YEAR’S ACTIVITIES OF CITY MISSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 July 1927, Page 7

YEAR’S ACTIVITIES OF CITY MISSION

HELPING THE NEEDY The report on the year’s activities of the Auckland City Mission was presented at the seventh annual meeting held last evening under the presidency of the missioner, the Rev. Jasper Calder. It disclosed a vigorous and successful year’s operations both on the spiritual and practical side of the work.

Archbishop Averill, who could not be present, sent his congratulations on the mission’s achievements and his good wishes for the future. The remarkable growth of the mission was referred to in the report. One room was at first sufficient for the mission’s needs, but five large rooms were now occupied. One room was shortly to be used as a daily service chapel and also for lectures, confirmation classes and, “most beloved of all,” communion services. “GODSEND” TO THE HUNGRY Not only had the mission been active on the spiritual side, but also the claims of practical Christianity had received earnest attention. The establishing of a soup kitchen at headquarters had proved in the most reverent sense of the word, a “Godsend” to the city’s hungry. The year’s statistics show what was done in this and other directions: Services: Held at Hippodrome Theatre, 53: in churches, 10; yachting services, 11; communion services, 42; confirmation candidates, 8; interviews at headquarters, 9,784; free soup meals, 18,448; free beds at “doss” house, 3,371; parcels of clothing given out, 2,605; food orders given out, 4,073. At the present time close upon 3,000 soup meals were being given every week, and on the average nearly 100 men were being housed in the “doss” house each night. The band of entertainers known as “Jasper’s, Ltd.,” had worked loyally for the mission for two years, and in addition to giving free concerts at the prison, hospital and mental hospital, had raised a sum of £1,423. The total figures of the balance-sheet showed an increase of £1,154 over last year. The receipts from collections and donations totalled £2,564, and from shop takings £1,669. of which approximately £1,500 was clear profit. The relief expenditure totalled £2,967. The credit balance amounted to £983. The following officers were elected:— Executive. Messrs. F. Cranch, C. Ponder, A. Lane, W. Hewitt, F. Newberry; sidesmen, Messrs. Cranch, O. Hansen, H. Gutry, L. Mansfield, W. Neilsen, W. McConnell, G. Fillery, H. Renton, A. Donaldson, J. Manning, G. Boss, R. Somerville.