Feilding Presbyterian Church

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 89, 3 February 1887, Page 2

Feilding Presbyterian Church

ThY anniversary 'services and tea 1 in connection with the above were held in the church, Grey street, last : evening. .The, church was very prettily decorated with nikau palms and is evergreens, and 5 presented a most atI tractive appearance. T,he attendance ! was very large, including many visiI tors from a distance. A most sumpLtuous tea. -waa-provided hy »the lady [members ol the congregation, and the { good things provided were of excellent quality and in abundance. The tables were presided over by. the following ladies:— Mrs Lethbridge^ Mrs And Miss Crichton, Miss Murray, Mrs Stevens, Mrs and Miss Curtis, Miss doombes, Mrs and the Misses Bartholomew (3), Mrs Munro, Mr&McLeod, Mrs Whisker, Mrs. and Miss Campion, Miss Dixon; and others whose names we were unable to learn. Aftejr the tea was disposed of, the church was cleared, and a public meeting held, the Rev. Mr Murray, pastor of the church, officiating as chairman. X© was supported by the Rev. A. M. •Wright, of Palmeraton ; the Rev. J. Doull, of Bullsj the Rev. J. Treadwell, of Wanganui; and the Eot. H. Clarke, of Feilding. The choir, under the able leadership of Mr Dowling (with Mrs Dowling presiding at the harmonium) rendered several anthems, as well as selections from " Church Praise," in capital style, the audience marking their appreciation of the choir by frequent applause. The usual annual reports were read, viz., Sabbath School report, showing an increased attendance, and the Sessions report, which was also of a satisfactory nature. The following report was read by the secretary of the Managing Committee: — Report of ■ the Managing Committee for the year ended 31st Deeem- : ber* 1886. j ;'.:-.- ..i During the year pur numbers have somewhat increased and several new members have, intimated their willingness to subscribe. On the other band one or two liberal subscribers have left the district. It is hoped the work of collection will be more efficiently performed by the newly appointed . lady coUectprs who,'; however,; will not acMeye success unless by regulfuraud organized calling. Much trouble would be saved if each subscriber would pay the secretary early in the . last month of each quarter, thus ful- . filling the object and spirit, of vphmF tary contribution. The sum of oue hundred pounds, which it was decided I should be in hand before beginning, the manse buildiug, is now alnioefceollected. We may therefore' expect to call for tenders within three months. It is proposed to erect a comfortable sevon-roouied house- on the grounds adjoining .the church.. The design and specifications, presented *.by jMr • VViu. Criehtbn have already bt»oa approved by the committee. Though not finally decided,; about half the required sum will probably be. raised in the form of mortgage and half by promissory note reducible every three I .^months. It was this system which led us to so rapidly clear the debt off the church. Had it been in the form 1 of a mortgage it .would probably still '. remain unpaid aud would hare beeu practically a permanent liability. During two successive years the choir has ' beeu unfortuuate in the loss of a . choir-master by removal from, ,the . district. It is now in the hands of an efficient teacher and has made grati- • fying progress of late with the introduction of the beautiful music of the ' hew Church Praise which wiil shortly take place, fresh vigour and interest ' will be infused into the weekly prac- [ tices which are • now so pleasant and profitable to the members. The committee have worked- with considerable energy- and perfectly cordial relations<and would ask every member nf the congregation to second these efforts to make our, church prosper ia • every respect. The following mem,- , bers retire 1 by rotation, viz., Messrs Crichton, Webster, Eade, and Huff. Tou will be asked this evening to 1 elect four members to fill the vacau- ! cies. A summary of receipts and expenditure is appended, for the information of the congregation, for the year ending 81st December, 18867:— - General Fund. :

Jas. H. Stevens, For the Committee.

Eeilding, February 2nd, 18870

After the reports were roai and adopted, each of which" was oonsidef ed< highly satisfactory, : appropri. ate addresses were made by the reverend gentlemen named above. Votes of , thanks were accorded to the ladies who -presided over the tables as well

as to Mr Dowling and the choir, and the proceedings closed with the benediction by the Rev. Mr Doull. The meeting on the whole was a most successful and ttnjuyahle one, and will long- be remembered with, pleasure by those who touk part in the commemoration.

Receipts— Balance on hand .. 10 S 3 Sabbath collections ... 50 12 4 Subscriptions ;. . . i; 34 S 6 Church Extenston Fund 25 0 0 TotaV £120 4 1 Expenditure— Stipend exelusiT© of Hal- • combe vv. ':» 95 0^ 0 Assembly expenses : . . 1 10 0 Foreign Mission. . . ., 15 0 Sabbath school .1' ''";./ 114 3 Seid- testimonial.^ „ 10 0 Communion set . . . . 6 0 0 Insurance ». ' f » 1 7 0 Kerosene lighting, &c . . 9 1 6 Printing & adyerii^ing ». 1 5 0 Sundries ..L. .. 2 ! 910 Balance on hand ... 11 €U ; Tatal : £120;^ I _ ; Bunjywa Fuicn< Receipts — ..._,; Balance on hand ■'• „ . « 29 '; S 1 Prooee3a " Stray Leares" - lecture ' .. «. 28 17 10 Donationg .: -.. 30 17 6 Speoial collection . . 1 10 3 Bentiil -»"i .. .. » .' 10 0 Interest 1 14 0 .■,;V;jAV.-..'/:ToW:-' / .: £96 14 8 Expenditure^-' filling :&leveUing ground 13 8 0 Balance on hand ■.',-?... 83 6 8