CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 815, 12 May 1910, Page 3

CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES.

COTJETENAY PLACE CONGEEGA-. TIONAL; The anniversary of the Courtenay Place Congregational Church was celebrated yesterday by means of- a well-attended tea-meeting and a subsequent gathering in the church.

The pastor (Rev. Macdonald Aspland) presided at the evening meeting, and was supported by several other . ministers. The Rev J. Peterson (Presbyterian) led in prayer. The annual report and balance-sheet, which had already been summarised in The Dominion, were read by Mr. G. B. Gregory (secretary) and Mr. T. Forsyth (treasurer) respectively, and were adopted. The' Eev. J. Crewes, in a short address,. spoke ■of the deeper unity among the different churches, and mentioned tho death of the Eev. Dr. M'Laren, and the honour in which he was held by all Christians. Ho also referred to the death of King Edward VII, and the sorrow of the widowed Queen, whom he regarded as a great prayer-leader. , .The-;Eev. M. B; Harris, of.Alicetowri," congratulated , the church; upon the successful year just closed. He spoke also of. the principles and characteristics of Congregationalism. ' The Kev. W. A. Evans also congratulated the church on the progress, shown in the annual report. 'He warmly praised the enthusiasm for their' church, which he had noticed as a special characteristic of: the members of the Courtenay Place congregation. The K<jy. J. : Kennedy Elliott (Presbyterian) said that Wellington was a difficult field of labour; he did not know the reason, but ministers generally found it so; He was, therefore, all tho more pleased to stand beside a minister who might bo said to be fighting in anotheT regiment but for the same end, and he was glad of any prosperity that God gave to. the Courtenay Placo Church. The pastor thanked the organist (Mr. T. Porsyth), the choir, and other helpers for their. assistance during the yea;. He also thanked the press for attention to the affairs of the church. The following are the officers for the ensuing year, as elected at a previous meeting:—Deacons, Messrs. C. Coote, T. Forsyth, G. B. Gregory, A. Gray, A. M. Lewis, J. C. Port, T. E. B-eynolds; secretary, Mr. G. B. Gregory; treasurer, Mr. T. Forsyth. THOENDON METHODIST CHUECH. A concert was held in the Thornddn Methodist Church, Molesworth Street, last night to celebrate tho thirty-seventh anniversary of the establishment of the church. At the annual meeting which preceded the concert the Rev. Mr. Fee presided. The report . made mention of tho good which would result, owing to the merging of the Kaiwarra. and Thorndon churches into one circuit. Reference, was also made to the starting of the Con- ' t nexional paper styled the "New Zealand 'lUethodist Times." A very satisfactory position was disclosed in the balancesheet. Tho items in regard to the conc.ert were given'solely by Madame Mueller and her. pupils. Miss Tomlinson acted as accompanist.' There was a splendid attendance.