The Blackpool Herald. — 1889-10-04 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, FLEETWOOD: HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES.—The harvest festivals in connection with the above place of worship were held on Sunday and Monday evenings. The services were conducted on Sunday by the Rev. J. Jackson, resident minister, when there were large congregations. In the afternoon a service of song was given by the choir, entitled "Joy of harvest," at which there was a good attendance. On Monday evening the proceedings took the form of a fruit banquet, Mr. T. Riley occupying the chair, there also being on the platform the Rev. J. Jackson, and Mr. T. Fisher, junr. There was a large attendance, and the  proceedings were of a most enjoyable character. The decorations were of a very artistic nature, affording a brilliant effect. Over the platform there was the large banner belonging to the Sunday School, while the platform itself was extensively decorated with plants, flowers, apples, pears, grapes, cabbages, carrots, turnips, melons, vegetable marrows,and two miniature stacks of corn and hay, made respectively by Messrs. W. Moss and T. Eaves. Mr. J. T. Atkinson also contributed two sheaf sof wheat and oats. In the centre of the platform was a quantity of bread given by Mr. J. Smith. Baskets of flowers hung from the gas chandeliers, and here and there was an appropriate motto. The decorations had been carried out by Mesdames Leadbetter, Hudson, Iddon, Johnson, Fisher (senr.), and Fisher (junr.), and Miss Fisher and Miss Blezzard„ Messrs. Simpson, Hudson, Leadbetter, R. Wright, Eaves, J. Wright, and R. Simpson. Alter devotional exercises, the Rev. J. Jackson briefly introduced Mr. Riley (the chairman) who said he was pleased in one sense to be there that evening, but on the other hand it was with a degree of trembling, as he felt he was a little out of place as a chairman of a meeting. He complimented them on the fine gathering of fruit, and the splendour of the decorations. He had only been to one before, and that was in London, but he did not think they had a better supply of fruit. He then referred to the passage of scripture, " And he restrained them not," spoken by Eli to his two sons, and said he wished to impress upon mothers and fathers, that I they had a duty to perform, and though it might I be very trying for some parents to do that duty, he believed they would be doing a great wrong if they neglected it.—Mr. T. Fisher, junior, then addressed the meeting, expressing his pleasure at the success of the festival, and their having such a worthy chairman. He referred to the time when he served his apprenticeship under him, and spoke in very oornmendable terms of him as a master. He also spoke at great length on the question of giving, saying that people ought to give according as the Lord had blessed them. He reminded them of the great benefits derived from the harvest, and exhorted them to give thanks to Him who sent it. Mrs. Wright, a Sunday school teacher, spoke on the great and useful work which the Sunday schools were doing, and quoted several interesting instances in support of her assertion. She made reference to the Bury murderer, and said if that young man had attended a Sunday school, his life would not have been wrecked as it had been. She also alluded to the power of prayer, and gave some good advice to Sunday school workers. During the evening bags containing various fruits were distributed among the audience, and an interesting programme was rendered, which consisted of selections by the choir, songs by Miss Leadbetter and Mr. Lucas, and recitations by Miss N. Whiteside, Miss E. Iddon, and Mr. W. Leadbetter, all of which were , given in a manner which contributed largely to the I enjoyment of the evening. The proceeds of the festival amounted to over £2O.   i  Messrs. Pears' have been awarded the only gold medal for Toilet Soap, at the Paris Exhibition, the highest possible honour.