Masterton Presbyterian Church.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3411, 16 January 1890, Page 2

Masterton Presb yterian Church.

Annual Meeting- ; '

.Tho annual -nieoting-of "Members' and friends inVconueolioii; wifli' the ( Presbyterian phurch, Masterton, was ' held yesterday.''it was preceded as ' i usual by a tea., to which upwards of i hundred sat down.. The tables ' were laid in the church, and tastefully 1 arranged amongst the viands were ' beautiful bouquets of flowers.. -The ' ladies of the congregation were most ' attentive at waiting at the tables, great -.attention (being paid .to all, more especially (be visitoi-e. ' ; • The tables having beeivcleared, and the seats replaced, the publio meeting took place. ;'The .church was fairly well filled considering the fact that many members were away attending to the important work of harvesting. The chair, was occupied by the Eev D, Fulton, who was supported by the Revs J. Linbnrne, of Martinborough, (1 Murray, of Grey town, and J. |Peterson, of St John's, Wellington.'' | The meeting was opened with praise and prayer, and the Chairman was the first to address the meeting. Ho said bis remarks would be brief, as an example to the speakers who would follow him. Tea meeting speeches were looked upon as dry and uninteresting* and they had' just concluded a ceremony which was just the opposite to that, and which they had apparently so thoroughly enjoyed. Before proceeding to refertothe financial statement he must allude to ii leading article in tho Wairarapa Daily of a recent date on the subject of "Christian liberality." There ivaa one slight mistake contained in it. To an ordinary reader the impression was conveyed that his (the speaker's) stipend was not fully and duly .paid. Ho would like to tnke the present opportunity to correct that erroneous impression. Ever since he had come amongst them as pastor his stipend had been paid to the day, and every quarter when due. No minister could have been treated with greater liberality in that and all other matters than he had been during'the past Bevan years of his sojourn amongst, them, The sermon he had preached onfinanoial matters, whioh gave riso to the article, was not in reference to himself but general remarks to the congregation 1 in reference to arrears of subscriptions.

Theto waß no report from the ; managers as to the general condition of the church during the past year. ' These animal statements were so much alike year after year- that it was deemed advisable to leave it for verbal reference. During no previous year had death made such inroads amongst their-number as it had during tho immediate past one. The solemn fact should 'be laid to their hearts and they should endeavor to realise that the time for work was short and they should be up and doing before the evening shadows gathered round them and night was at hand. He said he found in looking over his notes and visiting list that a good many changes had been experienced. Three or four years ago the families within an area oi thirty miles whom he called upon numbered 250. During the past few years a great many had removed to other districts and death had taken some and the number had dwindled from 250 to 150. They had had a great many losseswhioh had not been made up by others coming into the district to replace them. That'would explain one cause why thcirnutuborshadnol increased. . There was also another, The South. Wairarapa district had been formed last year over which his friend the Rev. Mr Murray was pastor. It included Greytown, Gladstone and Carterton, and the Masterton Church had lost a considerable number of members and adherents thereby'jmpre particularly from Gladstone. That meant a difference of £BO or £4O a year and would, explain why their finances were not so flourishingduring the past term, They bad no reason therefore to be downhearted as to their position financially or otherwise. He would not dwoll upon the past or present but call their attention to the future He asked himself and his hearers what was intended to be done in tho coming year and whether it would not be wise to take some new departure and introduce fresh laborers Let them not go on in the samo old ruck but with increased heartiness and zoal to realize they were engaged in God's work in saving lost mankiud ami attempt something more, in tho future. Ho had a desiro to resiisitate the Band of Fopo (applause) and trusted to see it in operation again. It was becoming more and'moro necessary and ho hoped to get willing workers to come forward and help on the monthly meetings. Then there were the women's prayer .meetings. Perhaps, tho best work doho in. many departments was conducted by ladies who often succeeded where men failed. A sample of what they could dc had been shown in one branch that day iu the shape of a Lea. (Applause). The women in tlie Christian Church hold equal rights and privileges with tho men, and therefore should share the same duties. If they felt they could occupy the pulpit let tliem do so, In the Sunday school work he considered they were invaluable. He hoped to see a women's weekly prayer meeting an established thing. There were other things also that might be improved on in the future. Their service of praise had been getting worse and worse for some time, and was tending to keep mnnv way, a great many came not f<«. wo oonnon so much as the singing, and there was no reason why the service of praise should not be as good and beneficial as tho sermon, An effort should be made by the congregation to gfet all who could sing to join-.the choir. It was a source of strength to the church, and he hoped whon application was made to those to whom God had given the talent of singing they would not bury their talent in a napkin. They might not be able to preach, or to give money, or to teach, but God had given them one talent, and they were expected t» use it. to his praise. and he hoped when they were asked they would not be found wanting. (Applause).; : ''■ Mr E. Feist, the Treasurer read the following balance. sheet for the year, Ho pointed butthat : as the annual meeting had been held at an earlier date than usual this year they had not got their full returns infrom Opaki and that would account for.the small items standing, to. their credit in subscriptions and offerings. The debtorbalancewouldbefurtherreduced by thesimiof £2, to ! come in from sale of work.'' BEOEiraS. . ' Offerings, £lB6 4s 8d; seal rents,, £lo2s 10s; sale ofwks,£4(!,6s 10s; concert and collections,' £sl7s Od; subscriptions, ' £2V 55;.;..- total, £312 4s 8d leaving a debtor balance of£lo3Bb ■ ,\ 'r' '/}■: ■ ■— •■■-.•■ pr.btte, 883, m .-J* iOoV

salaries, insurance, gas and rates, ! -;' £2B 9s 9d; interest and Bunchies, £lB 18s; Church extension and other funds, £l4 8s lOd; stipend, £250; totalling 7s 6a, He conoluded bis remarks by formally moving the adoption of the financial statement. Mr James'[McGregor said it was ; ; usual to say " I .have very great :: pleasure-in seconding it" but on this K ~ _ occasion he could not respond in Bach cheerful strta jasJieiiad fully • • ■ expeotedas.are'sult'of the vigorpwr. efforts put forth'to see thTdeßtlfw wiped out comply ;verj nearlyeo, r ;- and'he wastaeeiJiiigly "eorrjib find; ] that it was nottho not be discouraged liqwever.,<. If, the congregation put 'their shoulders to the whoel they* would; soon run, off the debt and'would then bo'able' to say "we Owe no man anything." JHe hoped when the members wero . waited..upon by the,.office, beareri.. ,;. that th'ey;would not receive them as J beggars,, but jtienv,_ jii },. officers appointed by themselves to carry out a special work and respond accordingly. He nrged members to greater liberality.during tlie coming.; v year and concluded by seconding' tbeW motion for. the ■ adoption -of balance sheet.

Tho Bev, 0, .Murray sympathised

with the church in its financial

troubles. Referring to the remarks of the Chairman in reference to the loss sustainod to Masterton by the formation' of tbo* South Waivarapa

district church, the cutting .off-'of: Gladstone seemed to bo the njfct regretted, but he could only safrer " poor Gladstone,!' that before the formation of the new district, 1 it was practically abandoned. It was a good thing for a church to be able to say it was out <of debt. But a debt worked two ways. It made one iiuk ■ or attempt to swim. They were confessedly a Kcotbh churblv, and with the Scottish characteristic they would notsink.' It was only a small sum they owed, whioh could soou be wiped out if they set their shoulder to tho wheol. The faot of the past year not having proved a greater success proved there was a leak in the vessel somewhere, and no "matter how small that leak was, it was only a question of time before the vessel would founder, unless it wan stopped. To the captain, officers and men ho would say, search for tho leak, and apply good tar and oakum, it well, and spare no.pains to stop it, ' Very few congregations but had to deal with the problem of debt. Let themuot burdentlieinßelvcspo, niuoh with the thought clear off their debt which was not

the sole end and purpose of a church. Their object was not to erect buildings but something deeper and wider. There was a danger wlien a church was freed from debt of its taking things too quietly and cdmfortablyj-, and then they began to,fall baok and driftinto a state of utter enorvation, Too much comfort was not good for a church or a people, thoy ■ were' apt to fall asleep. "When Hannibal crossed the Alps and attacked and conquered a force of Romans threeor four limes his own;< •/ strength, bis little band was mured ■ to every hardship. ,When:the vie- ..' torious army afterwards settled down in a rich town they in their turn became enervated and as a consequence were lost, Let the church rise in the strength of its cause and make an impres lion on the people by earnestness and zeal, let them make their church a power and they; would have'little to trouble th'emS above financial affairs, (ApplauMpk He concluded bf expressing ahdpT \ that al the end of next year not only would tboir small debt' be wiped out but that they would have a substantial oredit balance.; (Applause.) The Rev Mr Limburue addressed the meeting upon. ■'< hindrances; ; to progress." There wer6 four principal points irregularity. in attendance at public worship, want of unity, and niggardliness. Tbeepoaker '. dwelt upon each subject and pointed out its effect upon the churoh,at the same time intimating that he .was : not referring to the local'institution ..'.■ in particular, ;■ He was frequently applauded during his address, The Rev J. Patterson said for nearly twenty one years he had attended the toa and annual mooting . in connection, iith 1 the 'Masterton Church. Ho had Been them in the day of small things,' and again in >!• their day of greater progress. He trusted thoy would go on flourishing. As to their debt'of it was but ~ 88 a fleabite in comparison withSJ John's, which owed iiOOO,'. and -ye*, they slept at night. (Laughter.) Ho had noticed there was an ebb and flow in Church prosperity. Let them not bo cast down. Ibe .flow would . return after the ebb, He conid eyin-' '', pathiee with their minister Mr Fulton Jk> when he missed the attendance of those who ought to. be present. J t had a depressiug effect, He urged them to give Iheir minister their heartiest Bupport and make tho, present season the commencement of a New Year forbetterjthjngs.'.; He gave them as a . New Year's motto tlie prayer of the : faithful steward of Abraham," Oh, Lord, God, I pray thee, Bend me good speed -this day," He,;believed in tlie outward prosperity of a church, and considered, it an index of inward , ' vitality and true prosperity of sphV''.". tual work, ft would not do to simply raise the hands and offer up a prayer, and then sit down and do nothing further.- The prayer of the Bteward , was answered. " I being in the the Lord led me," said he. TheA/ must bo in the way, and then lift up' the heart to God. In conclusion he enjoined them, to go forth.one and all unitedly, heartily ami earnestly, and God would bless their efforts.' Suitable hymns were sung, during,;;; the evening by the choir and audience, Mr F. T. Redman presiding at the organ. The meeting closed after hearty votes of thanks had been accorded the ladies for providing and presiding at tli«tsii thatday, and to- , the speakers for' their' interesting ''V, addresses, tho motion being moved r by Mr Holdaway. : r WAIRARAPA JUBILEE;' "'■;

A meeting of the Committee was held in the Oddfellow's Hall, Masterton, on Wednesday evening, MrL. J. Hooper prosiding, '" Amongst the:correspoudenoo,read. • was a letter from the Chairman of the Ekotahumi School Committee, stating that owing to the absence of the school master they could not send tha!]2i children in a body. A rather stronjiP' discussion ensued with .reference, to. ( the tone adopted by the. Chairman and - Mr Pateons ,with reference tos-this ■■: matter, as appeared in the Iketahunft School Committee's report of the Dauy; ;The meeting ifelt convinced from outside reports that those gentlemen's opinions were notthe sentiments of the Ekeubiimi folk. The matter was eye'iiiiiallyjallowed toetand Jvtfr. ' Tim treasurer reported -having reUlved tbat'diy' tbiinu'ibEJs3l IBs from the canvass'er. :, ' .

; Aa, inttomtioo bwiog' Ww jiffy

f ■:- ■ i!,..,'L r.-4 \ ' that MrPrico would tab a photo ol tho procession was received ttith thanks, Tho Secretary's notion in ordering fifty copies of tho N.Z, Anthem for uso of Philharmonic Society and Jubilee choir was endorsed. It was decided to provide a luncheon, the names of those willing to take tickets to bo seat to tlir Secretary. , ■,.• ■ . .'.• • J. ■.- The Coraraittco resolved to keep the gates, and tho following wero appointed ii committee to look niter same:—Messrs Bimber, Jackson, (}. 41 and A.. Spackman, E. Garmtt, W. \ ' Darlay, poster, T. Collier, T. CrDSswoll/jTSillars, H. Bentleyand T.Lett. It was decided to sell the right of advertising on the gate tickets. It was an instruction .to the Secretary to ask sohool leaders to assist tho marshalls in keeping the children in order during the procession. Messrs L. J. Hooper, Z. M. Hoar, and R, E. Horn Mow were appointed a coiumitteo to procure prizes for tho children. The duties of tlia Sub-t'omuii'tees ► were allotted as follows :-Judgei: ■ Messrs Care/, Latt, Darley, 11, Hounslow, F. Gray, and W. Porry. Hnndicappcrs: Messrs C. Ewington and J, Hooper. Starters: Mns-ra ISlkins, Oresswoll, Qarrait, Hooper mid Phillip's. Ground (Joimnitlue: Tho whole of iho Sports Committee, Hfl.id Mnrshall on tho Sports ground : Mr L, J, Hooper. Tim ralieiin" then adjourned till Monday nighi.