QUARTER BOARD MEETING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 4 January 1918, Page 7

QUARTER BOARD MEETING.

A meeting of the quarter board was held in Wesley Hall last night. There was a record attendance. The Rev. E. 0. Blamires presided. The adult membership of the church was returned as 305. The balance-sheet was presented and adopted. The chairman reported that the church had had a most successful year all through the Dominion, the £10,000 aimed at for Foreign Missions being over-subscribed, and during the present year Conference was being recommended to aim higher still and endeavor to raise £15,000 for Foreign Missions and " £12,500 for Home Missions. A good start had already been made by an Auckland member, who had donated £1000 to each fund. Harvest" thanksgiving services will be held during the quarter throughout the circuit, March 17 being chosen as the date for Hawera, and a strong local committee was set up to arrange for the Hawera services oil that clay. Country congregations will make their own arrangements.

It was decided to hand over the Methodist Magazine to Mr A. H. Hodge as manager, and the hope was expressed that Methodists would still support the magazine. The thanks of the meeting were given to Misses Beaurepaire and D. Bates and Messrs Bates and Allen for their work in connection with the magazine in the past.

It was resolved to endeavor to arrange a concert for the Deaconess' Fund.

Reports from the juvenile societies and Sunday schools were most encouraging. Hawera Sunday school reported that one of its scholars had won the Robert Raikes diploma for eight years in succession. The school showed an increase of 21 for the year.

The following delegates were appointed to attend Conference: Messrs E. Dixon and 11. L. Hutchens; substitutes, Mr W. Badcock and Sister Nellie.

Mr E. Dixon vacated the position of circuit steward after 20 years of faithful work. A deep feeling pervaded the meeting as expressions of gratitude and appreciation were made. It was stated that Methodism had. never been more faithfully or loyally served than it had been in Hawera during the past 20 years by Mr Dixon, and every member of the church recognised the great debt that the church owes to him. Mr L. S. Barraclough was appointed senior steward and Mr R. L. Hutchens junior steward for the next 12 months.

It was decided to hold a service on Good Friday night.

The following motion was passed, to which the attention of all Methodists is specially called: "That the patriotism of our people be shown on Sunday next by attendance at the church services in connection with the King's command for special prayers on behalf of our soldiers, sailors and nation." Mr Blamires pronounced the Benediction, and the meeting "adjourned.