PRESBYTERIAN ANNIVERSARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1621, 28 February 1884, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN ANNIVERSARY.

Tho anniversary of the Presbyterian Church, Masterton, was celebrated by the customary tea meeting and evening gathering, ,:-•

An excellent tea was provided in the afternoon, to which ample justice was done by both children' and adults. The tables were given on this occasion, by Mesdames Fulton, Feist, Coekburn, Macara, Grant, Alexander, Drammond, Tinsley and Colo; and the liberality and quality of the catering was the subject of much favorable comment.--. At the evening meeting the chair was taken by the Rev J. Fulton, the pastor of the church, and the proceedings opened with a hymn, nicely sung by the choir, and a prayer offered by tho Rev Mr McKee. The Chairman then delivered a long and earnest address suitable for the occasion,

Mr Feist next read the following report :

In presenting the annual report to the congregation, your committee deemed it advisable to make a short statement of the financial position of the church.for the year 1882, as well as last - year, because during the vacancy we omitted to hold our annual congregational meeting. From tho accompanying balanoe skoet, it wil| bo observed that in 1882 our expenditure was somewhat largor than other years, lo meet which a special effort was made to reduce tho amount. The sum of £32 was raised for this object; 1 "but considering that a balance of £36 135,4 d was brought forward from 1881,: the' special sums raised would barely covor thiß amount. The debtor balance for 1882 was 16817s 9d and during the'last year our expenditure has been £4012s 4d more than our income, This, with £6B 17s 9d brought forward, 10-ives us with a debtor balance of £lO9, Your committee trust that during the present year some successful plan will bo devised for extinguishing this debt. It is proposed shortly to elect a new committed of management for this year, by the same mode as was adopted for the election of au elder recently. It would be a much more satisfactory position were we able to report a credit instead of a debtor balance, and we may mention that if the Church is to bo maintained efficiently we shall have to give the cause a mora liberal support.

Mr James McGregor made au excellent speech on the financial position of the Church,-urging the congregation to wipe off the existing debt,

The Rev. James McKee who was next called upon supported the arguments of Mr McGregor, aud in a few well chosen words dwelt upon the obligations of the congregation towards their minister, and advocated the envelope system as being a financial success in his own district. -

The Rev, Robert McKinney. of Auckland was then called upon, but as tho time at his disposal was brief, he did not undertake to give any. very, extended or specific address, but spoke briefly on general subjects of interest.

Tho meeting concluded with the customary votes of thanks to the ladies, the speakers, and the chair,