THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3582, 24 March 1886, Page 3

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

• A very pleasant time was spent at tho above church last evening, the occasion being a social tea and meeting m connection with the harvest thanksgiving services. A sumptuous tea was laid out which was done full justice to by those present. An adjournment was then made downstairs. The meeting began by singing an anthem, after which a prayer was offered up, and another anthem was nicely rondered by the choir. The Secretary read the ninth annual report, which showed about 112 members on the roll, and that the Church was m a fairly prosperous condition. Mra Courtis sang with great tasto a solo which was well received. The Treasurer read the balance-sheet, which showed the receipts to be £-102 lls Cd ; expenditure, including £100 advanced on the building account, £191 13s 4d, and au overdraft of £74 lls lid. Tho Rev. Mr Foster, the pastor, then delivered a very interesting and instructive address. He^thought it was creditable to the members of the church to bo able to show such a good balance-sheet. Ho objected very strongly to tho soiree 3 that aro usually held m connection with the anniversary services, and thought a social tea such as was held that night was much better. Ho urged thoso who wanted to know anything ho could tell them to como to him as a friend, and ho would do his best to help them. In speaking of the Sunday-school, ho thought it best to do away with the address that was ÜBually given there, as it kept tho young peoplo longer than they Bhould be kept. It would be best to speak to tho young for a short tiino m tho morning instead of giving addresses. Thiß was done m Dunedin by tho Hey. Mr Hoatson, and was also tho practice m England. liis indifferent health would not admit of his speaking to them m the afternoon. He thought that the Ladies' Association should be divided into two districts, and a member of each district visit each other at intervals, and by co doing bring tho membors m closer fellowship. If there was a sourco of weakness ia tho Young People's Union, it was that tho minister had too much to do with it. Ho would ask tho friends m tho congregation to help m this matter. The choir, he Baid, was a very good ode, but there was m some churches a little grumbling about the tunes. Well, for his part, ho liked the old tunes, though the new ones were excellent. Ono thing ho had to complain of was the very few marriages ho celebrated, — a fact which was disclosed m tho roport. He spoke at some length on the subject of visiting the members of his congregation. The report showed he had p:iid SSO visits m the year. A good many had been m cases of sickness m which, he had called several times following. Ho did not believe m reading and praying with persons at any hour of the day when lie should happen to call. If any person felt that he wanted a few words of Scripture read and a prayer ho had only to say so, and he (Mr Foster) would readily comply with the request. Ho urged evoryono when thero was a small meeting to have a few words of prayer. It was almost impoisiblo for the pastor to find out all tho cases of sickness, and he would ask tho members to inform him when such cases came imdcr their notice, and ho would visit, and, so far as his strength and health would admit, do all ho could for tho sufferers. In regard to his own sickness it was an anxious time with him, but the doctor assured him that ho would bo better for it afterwards, that is physically, and lie begun to feel its benefits already. As long as lie had strength loft ho would servo them and be devoted to their interests. A duet was given with taste by Miss Brooks and Miss Uuggins, and an interval oE 15 minutes was thon given, during which fruit was handed round. On resuming, tho choir gavo an anthem, and tho Rev. Mr Foster introduced the Uev. Mr Cecil, who had recently arrived from England. Tho Her. Mr Cecil said, when his friend Mr Fobter invited him to be present at tho meeting he mentioned ono or two points which he might take up with advantage. But, as the meeting was near a close, he would r.ot bo ablo to expound tho views which he had thought of so fully as he would like. Ho congratulated them on tho roport which had been read. Thero were many churches m New Zealand which worn not m such a prosperous condition as the Congr. gutional Church. In case there should bo a report m tho Timaru Herald of the meeting, he woull have liked to have said something about tho Congregational Church. He read with great pleasure m tho TiMAitu Hkhaid a report of the Rev. Mr Foster's Bermon preached last Sunday. In tho report the? called tho church " a branch of tho Congregational Church." '1 lie correct rendering was tho Independent Church, and it was important that the general public should know that. Ho was ver}" phased to state that lie was going to live at Tcmuka for about cix month?, because it was near Timaru. He would then be able to help Mr Foster m his work. His name ho noticed was put down to assist m the Young People's Union meetings (applause), which ho said he would do willingly iv long r.s it did not interfere with his Temuka duties. It wr.s very easy to say something but it was not co easy to suit every occasion, and licneo he felt a littlo difficulty. After a few further romarks it was moved by Mr Slnrratt, seconded by Mr W. Jones and carried with acclamation — " That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr .Arthur l'crry for tho übo of his flowers and evergreens, lent for the harvest thanksgiving services." In conclusion the Key. Mr Foster eaid ho hoped it would not bo tho last time they would have a show such a3 they had on Sunday. Another anthem by tho choir, and tho pronouncing of tho Benediction, brought a vory pleasant evening to a close.