Correspondence (Letter 2)

To the Editor of the Fenelon Falls Gazette. Sir:-- For the last few weeks a notice was in circulation that a tea was to be served in the M. E. Church Parsonage in aid of the Superannuated Ministers' Fund of that denomination. Wednesday evening, December 8th, was the time appointed, and as the evening hour approached the numerous members of the circuit, of which Rev. John Y. Moran is pastor, wended their way to where Mrs. Moran had so abundantly prepared a repast which was ere long to be partaken of by those who, at the close of the evening, expressed their most sincere wishes for a long and happy life to their kind pastor and his companion. The hour of seven being the time appointed for tea, the table might then be seen decorated to the utmost that our Burnt River belles could bestow upon it. (We must here thank the fair sisterhood of Kinmount for the honor conferred by them on the Burnt River lady.) Tea having been partaken of by all, the tables were then moved away, and all composed themselves out of the programme. Rev. John Y. Moran then arose and said "he was about to make a motion which he was confident that all present would support; and he was well aware that the chairman who would be appointed would not have any trouble in keeping order, as all present were of an orderly disposition, and he had much pleasure in moving that Mr. W. M. Payne act as chairman." The motion was seconded by Mr. Graham and passed unanimously. Mr. Payne, on taking the chair, said "it was with no small amount of astonishment and surprise to himself that he filled the position of chairman; and it was with the greatest amount of pleasure that he returned them his most sincere thanks for the honor conferred on him." The chairman also remarked that if the others present would enjoy themselves as he had done, there would be very few go home dissatisfied. He would like to hear from the speakers whose names were on the programme; but on noticing that the chairman's speech was the first, he begged to be excused, as he thought there were some able speakers to follow. He would therefore proceed with the programme, and call upon the choir for one of their selections. The choir was composed of Mr. Graham, the two Misses Graham and others, and their musical talent added largely to the pleasure of the evening. Able speeches were then delivered by Messrs. Brown, Oswell, McLean, McLaughlin and Graham, each of whom spoke very strongly in favour of the proceedings, urging the people to help as far as possible in so grand and noble a work as the spreading of the Gospel. The musical abilities of the choir having again been displayed in one of their selections, the chairman called upon the Rev. John Y. Moran, who spoke very forcibly upon the Mission's work, details of the conference, hard times, idolatry, and negligence of God's worship. Although only on this mission since last May, Mr. Moran deserves the highest amount of praise for the noble evangelical work he has performed since coming here. Mr. Moran, in closing his address, remarked that the meeting together here, as they had done this evening, was only a type of that meeting above where parting is no more and all things have the lustre of noonday. The assembly was the dismissed by prayer, and all wended their way homeward, well pleased as far as the gathering was concerned. Yours, &c., W. Kinmount, Dec. 9th, 1880.