PRESBYTERIAN ANNIVERSARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 670, 18 January 1881, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN A NNIVE RSARY.

Yesterday afternoon ihetei meeting held in connection with the above anniversary wis, as it always is, a complete success. The building was far too small to hold the visitors, who had consequently to visit the table in relays. In the evening the Church was densely crowded in every part, the.atmosphere heinij almost too oppressive. Tlie Rev J. McKee presided. The Chairman in opening the meeting said, annual congre«atio n al gat hori ngs like the present are both pleasmt and profitable. It is very pleasing for us to meet in such auspicious places as the tea-table. We all require some recreation, and what better can we have than that afforded at such meetings as the present. Here the stiff formality of strict etiquotte is laid aside, and we meet to enjoy ourselves, to have a friendly conversation and spend an agreeable hour. Nor are these meetings without some profit to us. We become better acquainted and more friendly, Often the friendship begun at there.meetings continues, and grows closer and closer. • There is also something rather serious in these annual gatherings, they may be viewed as milestones in the journey of life, telling us that we have advanced another ptaue. It is now six years since, in the good Providence of God, my lot has been cast in among you, Durin" this time there been some little difficulties in our path, some long riries, and some rather late night's study, but I have learned to put '• a stout heart to a atey nrae," and have been much encouraged by _ your kindness and forbearance,,by which these difficulties have been lessened, the long rides, if uotactually'shortened, made more pleasant, and the hours of study more agreeable. It .is ■ a source of thankfulness in my own case, .that during these six years we have had uninterrupted harmony. This has encouraged me greatly,' and for your kind-considerations on my , •behalf, I sincerely thank you, No clergymancould be placed among a more "forbearing and sympathetic people than it has ; pleased God to place me. Iu my visita- ' ttons, your hearty and frank manner tell '

without words your feelings towards me, mid greatly encourage me. The same may bo said of your presence arid attention a't the various services, For if n clergyman would instruct a people in "word and doctrine, 1 ' they must be present andattend to what he has to say. .It is gratifying 16. know that on the whole, your attendance,' last year has been better'than in'any for-" mer-year, will be.still: 'tietjer inthe y'ear'un'ou which we have'.! entered, If you only know how"o-clergy-' man is encouraged- to preach when he has a large congregation, you would do what you could to attend. It is averydifficult thins to' have to Bpeak to half i empty pews, but a very pleasing privilege to address a large audience. And then on your own part, regular attendance upon .the ordinances of' God's word is fraught with many blessings. It is calculated to encourage christians faithfully to discharge' the duties of life, is a direct preventative ■'"f crime, aids in the the extension of Christs kingdom, and is productive of much personal happiness, Let me then entreat you not.to neglect the private and public duties of religion, particularly as regards family worship, which we may call religion in the home. The benefits which you will derive from this are manifold. And, indeed, the excuses for its neglect are trivial. Knowing the great advantages of attending to this duty, I iwnuld urge upon you for the sake of your nfluencc, uponihose around, for your own comfort and happiness, for the honor of the Church to which you belong, and above all, for the glory of God. Mr Feist then read and moved tho adoption of the

MFORT MASTERTON PKE6BYTERIAN SCHOOL COMMITTEE, . In submitting the annual report and bulaiice sheet to tho congregation for the year 1880, ynur 'Committee feol encouraged by the fact that by the time all the sums have been received which properly belong to the year, the receipts and expenditure will pretty nearly balnnce. As we stated in our last -report that there was a deficiency of about' £4B, your Committee would again take the printing this matter under the notice of the congregation. It has been though't'desirable that a special effort should be made discharge this small remaining, debt, so that we shall commence another year, frae. The Sabbath offerings for the year have been good, if we include £l2los balance of tea meeting this amount comes to nearly half our income. This also covers sums which have been received where services have been held outside, of Maßterton, Your Committee have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the prosperity and efficient management of the Sabbath Schools.. We believe that all those connected with the Church, and who feol interested m its agencies will recognise that the teachers engaged in this depart ment are fully alive to the importance of the work. The zoal and attention disdlayed in the cause marks it as something more than of secondary importance. During the pastyear some very useful additions have been made to the teaching staff, and the attendance of scholars has been good.

The Psalmody, under the alle leadership of the choirmaster, and the very valuable assistance given by the lady presiding at the organ, continues to improve. The Sabbath Services held at the various places throughout the district have been successfully maintained, and the attendance has been satisfactory. In conclusion your Committee beg to state that they are of opinion that, someadditions could be made to the. list of the managing committee which would strengthen tho hands of that body; and they would therefore ask the congregation to nominate some persons for election to that office. BALANCE SHEET. Receipts. £ s D. Masterton 61 1 6 Upper Plain 35 9 0 Tupurupuru 20 11 0 Carterton 7 15 q Op«ki 610 0 Lower Manaia and Taratahi 615 0 Sabbath offerings 125 17 8^ Taueruand Whareama ... 17 10 0" _.» i» » ... 40 0 Balance 48 7 U Expenditure. «.'■-,' f ' s D - Stipend Rev. McKeo .„ 250 0 0 Lighting, &c, 12 months .„ 10 0 0 Sabbath School collection ... 519 9 Insurance 3 0 0 Balance 1879 [ 48 19 1 Assembly expense fund ... 2.0 0 Sundries ,„ 817 3 Mr Holdaway in seconding the adoption of_ the report, advocated the' apostolic principle-of "owe no man anything." He claimed that the congregation had very nearly arrived at that desirable condition—(applause). • . The Rev. Mr Paterson could not allow the report to pass without a word. The present must be eleventh or twelvth anniversary which he had attended. During this period Masterton had made wonderful strides, and'the congregation had made a corresponding advance. He had been pleased to see the large attendance at the services yesterday, also at Sunday School, whore a devoted band of teachers assisted

the pastor. The financial report in the fhce of the "embarrassments of the past I year was a satisfactory one. He would, ' however, suggest that they should clear : off the balance that had been on the books , i for the past two years. He had always. , taken si deep interest in the congregation, I and looked forward every year to his 1 annual visit, The Rev, gentlomaii also I acknowledged the kindness which he i had invariably mot with at the Manse ' from Mr and Mrs McKee. ' Mr D. McGregor said it was customary ( in Presbyterian Churches for the Com- ! mittee to resign, and be re-elected at the annual meeting. At Masterton this plan " had not been carried out, because there 0 had not been sufficient members to fill t vacancies, They thought, however, that p on the present occasion the Committee t should bo strengthened by new members, a and he proposed the names of Messrs 8 Holdaway and Easthope,' whose services ' would, in bis opinion, be valuable. ; Mr McCardle seconded the resolution, . which was carried unanimously.

The Chairman stated that an effort was being made to wipe off tha debt within the next few weeks. The Rev James' Patterson then delivered his lecture on " Hugh Miller," perhaps the most powerful of the wellknown lectures which from time to time Mr Patterson has delivered. Personal recollection of its subject enable he leo turer to. give graphic and' vivid etails of incidents connected with the life and death of the hero. The lecturer chanctensed Hugh Miller.asagrand, true man, He also gave, with fidelity, those shades in his character which saddened a life otherwise bright and glorious, and led to a mournful and tragic death. Step by step ho traced his home life, shewing at each stage the grand lessons which it'indicated. As the lecture proceeded, the interest 6F the audience appeared to deepen, and taking it as a whole, it must be regarded as the. most successful oiie yet delivered' in the Church. ' • •• A cordial vote of thanks was accorded' to the lecturer-on the motion of Mr McGregor. >■<'•■'•'''• The thanks of the -meeting w»w ex-

pressed by Mr McOardle for the services of the Choir, which sang at intervals throughout the evening. •' v The'collection made wa3 lhb'. f largest taken up at any similar gathering, exceeding £l4. . .