Anniversary Soiree of the Baptist Church.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2618, 30 May 1877, Page 2

Anniversary Soiree of the Baptist Church.

The celebration of the anniversary of the above church by a soiree, &c, took place last night. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather the comfortable little chapel was fairly filled, and an excellent tea was partaken of. The tables Ac., having been-cleared away, the pro* gramme was initiated by the.Her. A. W. Webb offering up prayer. Rev. J. T. Hinton occupied the chair.

The Chairman said that although that was calied their anniversary,, it was 18 months since tliey had their last soiree. He said during the 18 months he had been on the Thames he had become acclimatised. He thought he had,much to congratulate his congregation upon. He alluded to the unfavorable state of the weather, and said, when their friend Mr Gornford had been in New Zealand he always looked out for rain when coming to tne Thames.

The Choir then rendered—•" Loud through the world proclaim." Mr Whitehouse (the secretary.) read his annual report, which showed that during the past 18 months 17 members had been added to the church, 10 having been admitted by immersion. The present congregation numbered 88. Occasional services had been held at Ohinemuri and Waiotahi, and aid gireu to the Taranaki and Waikato churches. The report thanked Mr Grigg for the able manner in which he had discharged the duties of organist and other offices in the church, and stated his services bad been gratuitous. Mr Eenshaw said he came before them as Treasurer to the church. He did so with some reluctance, and almost wished that no such officer was necessary to the church. It might be regarded by some to be an honorable office, but he held it to be an onerous one, and would be glad to get out of it when somebody else could be found to take it. He then proceeded

to read his annual report, which showed that the financial position of the church was very much better than, it was some sixmonths ago. There was then a debt j on the church of £185. The late bazaar in connection with the church had returned them, the sum of £137 10s. Of this ( sum £132 had gone towards the liquidation of the debt; and when this latter amount was supplemented by the ,collections made since the bazaar, and the probable balance as the result of the soiree, the actual debt on the church; would be reduced to something less than '' £49. (Applause) ; The Choir here sang—" What a friend we have in Jesus." The Chairman then introduced— Mr Webb, who was greeted with applause. He thauked them for the kindly manner in which they welcomed him. He said he was pleased to stand on the same platform as his old friend, Mr Hinton, whom he had known while in Australia, where he (Mr Hinton) was much esteemed. He was glad he had been called to labor so near his old friend. He said he was jjlad to hear such a report as had just been read. He felt grateful to God for the stato of the Church on the Thames. The churches in Auckland and Thames might do much-to further the cause they had in hand. He intended, so far as lay in his power, to concentrate his exertions on the church in Wellesley street. He very much desired to see the land covered with Baptist churches. Poor as their church comparatively was in number, he could assure them their cause was progressing throughout the land.. Because they were small in numbers that was no reason why they' should not expect great thin gs. The reverend speaker here narrated an episode of his experience in Australia. He had there met a man who, though uneducated, was one of the most devoted and successful servants of Christianity he had ever met with. He spoke in glowing terms of the evangelist system in Australia, of which he himself had been almost the founder. It had been found to work admirably in Australia, and he hoped to see it introduced here. He then referred to the debt of the church, which he said Mas so small that they might at once get rid of It. He was aware that some people liked debts, and if they (his audience) wanted to be in debt he could premise them that he would find debts for them right and left. Although almost a stranger to them he might venture to suggest a way in which they could get rid of it. If a number of them agreed to subscribe £1 each they could at once wipe the debt clean off their church. That was how they had managed in Australia. It was rather" surprising that on a gold field such as this they should allow a small debt to hang on the church. He referred to Tookey's mine, which had gained wonderful notoriety in Australia. He hardly knew until he arrived here that it was on the Thames. He reminded them that the Thames was " looking up now." He spoke feelingly on the relation of minister and people. He said if people could only understand how their ministers felt they would sympathise with them much more tban they probably did do. He related a funny little story concerning this matter. (Applause.). - Mr Turner here addressed the meeting. He said he always enjoyed very much meetings of that sort. He must confess though, that he felt most at home in his own church, yet he sometimes was glad to meet his neighbours. Mr Turner con-; gratulated the church on their finances. He could wish that they (the Wesleyaus) were in the same position. The Chairman here said "Father Mason " would say a few words to the audience^ Mr Mason said they had lost a good friend in Mr Cornford. He then proceeded to give some good counsel to the audience. ,

The Choir then creditably performed— " No other nanie.^' The 'Chairman here said that he must not forget, to mention that the Rev. Mr Bunn had sent an apology for his nonappearance at the meeting..'; He then introduced Mr Laishley. Mr Laishley said he was quite surprised at the financial position of the Baptist Church. He thought they had not more than half qleared their debt. He said it" was a fact that no one knew what they could do. -until they tried. He illustrated themselves (the Congregationalists). Before their church was burnt down, he said, they had talked about building a school, bat it was decided not to do so on account of the- expense. Their church had cost them thrice the amount.

The Chairman then said there were two or three more pieces that the choir had prepared, but as it was a virtue in such meetings to be over somewhat before 10 o'clock he thought it better to forego them. The meeting then terminated by singing the Doxology.