Social Gathering.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1773, 15 November 1883, Page 2

Social Gathering.

On Tuesday evening the members of the congiegation, with their friends, assembled at a soiree in the school-room of the Tabernacle. There was a largo attendance, and the tables, which weie bountifully provided, were given by the following ladies :—: — Mesdames Biook.s, Mt/.gerald, Morris, Hedgcock, Hill, Hougliton, and Mynott, After the good thing* of the sonee had been disposed of, the company adjourned to the main building. The platfoim wa,s Occupied l>y the Uov. A. J«'airbrothor (chairman), Messis Houghton. Hill, Monib and Shoal >1. Apologies were made for the absence of the Llevs. A. Cato and \V. 11. Woolley, who were unable to attend. The proceedings were opened with the hymn " All hail the power of Josii's name" after which the chairman engaged m prayer. The secretary, Mr Sho.ii d, was then called upon to read the annual report. .SECOND ANNUAL, HKl'OKf. The repot fc, which was a very intotesting one, stated :— " Last year we had no home of our own, but, by the blessing of God, we now worship in a beautiful house, built for His pi .use and glory, and for the comfort of all attendant--. Our earnest prayer is that many may love to tabernacle With us, and loccive much spiritual blowing. While, as a denomination we aie proud of the Baptist Tabernacle, yet we do not forget to feel grateful for Iving permitted to eiect such a commodious and well-adapted building. The opening services were held on Sunday, Apnl 2!) th, when .suimou.s weie preached 'in the inoining and evening by Mr Thomas Spurgoon, and m the evening by Mi Wm. Bam ford. There weie laige audiences both moining and afternoon, and in the evening the building was crowded. On the following Tuesday, May Ist, a •social soiree was held, when an excellent tea was piovided by seveial members of the ehuichand congregation, and theie Nvas a very laige attendance. A public meeting wih afterwards held, presided o\ er by Mr D. Whylock. Our membership has decieased, thete being now 30 names on the mil, against 3.S as reported last year. The loss isdiiefly caused by iemo\ais to a distance, and we feel that being for some months without a pastor (Mi Whytoek having left us in the beginning of May) laigely account's for theie being no additions. Om fnend and biothei, Mr Plill, has conducted services for us for another year, with groat acceptance. In July theie was a social sonee of the nieinbei.s of the Chinch and congiogation. Hoi vices aie held twice every Sunday in the Tabernacle, and once m the Mission Room, Cauilnidge West. The attendance doubtless suffeis foi want of a stated mnustei, but we believe that on tlie whole we ha\ c maintained our gtound. A ]>iayer moetiug is held at the Tabeinaclo every Thursday evening, and at the Mission Eooni, Cambudge West, on Tuesday e\cnmg. The attendance at the Tabeinaclo has mci eased, but we regret that this is not so at Cambridge West. Oui Sunday-schools aie still doing a good woik, and the attendance is giadually increasing. While doing the woik immediately connected with oui Chinch, many of our number h.i\e been actively engaged in the temperance ino\ oinent, and were instiumental in oiganising tlie Gospel Temperance and Blue .Ribbon Mission in Cambridge. The income of our Clnuch i-> laigely derived from the fieewill oifeungs of those attending its .services. The deacons would lespectfully solicit from eveiy attendant a regular contribution." Tho Treasurer, Mr Morns, then lead a statoment of accounts, which .showed an e\penditui c for tlie year of £103 8s (id. Against this there were receipts to the amount of £175 11s 7d, leaving a balance of £12 3s Id (curient account). The bank overdraft was -£205 17s Id. The actual cost of the Tabernacle was £(! ( )7 2s Sjl. The following programme was then gone through, the chairman's address being the most noticeable feature, his remarks, which were earnest and to the point, being based upon the motto "forward :" -Sacied song, "Remember now thy Creator," Miss Battley ; duet, Mrs Home and Miss Trewheellar; address, " Progress," Mr Hill ; sacied song, " Where is Heaven?" Mis l'\ H. Houghton ; add) ess, Mr Tiewheellar •, .sacred song, " Life for Evermore," Mr Y. Trewheellar ; addicss, " Sunday School Work," Mi Mou is ; s-icied song, " After," Miss Maine ; quaitette, "My Redeemei," Mr and Mrs Hedgcock, Miss Alice Johns, and MrShoaid. Heaity votes of thanks were accoided to thelliov. Mr Fairbrotlier, and the ladies and i gentlemen who had ho kindly assisted.