BAPTIST CHURCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22439, 20 September 1947, Page 4

BAPTIST CHURCH

MEMBERS PLEASED PAST YEAR’S ACTIVITIES Forty members attended the annual meeting of the Gisborne Baptist Church congregation, held on Wednesday evening with Mr. P. Williams presiding. Members considered the progress ot church affairs satisfactory, the spiritual and material sides being both in strong condition. The annual report gave prominence to the resignation of the Rev. E. M. Enright, former minister of the Tabernacle, to take up work with the British Syrian Minister, and the unanimous call extended to the Rev. A. L. Silcock to take up the ministry in the Gisborne circuit. Membership last year numbered 184, and changes in the meantime had included five transfers to other districts despite which a net gain of 11 had been made, the present membership being 195. During the year members had heard 19 visiting preachers. The financial report submitted by the hon. treasurer, Mr. H. J. Dunstan, showed a large increase in voluntary giving, the various accounts being in a healthy condition. A total of £lßl7 16s 4d had been received from all sources, and expenses had amounted to £1552 7s 2d, leaving a surplus for the year of £265 9s 2d. Voluntary offerings for food parcels for Britain amounted to £lO3, from which the purchase of 122 parcels had been financed to date. Officers For Ensuing Year Officers were appointed as under: Minister, Rev. A. L. Silcock; hon. secretary, Mr. L. W. Markie; hon. treasurer. Mr. H. J Dunstan; hon. auditors, Messrs. W. R. Kemp and E. Dudley; Baptist reporter, Mr. E. Dudley; Baptist agent, Mr. P. Sargisson; missionary box agent, Mrs. P. Williams; Manurewa Home birthday agent, Miss B. Simpson; communion stewardesses, Mrs. Dunstan and Miss E. Simpson; baptismal stewards, Messrs. P. Schvvabe and J. W. Springgay; envelope stewards, Messrs. H. J. Dunstan and C. Goldsmith; property committee, Messrs. I. Crawshaw, L, Paine, P. Schwabe, F. Crosby, and Mrs. E. M. Laskey; manse committee, Mrs. C. Goldsmith and Mi". I. Crawshaw; deaconesses, Mesdames T. Smellie, S. C. Clare, L. W. Markie, C. Goldsmith. E. R. I-lambly, J. Whiteley and A. L. Silcock, the last-named being ex officio; social convener, Mrs. E. M. Laskey; flower committee convener, Mrs. N. Harries; hospital visitors, Mrs. J. Mackintosh and Mr. N. Watson. Votes of thanks were tendered to all who had helped with the work of the church and its auxiliaries during the oast year. Greetings were received from the Rev. E. M. and Mrs. Enright, and from the secretary of the central auxiliary.