MASTERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10420, 11 September 1911, Page 6

MASTERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT.

Following is the third annual report to be presented at the meowing of f!he Congregational Church in Masterton to-night.:—• It is with pleasure and gratitude that the deacons present the Ohuroh and Congregation with this, the third annual report. The first three years of our history have gone quickly and pleasantly, in sjat-e of the fact that we hav6 been called upon to go through a season of commercial depression, And have been called upon to lose many of our members by removal. During the three years ive have received ninetyone members into church fellowship: 28 of these being initial members. Of the rest, ten were received by certificate or letter, and 53 on confession of faith. Of these, however, 28 must come off the roll, 19 of whom are absent, 8 have been transferred, and 1, has resigned. This leaves an actual roll of 63.

The monthly attendance at Communion has been very pleasing, the average being 43—the smallest on any one occasion being 36, and the largest 57. This is a high percentage from an average roll of 63 taken all the year round in consideration .of. sickness, absences, and wet Sundays, of which we have not had a few. Among the removals, sorrowful mention must be made of Mr H. A. Whelch, who died in Auckland recently, and our sincerest sympathies are with the widow and family; The Church services and meetings have been regular and well sustained. Our Consecration Week, held in July, was more than ever successful. The Rev. Mr McNaughton was with, us •and conducted the services. ; The Christmas. fete wis a happy [success. The half-yearly rally was a rally in the truest sense, on which occasion the Rev. W. A. Evans did us good service. The monthly "At homes" amongst the lady members-and friends, at their houses, have been regularly held, amd have proved very helpful,' not only financially, but to the social side of the Church life. During the year, in response to an appeal from Mr Hodge, we have stirred up considerable interest in foreign mission work. A quarterly missionary service has been held on Sunday mornings, when the collection boxes'have been handed in. The amount contained thereby increases eaoh quarter, the last collection ) amounting to £3 10s. A Watchers' I Band has been formed by Miss Laza&r- ' us, who is a considerable power to us in this particular part of our work. The Sunday School has had to suffer a change in superintendents, owing to the removal of Mr Chilton and family to Australia. We are most happy to say, however, that our Sunday School is a thriving institution under the capable superintendance of Mr Shoosmith, a recent arrival from London, with all the enthusiasm of , English Congregationalism. A library has been started with 160 volumes, under the care of Mr W. Hendry. A ; series of winter concerts given by the children have been very successful. The Sunday School is also striving to do more for the L.M.S. Once a month special collectins are being taken up for that work, and once a, quarter a Sunday afternoon service is being held to arouse the interest of the children in missionary work. Miss Lexie Gree i has been appointed honorary organist for the Church, and the choir have been most regular and faithful in their services during j the year.. ) Mr Frank de Lisle, at present un- ; dergoing a course of study ait the Adelaide University and the Congregational College for our Ministry, has been with us for a short time owing to a temporary breakdown in health. Looking back over the past, the Church has every reason for thankfulness for the way in which God hjas used i.t for His great service. It is a matter for great satisfaction that we have not been obliged to ask for any of the amounts guaranteed by friends at the beginning of our work. We record our deep sense of gratitude to tjie O.M.S. for its timely help. We once more desire to thank] tho lady collectors for the maintenance fund. - , We wish, in conclusion, to place on record our appreciation of the good ; work being carried out by our pastor, | the Rev. A. Hodge, in which he is faithfully assisted by Mi's Hodge and j family, and we look forward to having them with us for a long time to j come :