RELIGIOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 214, 11 September 1886, Page 5

RELIGIOUS.

Rkv W. Macrae Secretary of Auckland Culedonian Society, has received an appointment in connection with the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales.

On September 6, the now Salvation Army barracks in Market Square, Christchurch, which cost £2,500, and will seat 1,800 persons, were opened by Commissioner Howard, from Australia. About 400 Salvationists from other parts of the colony, besides the local corps, were present, together with large crowds of the public.

The anniversary of the Ponsonby Baptist Church was celebrated on Wednesday, September 1 by the customary soiree, which was largely attended. The tables wore sot out in the schoolroom, and wore presided over by Mosdnmee May, A. O. Knight, Patterson, Kountree, Adams, G. W. Owen, Fear, J. G! Brown, Duncan, Turloy, Rhodes, Jackson, G. W. Jones, H. James Wright, Ward, Miss Bigolow, After tea tho public meeting was held in the church, the pastor (Key. J. Hughes Jonee) acting as Chairman. Mr Mays (soc.)read the sixth t>nnual report, which was of an encouraging character. It recounted the steps that had led up to the erection of the new church, and Bhowed that during the year 15 persons had joined the congregation, thus bringing up the membership to 88. The choir, under Mr Charles Abbott (Mies Emma Bigelow, organist) had greatly increased in numbers and proficiency. During the winter a series of excellentlectures was delivered by various clergymen. Tho Sabbath schoul, under the superintendence of Mr J. S. Bigelow. was flourishing, 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 tho 'titement of accounts, which showod that there was a debit balance of £6 5s 8d at the commencement of the financial year. The receipts for the year amounted to £238 4s 4d, and the expenditure £'234 5a 7d, leaving a debit balance of £2 6a lid, while there had been collected out-side of church expenditure £450, and the whole debt upon the church had been brought down to £600. Interesting addresses were delivered by Paator Bray (Mount Eden BaDtist), the Key. D. W. Runciman (St. Stephen's Presbyterian), and Mr K. B. Shalders. The Chairman, in the . course of some concluding remarks, exbotttd the Church to further evangelistic effort, as the district contained 8,000 cf a population, only about one-fourth of whom attended any place of worrhip. During the evening the choir sang with good effeafc several hymn.9, and tho proceedings closed with the b^odiqtion by the Chairman,