£100 ON THE PLATE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 138, 21 October 1913, Page 2

£IOO ON THE PLATE.

Methodist Church Anniver* sary. The anniversary services of the Pukekohe Methodist Church were held on Sunday hist. The Rev. R. B. Gosnell, of Auckland, was the • preacher for :he dav, and his earnest discourses wcro listened to with rapt' attention. The music included solos/" by Miss W. Webster and Mrs Pilkington, and hymns of thanksgiving. A special feature of the anniversary was the offertory, the trustees having asked the congregation for a collection of £IOO, that sum being required for purposes of church renovation. A meeting of church members a few weeks ago had endorsed the scheme, strongly approving the method of direct voluntary giving. The offertory on Sunday morning amounted to £Ol (is 2d. The young people of the Sunday School caught tire infection, and the afternoon contribution added £o 10s Id. In the evening thera was a further offering of £6 18s. Total for the day £73 Ms .'3d. ti There was quite an animated gathering last evening when the Anniversary Social was held. The Rev. Blamires presided, and ft good programme of music, with addresses and recitations, was presented. The Treasurer's statement was read by Mr J. Pilkington, and showed the Trust accounts to be in credit £2 12s 6d. The income of the year had been: The Trust Fuud, £lB 14s 6d ; for Circuit Fund, £ll2 12s 2d ; for Missionary Funds, £6O 5s 2d. Total £l!»l lis lOd, making au increase of £l9 8s ;;d over the previous year. The enrolled membership of the church had also increased during the year from 41 to .VJ. The congregation made another generous offering, and at tho conclusion of tho meeting the announced that the standard o! £IOO had been reached. The Doxology was thereupon sung with great heartiness. When supper was kindly served by the ladies, the opinion waft freely expressed that no better means of raising church funds could bo adopted. Almost the entire amount was contributed by the local Methodist congregation. But grateful acknowledgment was made of tho help spontaneously rendeiod by two or three friends of sister churches. The offerings also included some cheques from former members of the church who had removed from Pukekohe, but who generously remembered the church in connection with this effort.

At the close of Monday evening's meeting the Trustees and other officials of the Church met and cordially thanked the Rev. R. B. Gosnell for his very helpful and inspiring addresses and the Rev E. P. Blamires for the very skilful way in which ho had piloted the scheme.