ST JOHN'S CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 21 May 1914, Page 7

ST JOHN'S CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. The annual meeting of the members of St. John's Church was held in the Sunday school/ Hardy-street, last evening, at which the Rev. W. Baumber presided. The meeting opened with a hymn and prayer.

The annual report was as follows: In presenting their report the trus tees are pleased to record that the attendance at divine service has been well maintained, and that- the applications for rev: sittings shows an increase over. the- previous year. They would place on rcco.,, uie elricient and faithful services, of the pastor, the Rev. W. Baumber, and p-ray that- ho may be upheld to still further serve the Church during the coming year. His preaching has been-, marked hv much vigour and earnestness, while his pastoral work has been accomplished to the satisfaction •and'! pleasure of all the members of the corj--gregation. The different in connection With the church are Working, efficiently, and an' increase has been shown in some cases, especially 'in the Sunday school. During the year a young men's Bible class has been fofriied under the leadership of Mr Warren, and is doing good work. ' The trustees rep-ret the removal of Mr Mourant from Nelson,' thereby rendering vacant the . fi'uperintendency of the Sunday school. During, his term he did much to ensure greater activity in school work. The church, is fortunate in securing the services of -Mr Nightingale as Mr Mour■ini's (successor. The trustees idesn'retc thank the ladies of the Sewing Guild for their care of the parsonage wants.l during the ' year ; ... also the conductor; and members of the choir, . and all. others for their willing services, so free.ly rendered. Especially would they thank all. those who worked so hard and long in,' connection with the sale of vvork, by which the handsome sum of £B9 16s was raised. The trustees report that the much-needed work of painting the church and parsonage has been done m a manner entirely satisfactory to the board. "The sum of £36 has been raised for the purpose of homo and foreign missions during the year. 7/or oome time the trustees have had under consideration a. scheme for the liquidation of. the whole of the debt on' the

church property, and it is with Faith- in tb" responsiveness of the memher- o 1 * the congregation that they now it- before them. The debt, which at £625. it is limped, will be entirely -wiped off in a short time. An amount has already been promised.' and the trustees rely' upon the effort? now being inaugurated to clear off for ever the debt -which for such a longtime has been a drawback to the work generally. The trustee's express their condolences with the family of the late Mr T. .H. Usher, -who for eo many years was a, member of the church, and at one . time actively engaged in- its -work. The trustees ' refer thankfully to the work of the Rev. Vallance Cook and Mrs Cook in the mission held by them in August laet, and, they are much indebted to them for the efforts then made, l-esulting in a greater interest being shown in "the church.. The thanks l of the trustees are given to Miss' Beth waite for her services in connection with the anniversary. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The chairman spoke a few -word? on General work of the church. The church, he said, was too large for the congregation, which, though, large, made it look small. Small "attendance had been recorded during the week-night services, but this, he re market!, was due to the busy people of Nelson, -who, working- so hard during the day, -went to the pictures in the evening. Referrinc to the proposal to clear off the debt on the church, •, the chairman explained that £625 was still owing, but he put the "debt at £650 to allow for interest for the present, venr. The proposal -was. *o make the church clear of debt in three years' time. Once the churn}, was out of debt it would be an easy matter to k.eec it e o. One of the trust*"vs had promised £IOO on condition tint the debt was paid off in five venrs from dafo. The ladies had nl=o decide? to continue the sales n'c work