PONSONBY BAPTIST CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 1 September 1886, Page 2

PONSONBY BAPTIST CHURCH.

Tin: anniversary of this Church was celebrated last night by the customary soiree, whicli was largely attended. Tho tables wore sot out in the schoolroom, and wero presided over by Mesdarnes May, A, O. Knight, Patterson! Kountreo, Adams, G. W. Owen, Foar, J. Brown, Duncan, Turlcy, Rhodes, Jackson, G. W. Jones, H. .lames Wright, Ward, Miss Bigoiow. After tea the public meoting was hsld in the church, the pastor (Rev. J. Hughes Jonos) acting as Chairman. Mr Mays (sec,) read the sixth annual roporfc, which was 01 an encouraging character. It recounted the steps that had led up to the erection of the now church, und showed that during the year ]3 persons hud joined the coDgrogation, thuH bringing up the membership to oS. The choir, under Mr Charles Abbott (Miss Emma Bigelow, organist) had greatly increased in numbers and proficiency. During tho winter a sories of oxcollontlecttircs was delivered by various clergymen. Tho Sabbath school, under the superintendence of Mr J. S. Bigelow, was nourishing, and had 200 scholars,' with 22 teachers. The Band of Hope, under the superintendence of Mr Oliver Crafts, numbered 50. The Treasurer (Mr G. W. Owen) then read the statement of accounts, which showed that there was a debit balance of £6 5s 8d at the commencement of the firaieial year. Tho receipts for the year amounted to £238 4s 4d, and the expenditure £234 5s 7d, leaving a debit balance of £2 6s lid, while there had been collected outside of church expenditure £450, and the whole debt upon the church had been brought down [to £600. Interesting addresses were delivered by Pastor Bray (Mount Eden .Baptist), the Rev. D. W. Runciman (St. Stephen's Presbyterian), and Mr R. B. Shalders. The Chairman, in the course of somo concluding vemarkr, oxhoited the Church to further evangelistic effort, as the district contained S,OOO of a population, only about one-fourth of whom attended any place of worship. During tho ovoning the choir sang with good elfoct several hymns, and the proceedings closed with tho bonodiction by the Chairman.