THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 103, 4 May 1900, Page 2

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

ANMVKRSAKY CELEUKATION. For the first time in two years tin baptist Church cclebmL-1 ils anniversary on Wednesday last by a social gathering in the schoolroom. There was a <roo< attendance, and th<- Rev. R. S. Gray tin pastor, presided. Spools were deli revet Uy Sir Ciiay ana the Key. .7. Crump (\Vcs leynn), and reports were presented by Mi lilack (Secretary), Mr T. IVttit (Treasurer), Mr Thompson (Mutual Improve iiicnt Society), and Mesdames C'ooto, Dee and Kobertson (the Dorcas Society!, and leeitations were given by Miss V. C'ootc (- '1 ho TS'ew Church Organ") and Mr F CiilJen. The Secretary's report stated that ""ring tho past tivo years the career of the Church had been somewhat checkered From October, imis, till November, 1S!H»" the pastor was laid aside by ill-health out, thanks were expressed that he was now restored to his career of usefulness. Various friends and helpers came forward in the emergency, and to them the congregation were very grateful. Among those mentioned wero (lie Upv. ,1. Crump, the Rev. P. W. Isitt, Sir Jitdkius, Und especially Mv W Strong, of tho China Inland Mission I lie visit of the Christian Students' School was referred to It was stated that during the tivo years since last report :(l members had r been adrlpd to thp ol>uri:l|, -Si bcini: by baptism";' but 'thrbo had luen called q,\vay, (viz., Mr and Mis \\ lUon, the Kuv. Thos. Bray, (tho lato pastor], two hud boon transferred to nuirchci in other towns (Messrs 11, Kdndcre and I). Williams), and one had reiignod iJlih-i A. Ohvisiiap, now of the Salvation Army lkscue Work). The net increase in membership for the two year.-, «,-is i."., tho iiuinber now staudiii" at 107. Mr T. Humphries had conducted the choir, rendering valuable help for some time j but he had been compelled to give np the work owing to ill health. Towards tho Building Jb'und £S.H) U s had been subscribed by weekly contributions, to which must lie added £10 l>v penny weekly subscriptions, or £->i.) Us ■Id, an aveia-e of ,£1 5s 7d a week for the whole period. At present; the weel;l" subscriptions averaged i=l -is od T ''■ valuable v.-ork done by tho Mutual l '- luprovement Society and the liible Clns^ was acknowledged, and the failure of the efforts to secure the visit of an evangelist was regretted. The balance sheet showed that £li-> had been raised during the year • .»enerii account .£32(1 ; building f, m ,1," .£75 ■ Junior Kndeavourers £14 • «and of Hope' £b ■ Sunday school, f :«) : i-oinmunion ,uiid, tip (shillings and nenco emitted). 1 he debfotf tlip new church had been reduced to £4m from Jt-iaKi, and by the «m ™? ve Z 3ai 'y !t , sjionld be down to ■1400. Mr Strong had been paid £*■!■ as stipend tor five months while in Nekon I he report of the Dorcas Society showed that •>■> families had been rolioved, «aU that ;i lanjo iiun^ity pi pdi.,'f6fta'had been made toY tjiu A"c\v Zealand t r oon= andotliejs. I K The voporl of the Mutual Improvement fcoc.ety showed that there were :S5 members, with a library of no volumes Buripg the evening refreshments were handed round aud a very pleasant and profitable time was spent by all