GRAHAMSTOWN WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1914, 9 December 1874, Page 3

GRAHAMSTOWN WESLEYAN CHURCH.

ANNIVERSARY SOIREE. ' The soiree in connection with tho anniversary services of tho Graharustown Wesleyan Church was held last evening, tea being sewed in the schoolroom, while the subsequent meeting was hold in the church. Mr Jiichards presided, and there were present oil the platform—llev J. Crump, llev B. Laishley, Rev A. Beid (of-Auckland). After some introductory remarks by the Chairman, Mr Kernick read tho report showing what had been done towards clearing off the debt. It was as follows: - Proceeds of last anniversary, £21 10s 6d; Sabbath collections for the diminution of the debt, £72 16s • lid; seat rents, £50; from the bazaar fund, £62 5s sd; day school rent, £25 17s; last Sabbath collections, £10 13s 2d. Donations—Mr W. Bowe,. £50; Captain Ifichards, Mrs Richards, and family, £50; Mr Kernick, £50 ; 'Mr Cocks, £5; Mr Yial, £s'; Mr James Turner, £5; Mr Corrin, £2; Mr James Jenkin, £1 Is; Mr W. Hicks, £1; Mr M. Gribble, 3s 6d —total donations, £169 4-t 6d; total receipts, £412 7s 6d. Expenditure—lnterest on borrowed money, £55 17s 6d; insurance, £11 10s; chapel keeper's salary, £30; keroseno for lighting, £119s; advertising, £3 0s 6d; carpenters' bill for repairs, £310s; Mr H. Wright, organist, £5; percentage for collecting seat rents, £2 10s—£122 17s. Eeceipts over expenditure, £289 10s Gd—£4l2 7s Gd. The debt last anniversary was £749 8s 6d; subtracting £289 10s 6d, leaves present debt on the church, £459 18s. Mr Kernick went on to say that if they had only a moderate degree of prosperity in the place they would soon dear off the debt. He said that he would take half the interest if three or four others would take tho other half. Speaking of collections, Mr Kernick said that the Church collections were handed over to him, and he was astonished at the number of threepenny pieces and fourpennypieces he found there. He could not help thinking what narrow hearts these represented On one occasion, he saw his wife taking a shilling to put in the box at church. They had been three years married, and never had any squabble or unpleasantness, but on that occasion he told her that it would grieve him very much if she gave only a sixpence. He had been gratified, however, at the collections throughout tho year, as they had been only a very little less than last year. ilev K. Laishley referred to the movement which had taken place in Scotland in consequence of the visit of Messrs Moody and and to the prayer meetings which had followed in Australia and JNew Zealand. Apparently, but little action followed on these. Mr Laishley pointed out how great a revival of religion might be caused if Christian men and women would butcommeucethe work zealously at home.

Rev A. Keid spoke on the subject of debts in general, and church debts in particular. Heferring to matters outside the churches, he said he thought tho condiiion of the world exceedingly hopeful, and he did not share in the apprehensions • so much spoken of, as to the prospects of Christianity. Mr Eeid then referred to the meeting of tho British Association at Belfast; to tho meeting of Old Catholics under Dr Dollinger, at Bonn; to the meetings of Christians of all denominations at Oxford; and to the meeting of the Evangelical Alliance at New Yorlc. Thesp expressed the feelings of the world and the church at the present time. He felt thankful to Professor Tyndall, because he told us that tliere were three important questions which every man put to which he, as a scientist, had no answer. These were: Whence came I ? What am IP Whither am I bound p With all his learning, Professor Tyndall had to confess that he could not solve these questions. Mr Heid then spoke of how the liible answered these questions. The rev. gentleman went on to say that at -no time in previous years was the vantage ground of religion so'great as at the present. He would not tell them to road Huxley and Tyndall, to read them from end to end, but he would tell them to road both sides. He then alluded to the conference at New York, where Christ ians from all parts of the world, and of all denominations met to consider how they could best forward tho Christian work. So enthusiastic were the audienccs at these meetings that they encored long speeches of an hour and a half duration, so great was the interest which they felt in the great problem submitted to them. He believed it to bo the best gathering tho world had seen since Pentecost. The speaker then alluded to the great success which had attended thoso American Christians, Messrs Moody and Sankey in Scotland, when in Glasgow 3,000 were converted in one day as a proof that the present age was not inferior to the good old times, winch people were in the habit of regretting.' He then referred to the Conference of the Old Catholics at Bonn, They had quarrelled with the Pope in consequence of his claim to be infallible, and they endeavoured to bring together to amalgamate the ancient Greek Church and the Anglican Church. This showed that tho spirit of tho Gospel" was working in theso churches, destroying the spirit of jealously which previously existed. It was a hopoful symptom, for which they ought to bo thankful, accepting it as on expositio 1 of tho present state of feeling in tin Uhristm wrrld. The reverend gentlonvm then referred to tlio meetings of the < of all denominations at Oxford. This peeling he considered the best of all, leading, us it

did, to a fraternal expression of Christian feeling, It was, he said, a great class meeting, where Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, and all sects, gave expression to their experienco of the sanctifying efficacy of the blood of Christ, The speaker coucluded by recommending all present to look forward to and work for a confident that it would shortly come. (Cheers.) Mr Kedfern, on being called to address the meeting, expressed his satisfaction and pleasure at the prosperity of the Grahamstown Church during the past year. Jfe was also pleased to see Mr lietd. He heard his ministrations when he first arrived in the colony atOncliunga. The Bev J. Chump also expressed his gratitude at the result of the wind-up of their financial matters. He moved a vote of thanks to the choir, to the ladies who had provided and presided at the trays, and to the Chairman. Mr Keknick seconded tho motion, which was carried with applause. The Doxology was then sung, and the meeting terminated. During the intervals betweeu the speeches the choir sang various musical selections.