98TH ANNIVERSARY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 7

98TH ANNIVERSARY

Terrace Congregational Church The PSth annual meeting of meinbers and adherents of The Terrace Congregational Church, Wellington, was held this week. A large gathering look tea together. At. the close of the tea the company went into tin' church and a performance of I lie play “.Michael” was given from (lie Communion rail by girls from Queen Margirret College, with organ music by Mr. 11. E. Bruscy. in the sib-' sence through ill-health of the organist, Mr. W. IL Collie. The girls were given a cheque from the church and asked to present 11 to Queen Margaret College as a twenty-first birthday present to the school, in recognition of their-beau-fill performance.

'l’he Rev. 11. W. NewaLl presided irt a public meeting in the church hall. The report on the year's work was given by the secretary of the church, Mr. J. 11. Cosier. It. showed an increase in the church membership, but tt small decline in Hie Sunday school. Reference was made Io Hie international contracts of the congregation through its representatives in China, Papua and India. It was agreed to send a special message to Miss Edmanson. the nursing superintendent of the Mackenzie Memorial Hospital in Tientsin, North China, in deep appreciation of the heroic and successful work done by the hospital Inst year in face of war and Hood. .Mr. A. E. Burge, the treasurer. gave :i summary of the church's financial position. A larger amount had been contributed by the church to the various causes supported b.v the members than in any year since 1929. Mr. Newell dwell on the perplexing and rapidly-changing situation facing every church, calling for courage and willingness to make new ventures. “A church’s chief duty today was to dare to be a church,” he said. He empha-

zised that the things for which a church stood, whim it was true to itself, were just those things which men most of all needed in times of strain and perplexity; that was a steadfast conviction trs to the fundamental realities of life; prayer and worship and inward quietness of soul; and a fellowship of men and women of all types and sorts, who had yet found Hie secret of being truly one in a community of love ami sacrifice. Mrs. E. A. Ballinger sang two solos during the evening.