PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4069, 22 March 1892, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

3 .. 'Tic anniversary l The anniversary tea in connection 1 with the Masterton Presbyterian Church wag held last evening, About ' two hundred persons sat down to one 3 of those excellent repasts which Pres-. j byterians know so well how to provide, I and did the fullest justice to the cakes, pastry, etc, which were in abundance.' The tables were presided over by the followingladies: Meedanjea ' Wood and G. Johnston, and the • Misses J, Munro, Barron, A. Feist, L, J MoGregor, J, McGregor and Sago, » PUBLIC MEETING. : ! .'A public meeting ;was held after | tea, at which there was a crowded attendance. The'chair was ocoupied. by the Bev E. Wood, who oalled t upon Mr E. Feist to read, the report , and balance sheet., ( Mr Feist then read the report and, , balance sheet, which showed receipts ' for the year amounting to £441;16s . Bd, and expenditure £4ll 17s; 7d, 1 leaving a credit balance of 19s Id, He expressed the gratitude of himself and his fellow officers of the Church at their having at last obtained what for so,many years they had been striving for--a credit balance, (Applause), He hoped that in future ih'ey would bo able to meet their liabilities as they became due, The report shewed that the Sabbath offerings ; had iqoreasad during the year by 12812s 4d. The congregations at both morn«i ing and evening services bad been very encouraging. Seventeen addi» : tions to the membership of the Church, had been made during the year, 'and the, membership roll was now 113,' Still,'further additions to' the'church • Would be asoufcSof joy. Tha pecuniary 1 assistance received; from' Dreyerton ] had greatly improved during the pjjst" '■ year. The managers of the Church i proposed .ereptingvestibule add 5: classroom as soon .as. possible,- The. .j condition of the Church showed that i t|eseryijies oftheir paotor.rwere recog-. i nised and appreciated. (Applause), ' The .services, rendered.by Mrs Wood ' to the Young Women's Bible Cjasa j andotheribrahches of:Qhristian work j were recognised," and it' was stated 1 thatjihe.Ohurch altogether was in a I flourishingcondition, Jir'Feist,.be- 1 t

the adoptipn- of the report and balance Sheet. , vS\' ; ■ . Mr Duncan M'Qregor, in seconding the motion, Congratulated the members of - the ; Church upon' their position, Circulars had been issued during the year to the congregation, stating that £IOB was required to dear the Church of debt. In response to this 'appeal the snm 0f.£117 had been subscribed. The officers of the Olinroh had only to ask for tho money and the congregation generously give it. This, he said, was how it should be. He referred in terms of flattery to the good work done by the Eev. Mr Wood and Mrs Wood,' to the conscientious and ..faithful .performance of the duties of Secretary and Treasurer by iirE. Feist, and'to the invaluable services rendered by Miss Fnist, the organist, .. ■ • " The resolution was then put and carried by acclamation/ The Rev. Mr Wood, in a brief but interesting address, acknowledged the good work performed by his cong'regation,and particularly by the Ladies' ■Tract Distribution Society'. j ■ The Eev. J, Dukes, who was the nextspeaker, congratulated the Church upon its financial position j and said he was glad-to bo associated, with a' man who worked with the earnestness, vigor and ability of. the Kev/, Mr Wood.. There were three' things for which he admired Presbyterians, and those were their loyajty to'the Church, their reverence of the Bible, and their strict'obseivauce of.tbe Sabbath?, On the latter subject, .'be dwelt, at. some length, warning working men that desecration of. the Sabbath: would rob tberaiof their day of rost.';' ; ' r '' j ' Tho Rev, Mr ;Murray addressed the meeting on the subject of Christian liberality, and pointed oufc.to the congregation what was their duty ito the Church, , / .; ■ 1 The Eev. Mr Lymburn, of ' Martin., borough, followed with an impressive address oh family religion, ' saying that it was a healthy sigh .when religious devotions were conducted in ■the home. ' ■ Dunng the evening musical seleib tiona were rendered by the iohoir,:iti' which of late there has been a marked improvement. The usual votes-ipf thanks and Doxology terminated the. proceedings