home. The; should, however, be careful m choosing then partners, as a foolish ohoice would be one of the greatest mistakes. Another mistake wai the forgetting by young men of tbe religion of their fathers, the Bible of their ohildhood and the sanctuary of their God. In giving up these things they cut themselves off from prosperity here, and happiness hereafter. They ought to make it one of their first objects to help forward religion m this glorious new land. Another mistake was the neglect of mental training and mental culture. Schools were plentiful, and books were cheap. Young men ought to associate to assist each other m this direction, to fit themselves for any position possible for man to attain to. Huoh associations would save them from the bad social cuiloma now prevalent, and from many temptations, Mr Gordon oonoluded by urging the advantages of marriage upon his unmarried bearers, and tat down amid prolonged applause. The following pieoes were then sung: — " I oannot sing the old Scotch songs," Mrs Oramond ; " Bid me discourse," Mrs Gray ; " Dear Little Shamrock," Mr Neleon j "Shells of the Ocean," Miss Inoes ; " Lind o' the Leal," Mrs Gray j Quartette, " The Village Choristers," Misses Torranoe, Cuthbert, and Innes, and Messrs D. and G. Thompson. The programme being concluded, all joined m singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," and the Benediction having been pronounced by the Rev. Mr Gillies, the meeting terminated. The ladies and gentlemen upon whom devolved the task of making arrangements for the conversazione are to be congratulated upon the very deoided success achieved by them. Everything passed off m the most pteasant and satisfactory manner, and everyone enjojed a happy evening. The tea was an excellent one, and the extensive musical programme wut a source of great pleasure. Wo were nearly forgetting to mention that Mr Bilton accompanied the various lingers, with his well-known skill. The addresses were brief and very interesting, and altogether tho anniversary was one to be pleasantly remembered for a long time to come, and gave reason to hope that the hint thrown out to the audience by Mr Gillies that they would soon be invited to meet again will be acted upon before long.