PONSONBY BAPTIST CHURCH SOIREE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 214, 9 September 1891, Page 5

PONSONBY BAPTIST CHURCH SOIREE.

The congregation and friends of the Ponsonby Baptist Church bad a most successful anniversary last evening. At half-past six, tea was served up in the schoolroom, to which close on 200 sat down, the tables being presided over by Mesdanses Gilmore, 8011, Henderson, Finer, Fear, J. Graham, E, Turley, J, iiigelow, and Miss Imbush. After tea, an adjourtuueiib was made to the church, when the public meeting took place. The Rev. J. D. Gilmore presided. Mr J. Graham (the secretary) read the eleventh annual report and balance-sheet. The report stated'that during the year 15 had been received into fellowship, 9 by baptism and 6 by transfer, and there were now 100 members in good standing on the church roll. A sale of work in October last realised £30, and through the exertions of friends another £50 had been paid o!Y the church debt, which now stood at £500, afc the reduced rate of 6 per cent. The church had also > been re - painted at a cost of £30, raised by subscriptions and Sunday collections, and a, sum of £10 0s 9d was also collected and handed to the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Societj. The church evangelistic- services held in June last, and conducted by the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon, were well attended, and over 50 professed to have received the Lord Jesus. A Society of Christian Endeavour, to promote an earnest life among members, had been formed, with Mr Graham as leader, and numbered 40 members, who have performed missionary work, tract distributing, and assisting: the sick and poor of the district. The Sunday-school roll numbers 248 scholars, the average attendance being 178. The Band of Hope was in a flourishing state, and tho Wednesday night prayer mooting had been well attended, while the ladies' sewing meeting had helped to reduce the church debt. The report also uontiuned tnanks co Mr Ens-land, the organist, and the choir. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to ba £4lil 17s 3-id, and there was a balance in hand of £7 4s bh'L During the evening addresses wore given by Pastor Gilmore on "Christian Life';" Itev. J. Guy, "Christian Living;" Rev. J. Walter, "A Word of Cheer;" Itev. T. Spurgeon, "Doing Good," and the Rev. T. l< 1 . Robertson, "Church Unity."