FREE UNION CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 141, 16 June 1891, Page 8

FREE UNION CHURCH.

Our readers will remember that a ehorb time ago a split took place ab the Tabernacle owing to the treatment Paetor Birch received at the hands of a section of the church. The eeceders have formed a church under the above title, and from the progrese it has made it appears to have the sympathy of the general public. In the book of rules it states that the church is one where Christians of every denomination er creed may meet together in Union for the worehip of God, where •'• believers, baptism " by immersion is not made a tesb of membership, bub where it is only recognised or taught as the privilege of every Christian to follow their Saviour as nearly as possible in every particular, and where it is only administered to those who may feel called upon as a matter of obedience to comply with this sacred rite, and then only at their own personal request. The officers have secured the lease of the old JBaptist Chapel in Wellesley-street for a term of three years upon favourable conditions. They have, * however, to put it into thorough repair, and in doing this they are expending nearly £200. The repaire include a new iron roof, and entire renovation throughout. More than half of this money has already been subscribed, and subscriptions are still being sent in. At present the church consists of some 180 members. A Sunday-school has also been established, and about 150 scholars meet every Sunday for religious instruction. Among the auxiliary agencies is a gymnasium for the use of the elder scholars. The services are well attended, the building on Sunday evenings being sometimes crowded. A church meeting was held last evening for the purpose of electing officers for the enauine year. The ballot resulted as follows—Messrs Herapath, Woodham, Fry, Sfcone, Coad, Petty, Firth, Bigelow, and Clemens. A committee of ten members was also elected, to approve or otherwise of all matters of church business done by the deacons. Mr C. B. Stone is acting in the capacity of treasurer. The officers of the Sunday■chool have arranged for a monthly entertainment in aid of the Sunday - school funds; the fire* is to be held on Wednesday, and it is anticipated that the schoolroom will be full. It is singularly" appropriate thab the seceders should have taken the building which many of, them worshipped in for orer thirty years.