In connection with the Independent Wesleyan Mission at Station-road, Rushden, a silver band has just been formed for mission work, and the formal presentation of the instruments was made at a largely attended meeting in the Queen-street schools on Saturday evening. Mr. Cattell is the bandmaster, and the principal work of the band will be to hold open air mission services on week days and Sundays. Mr. J. S. Clipson (who has acted as secretary for the purchase of the instruments) and Mr. Cattell, who acted with him, were at one time in negotiation for a set of instruments at Irthlingborough, which originally belonged to the National Band at Rushden, and this set was offered at £230. Messrs. Clipson and Cattell also had an offer, from a firm of makers, of a set at £320 nett, listed at £420. About this time they heard of a second hand set to be sold by Reynolds, of Manchester, and inquiries and inspection led to the purchase of this set of 23 instruments for £118. Another instrument has since been purchase at £6 5s.; and stands, music, &c., will bring up
The Total Outlay
to about £150. The property has been vested in trustees, about 12 in number; and the money has been borrowed from the bank.
Saturday’s proceedings commenced with a nicely-served tea in the Queen-street schools, at which about 250 friends were present. At the subsequent meeting the Rev. J. Scarborough presided, and made a financial statement. They were told, he said, by judges that they had got the instruments very cheaply and that they would be listed new at about £420, so they might consider they had done a good stroke of business. (Hear, hear.) Of course, these instruments would not become the property of the men who played them, but would be vested in trustees. Rules and regulations would be made for the conduct of the band, and he hoped that real spiritual good would be accomplished by this band. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Ernest Cunnington having sung “The Goodwin Sands.” Mr. J. T. Beale, of Wilby, formally handed the instruments to the bandsmen. In doing so, he said he believed in the power of music. Instruments were sometimes used
In The Devil’s Service,
but he prayed that these instruments might never be used in the wrong way. The bandsmen were taking them to use for the glory of God and to inspire true worship in the hearts of those who heard the music. He hoped the sound of the instruments would inspire holy thoughts and be divinely used in drawing to their mission-hall the poor lost wanderers. (Hear, hear.)
The band then played very effectively a selection, “Gloria.”
The following
Programme
was given, Miss Clipson playing the accompaniments:-
|
Song |
“The little minstrel,” |
Miss Gadsby |
|
Quartette |
“The parting kiss,” |
Miss Gadsby, Mrs. Corbett, Mr. Farey, and Mr. Stringer |
|
Recitation |
“The bridgekeeper’s story,” |
Mr. Button |
|
Song |
|
Mr. Stringer (encored) |
|
Selection |
“Jerusalem, my happy home,” |
The Band |
|
Quartette |
“The fishermen’s goodnight,” |
Miss Gadsby, Mrs. Corbett, Mr. Farey, and Mr. Stringer |
The Proceeds
of the tea amounted to £4 14s. and the collection at the entertainment to £2 2s.
On Sunday special services were held in the Station-road chapel, conducted by Mr. W. Mackness. There were large congregations, and the collections, £2 11s. 7d., were for the band fund.
|
