CAVERSHAM BAPTISTS

Evening Star, Issue 15916, 23 September 1915, Page 8

CAVERSHAM BAPTISTS

The anniversary meeting in connection with the Caversham Baptist Church was held last evening, the Rev, C. Dallaston (pastor) presiding over a good attendance. The proceedings were of a bright and cheerful character.

At the outset ■ the Rev. Mr Dallaston mentioned that eight friends had sent sons to th© war. Two had been killed and two wounded. He referred to the constant anxiety of people having relatives at the front, and expressed the hope that God would protect them while fighting in a righteous cause. The annual report stated that the active membership roll stood at 146, together ■with seven non-resident members. The gain was by, baptism three and transfer seven, ■while the losses were by death four, revision. of roll two, and two had left the Domimon. Death again bulked largely in their _ losses, and links binding them with Baptist pioneer days in Caversham had been severed, two veteran members in Messrs _ Jaimes Todd and Charles Clark answering the call to higher duty. The church work during the year had progressed smoothly, the attendance at Sunday services, especially in the evening, being well maintained, while the interest in and attendance at the midweek prayer meeting had also been satisfactory. It was a matter for regret that the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor was at present closed down. However, they hoped that that important branch of the work would soon be recommenced, and definite steps taken to keep the young people in closer touch with the church and its work. But the problem was twosided. It was an important work, and they had need of young people to fill up the gaps in the ranks of the church. An organisation that worked quietly but efficiently was their branch of the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union. Special mention might be made of the efforts of some of the lady members and friends in connection with the West Ham Mission, upwards of some 800 garments, including 200 new!y-made-up, having been collected recently and sent to the mission. The choir had rendered faithful assistance. A much-needed and appreciated improvement had been effected recently in the lighting of the church and premises. The financial side of the church work gave deep cause for thankfulness, realising, as they did, the urgency of the calls in these times of stress for money for the patriotic and relief funds. An especially pleasing feature was that the foreign missions fund had not been allowed to suffer. A new branch of service had come into force, members and friends having contributed £22 12s 6d in aid of the Baptist Orphanage.

The Rev. R, S. Gray delivered a brief but interesting address upon the unknown and often unconsidered workers in the churches, and the importance of the atmosphere created by such workers, instancing the numerous cases in the life of Jesus Christ where the greatest services rendered to him were often by people whose names were not known. He instanced this from other departments of service and from the heroic deeds upon the_ battlefields at the present time. The obligation of every member of the church was to accept his or her full share for the work committed to them by Christ. Short addresses of greeting were also delivered by Rev. J. Carlisle (North-east Valley) and Pastor R. Robertson (Mornington).

A capital programme of entertainment was submitted, recitations being given by Misses Doreen Todd and Mazengarb, and solos by Misses Iris Griffiths, Aslin, and Nlr H. E. Clark; while the choir, under Mr C. Clark, rendered _ several anthems pleasingly. Their singing was, indeed, quite a feature of the meeting. The anniversary tea., held earlier in the evening, was most enjoyable.