WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 200, 21 February 1912, Page 4

WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH

GATHERING OF MEMBERS. There was a large gathering in the Whiteley Hall last night on the occasion of a conversazione, held under the auspices of the Whiteley Memorial Church. V

In the annual statement of the trust's funds for the period ending 30th September last, the honorary secretary and treasurer (Mr. V. Griffiths) reported that, the receipts amounted to £670 14s lOd, and included the following items: Main scat rents £ll9 ss, donations £24 5s Od, winter entertainments £65 ~14& 4d. conversazione £ls 18s, rents from Whiteley Hall £3O. The year was commenced with an overdraft of £IOO "15s 2d. Repayments had been made to the loan funds to the amount of £65. fa, current expenses totalled £132 7s 2d, repayment to other loans £65, interest payments £69 Os Bd, sundries; total expenditure being £476 10s lid. This leaves a credit balance of £194 3s lid". The liabilities were at the present time £1751, while the assets totalled £7644, leaving a balance of assets over liabilities of £5893. This shows that the church has decreased its liabilities during the year by £l3l, and the assets have" increased by £256. In May, 1909, the liabilities amounted to £2300. To-day interest was being paid on only £525. Contributions to the loan fund have promised to liquidate this sum by a cash loan for ten years, free of interest. In two years and seven months the church has thus wiped off the whole of the in ? terest-bearing debt of £2300. ?j| The special collection of the oecasion of the anniversary and harvest festival services last Sunday amounted to £lk 8s 7d. •

In the course of a review of last' year'g operations the Rev. J. W. Burton paid a high tribute to the painstaking and valuable services of the honorary secretary and treasurer (Mr. V. Griffiths), and lie went on to lead a hearty round of applause which those present accorded that officer. Mr. Burton said that sinii he had come to New Plymouth he had made over 600 visits iu the town anfl neighborhood, so that he thought they 5 would realise that there was not very much scope for idleness as far as iffl. was concerned. He treasured and prized the loyalty, assistance given to him, awl the confidence which had been imposed iS him during the past few months. He did not think the morning congregation oa Sundays was what it ought to be. Too many of the congregation were "oncers." During the winter the Wednesday night service had been largely attended, anH even through the summer months a fair number were present. One of the most successful movement! in connection with the church was the Children's League. It was, he believed, the means of linking the children up with the church.. ,The society of Christian Endeavor, which had been started during the year, had give* every indication of promise. Likewise the Sunday schools, including two new schools—one at Frankleigh Park and another at Vogeltown—showed .very sati* factory progress. Sister Florence had, not been among them for long, but »V ready his attention had been'drawn to" the good work she had performed in a"' quiet, unassuming manner. He noted with pleasure a substantial increase ia the church membership; whicli waß mot due to removals from other circuits. R(M garding the new year, he hoped it would be an aggressive one. Tor one thing, hj» would Jike to see the poor fund very largely aiigmented, for there were peopl* in New Plymouth who really needed assistance. He hoped also that there would be an extension of work amongst the young women of the church. The men were going to inaugurate a brotherhood that would take no count of creed o* situation. He was trying to push the 1 movement so that it would mean th« personal co-operation of every man 5n th» church.

During the evening opportunity was taken tt> dispsse of the gift offerings to the harvest festival service on Sunday last.

The following items were rendered :-n gong, "The Last Muster," Mr. Furniss| duet, "Dowh the Vale," Misses Gilbert? recitation, "The Burial of Moses," Mif. Rand; song, "The Better Land," Mrs. G. H. White; song, "Flight of Ages," Mr! F. Hooker (encore, "Echo.")