THE WESLEY CHURCH.

Evening Post, Volume XXIII, Issue 62, 16 March 1882, Page 2

THE WESLEY CHURCH.

♦ , . The annual soirie in connection with the Wesley Churoh, Taranaki-street, which was held last evening, was numerously attended, and passed off with the utmost success. It was followed by a public meeting, hold in the Church, at which the Eev. W. Kirk, the pastor, presided. Mr. J. Watt, secretary, read the annual report and balance-sheet. The former referred to the serious and protracted illness of the Eev. R. Bavin, who succeeds the Rev. W. Kirk as the Superintendent Minister, and who had now been restored to health and activity. Reference was also made to the sense of the indebtedness felt by the Church to the Home Missionary Committee in sending the Rev. Mr. Griffiths as a supply, free of all expense to the Church, whose services were kindly remembered. During the first three quarters of the year the Churoh lost a large number both of members and hearers by removals to other localities. This loss had, however, been more than made up by additions to the Church. At the olose of this quarter there would bo a considerably larger number of churoh members than was on the roll last year. Mrs. Hampson's mission had been of great benefit to thiß Church. The class meetings were well attended. The pecuniary difficulties of the Church had been greatly relieved by the sale of the larger portion of of the old church site in Manners- street. Whilo the debt resting on the Taranakistreet, the Manners street, and the Terrace properties is about the same as last year (.£9400), there were rente, &0., which would pay the interest on .£6OOO. It was hoped soon to sell the balanca of the Mannersstreet property, as also the Terrace parsonage, by which tales, after having erected a parsonage on this site, the church debt would be reduced practically to .£2OOO, and the Bchoolroom wonld be opened without any additional burden to the trust. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed a balance in hand of £24, 83 7d, the former being .£Bl2 lla 6d and the latter .£783 2s lid. In addition to this? the following amounts, among others, were specially raised -.—Circuit collections. .£466 4s 5d ; class moneyß, .£7l 53 6d ; ladies' sewing meeting, 15a ; lecture by Hey. W - J 'Jf^ ia^ £5 18a 9d 5 collections for Poor Fund, £20 2i 9 j ; home missions, j£6s 23 2d ; foreign missions, £7 9a 2d ; Education Fund, .£10; Tararoa Relief Fund, .£73 17s; Educational Congress Fund, £7 sa; Sunday School anniversary, J3BO 16s 6d ' proceeds of bazaar, .£570 ; total, .£2241 7 a 9d. The trustees expressed their warmest appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. W. R. Waters and thoße associated with him in the choir. Under the efficient care of Mr. Tiller and a large body of Sunday School teachers, the Sunday School was vigorous and active. In conclusion, the trustees alluded to the untiring and devoted energies of the Rev. Mr. Kirk, who was on the eve of departure. Appropriate addresses were then delivered by various speakers, including the Revs. R. Bavin, W. Cannell, W. H. West, and others ; and during the evening the choir sang several anthems in a most pleasing manner.

"Why ate Beads, when planted, like gateposts? Because they are planted in the earth to propagate.