KEW METHODIST CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 14575, 25 May 1911, Page 2

KEW METHODIST CHURCH.

9 The thirty-fifth anniversary of tho Kew Primitive Methodist Church w;is celebrated in the church last evening, when there was. a large attendance of the congregation. A tea meeting was held in the Sunday school hall adjoining, after which an adjournment w;i6 made to the church, where the annual meeting took place. Mr T. .11. Dalton presided. The choir contributed a number of anthems, and solos were given by Miss Palmer and -Mr Benton. Part songs were also given. The Chairman, in his remarks, said that the tea meeting had been one of the most successful they had had. Proceeding, he stud that they'had noticed the wordliness of the Sabbath." They saw people driving out in motor cats and picnicking on the Lord's Day. They also saw people going out on the harbor'desecrating the Sabbath Day. They were thankful to say that the doors of their church ever stood open as a protest against tliat kind of thing. They were told that Dunedin was the most religious centre in the Dominion. Well, if Dunedin wore the best, he did not know which was the worst one. They were thankful that the Church had prospered during the year, j Tho Rev. G. Knowles Smith, in an address, said that there, were many tilings that thev had to congratulate themselves on in their church life, but it seemed to him that there was just one thing lacking. Thev wanted something that would set them on fire. What their young people wanted was something that would lire their enthusiasm. The .Rev. K. Drake (pastor) said that the membership when he came to the church a littlo over twelve months ago w;>s 90. and it now stood at 101. The Sunday school had 113 scholars and 15 teachers. 'lhero were two Bible classes, with a membership of about twenty, and a Christian Endeavor Society (junior and senior). There was also a Literary and DcbatingSooiety. which promised to do great work in the days to come. The total increase from all source-, dining the year was £294 8s sd. _For church purposes they wanted about £33 a vear to finance themselves. They ought to see their way clear to meet all financial obligations as soon as they arrived. He had a strong feeling that every church ought to do that. No church ought to exist unices it could pay its way. He felt sure that thev could see their way to make their church'pay its way in every department. The Rev. E. Bandy also gave an address. A presentation of eight volumes of Devotional Commentary was made by the junior choir to their choirmaster (Mr J. Davidson).