BAPTIST ANNIVERSARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4121, 19 September 1883, Page 2

BAPTIST ANNIVERSARY.

TiiKKF. was a largo attendance at tho

twenty-eighth anniversary soiree in connection with tho Wellcsley-strcot Baptist Church held last evening. Tea was provided in the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, tho tables being presided over by the following ladies : —Mcsdames Brame, Batts, Bell, Chambers, Dewar, (laze, llolloway, Kelsey, Lambourno, Loverock, Philson, Pearson, J. W. Prime, Yeoman, and Misses Gaze and Wells. The subsequent meeting in the church was presided over by Air Thomas Spurgeon, pastor of tho congregation. Mr Scoring 1 1. Matthews read tne annual report, a precis of which was published in our last evening's issue. lho report was received with applause Mr Spurgeon, addressing tho meeting, said the statement that had just been read was a wonderful record of Cod's goodness, and whatever might be said of the work that had been done, it should be understood that they laid all the praise and glory at tho feet of their adorable Master. It was said of Alexander the Great that in a tit of generosity ho gavo to a poor schoolmaster a whole shipload of frankincense, tolling him tit the same time to burn it to the glory of God. lt seemed to him that all that year God had been sending them shiploads of frankincense, and that evory fresh mercy had been provocative of fresh praise. It was possible to be overjoyed ami to bo depressed with gladness, and he felt that he could not express his gratitude for the good done them. They might look upon the report ns giving them tho signs of tho times, and there were amongst them many hopeful signs. The speaker referred in turn to the Sabbath School work, the generosity of tho people, the missionary spirit shown, and other "signs," nnd then proceeded to refer to tho Tabernacle project. Ho said the Church was a generous one, and had given nobly to tho cause, but they wanted more yet. They wanted to open the new church free of debt; at least ho did, and ho might add that ho was not prepared to preach in it until it was free of debt. Many of them had doubtless heard a lot of rubbish talked about lotting posterity pay for it, but when posterity came, ho did not think they would caro much for having tho debts of their predecessors transferred to them. He, for one, did not feci disposed to havo his children (laughter) saddled with the debt, lie hoped to be with them three Sundays moro, and then ho hoped they would sco his back, Bnt ho trusted thoy would soon afterwards see him back. He believed he would succeed in arranging with Mr Cato, of Nelson, to supply during the greater part of his absence. Two Sundays would be unprovided for, and he would endeavour to get supply for these days also. Addresses were also delivered by Mr Woollcy, a recent arrival from England, Rev. S. Macfarlane, Rev. J, S. Hill, and Rev. C. Carter, On the motion of the Chairman, a vote of thanks was passed to tho ladies who presided at the tea-tables, and to the other workers who had assisted to make the anniversary a success.