Anniversary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4559, 15 August 1883, Page 2

Anniversary Soiree.

The annivery soiree in connection with the Willoughby-street Baptist Church was held last night, and passed off very successfully. There was a large attendthe tea and the public meet* lag which followed. Mr J, Renshaw took the chair at the meeting, and explained the position of ,the Church. They were at present without a pastor, but he was &'ad to say they had gone on satisfactorily so far. After a few remarks upon the importance of Church work, he called upon r the secretary to read the annual report, which "stated that Mr Spencer, of Lincoln, Canterbury, had been-invited to take the pastorate, bat his duties elsewhere compelled him to decline. The Be?, W. E. Woolley, jast arrived from England, had also been invited. The 'number of Church members was 156. The annual balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £328 10s 4d, and the present liability was £46. .. - . The Rev. C. E, Barley, after wishing the-Baptist Church every success, gave, some of the reasons why the results of .Christian work were not so apparent as in times past. He did not think the cause was failing at all, but its success could not be shown by statistics. All work done for the glory of God would bear fruit, and, remembering this, he encouraged all, engaged in the good work to push on. He ooncluded by welcoming Mr Woolley to New Zealand. '"> . .' ,:', The Bevx H. Bull enlarged upon the advantages of New Zealand over the i Mother Country, especially in the matter

of healthiness, and stated that, in spite of the dull times, only.iq three places in the colony was more money withdrawn from the savins banks than.was deposited, the Thames being the first of the three.

The Rev. T. Adams wished to see more earnestness displayed in the work. He considered one of the'eufses of the Thames was the love of pleasure, and urged that there should be more of the spirit of prayer shown, for prosperity came from God alone.

, The Rev. Mr Woolley was glad <t»\be present, and thanked them for the warm welcome accorded him.. His short experience of New Zealand had given him a favorable impression, and he felt sure' he would here regain bis health,*nd be able to continue working for the Master. He urged,the Church to pttah on.and. work more earnestly, to lay a good foundation, and not to allow the same state' of things as existed in England to come to pass in New Zealand. He thanked God for bringing him to the Thames, and hoped it would prove to be the means of mutual blessing., Mr,:Shalders, of Auckland, also spoke a few. words, after which the meeting was closed in the usual way.