NEW BAPTIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 838, 9 June 1910, Page 3

NEW BAPTIST CHURCH.

MEMORIAL STONE LAID. The new Baptist Church at Brooklyn, which is fast approaching completion, was crowded yesterday afternoon, when the ceremony of laying two memorial stones took place. The outside of tho church waa adorned with lines of lines. The Rev. A. Dewdney, pastor of tho church, presided, and among those present were the Rev. W. Lamb, of Gisborne, a 'former pastor; Revs. J. .T. North and H. G. Blackie (Baptist), B. Hutson (Presbyterian), J. iR. Clark (Methodist), J. Dawson (Primitive Methodist), Messrs. A. Hoby, F. J. Walters, R. A. Wright, M.P., and H. N. Holmes, general secretary of the Y.M.C.A. The Rev. H. G. Blackie, Baptist minister at Sydenham, Christchurch, offered prayer. The Rev. A. Dewdney said that tho hopes of very many months were now rapidly being realised; and they could get some idea of how their new church would look. The old building;' which served as church and, Suml.uy School, could not seat more than 380 people at moat, and some who would otherwise have been regular attendants at tho services had been unable to endure tho overcrowding aud .discomfort. While they had not aimed at over-elaboration, nor permitted themselves to indulge in overoxprmdituro on tho building, -they had sought to secure a place of worship'in which the whole of the functions of the Christian Church could bo carried on comfortablv and successfully. Fully half the cost had been promised before they commenced to build, and promises had been received of Ihe interest un five separate amounts of .£IOO for fivo years,, and on another. ,£IOO for two years. It was hoped that they, would liavo hardly any interest-bearing debt on the cliurch.-' The Sunday. School boys, and girls'had brought in between ■ .£2O. and .£2s' by collecting cards when the building was commenced, aud had since added to that amount £0. 18s. Bd., which would go into the collodion that afternoon. Mr. Dewdney read an apology from Mr. J. P. Luke, M.l'., who also sent a donation.

The Rev. J. Dawson read a portion of scripture. Mr. Dewdney then nresented to Mr. A. Hoby and Mr. F."G. Walters two ornamental uiallots, made from hinan grown on the Brooklyn hill, with'.whieh today tho memorial tablets. Mr. Walters, in the course of a brief speech, stated that this was the third building which ■ had been erected- since the advent of tho denomination in tho district, twenty-seven years ago. Mr. A. Hoby also- spokobiicfly, referring to tho progress of the denomination in the district. The ceremony of laying the memorial stones was then performed, and short speeches were afterwards made by tho. Rev. J. J. North, Rev. W. Lamb, and Mr. R, A. Wright, M.P. The singing of the Sunday School children was an attractive feature of the service. Tho satisfactory sum of over .£3O was collected towards defraying tho cost of the church.