BAPTIST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13665, 6 September 1916, Page 1

BAPTIST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING,

Tho celebration of the anniversary of the Baptist Church was concluded last night, when a tea 'and public meeting wore held. The tea was a very successful function, there being a large gathering, The tables, which were very tastefully decorated, were presided over by Mcsdames A. Smith, J. H. Cunningham, Nccklan, Ealph, Carrad, McFadgen, Lawrence. Smythe, Harvey, Picric, Horsfall, and Hill, and Misses Milligan, and Bond, The public meeting was largely attended. The Rev. G. H. Lawrence, 8.D., preside, and after opening exercises in which the Eev. A. Lawrence led in prayer, stated that apologies for absence had been received from the Eev. J. A. Lochorc and Rev. J. L, Robinson. Those present on the rostrum included the Eev. J. J. North, Rev. S. F. Hunter, M.A., 8.D., Rev. A. Lawrence, Mr T. J. Bull, Mr E, Milligan, and Mr B. Billing. The secretary (Mr E, Milligan) presented a summary of the 'annual.rCport, which stated that the report was the thirty-third annual report. The membership was stated to be 12,'!. There had been eighteen additions anil live losses, making a total increase of thirteen during the year. Dealing with the finances of the church the secretary stated that the total receipts for the year had beei-£447. Of that amount £250 had been contributed through the ordinary Sunday collections. Whilst those collections were very good, the secretary statcd\that to relieve the officials of financial anxiety there should be a regular weekly contribution of about £5, and he hoped that during the coming year the church would raise its collections to that sum. For the New Zealand Baptist Church's missionary work in India the sum of £l(i!» had been subscribed. In connection with that collection, Mr Milligan paid a warm tribute to the efficient organisation and the enthusiasm of Miss York, who had superintended the collection of the money. The sum of £2O. had been contributed for the Home Mission /and Student work. For the manse working account £4O had been raised. The secretary stated that the total debt on the whole of the church's property was £3u'o, while the 'assets were valued at £2500. There had been a deficit of £ls on the general accouut for the year, and it was hoped that that and at least part of the debt on the property would be paid off during the coming year. Mr B. Billiug, whom the chairman referred to as the church's centurian, said he regarded anniversaries as times for spiritual stock-taking—times for reviewing what had been done and what had been left undone, Such occasions should also inspire deeper and stronger resolutions of deveotion to tho chief work of the church;' Such work would' necessitate real sacrifice if the war against sin was to be waged to a successful issue. In that work there was a part for all, and whether men had many talents or few, 'all were required to complete the task, , Mr T. J. Bull (Church of Christ) congratulated the church on the state of its finances, and urged members not to reduce contributions to the foreign mission work in order to build up the home mission fund, but to increase their givings to the latter fund. The consciousness of the war, Mr Bull said, was overshadowing every gathering held within the Empire, and those who could not go to the front were asking themselves 'what part they could take in (he great conflict. The spcakor took the text of a war-time song, "Keep the Home Fires Burning," which he said had been much in his miiid, and proceeded to give it a spiritual application. He made a plea for the upkeep of the family.altar, in order that wheu the men who had gone to the war came home they would find a deeper spiritual life than when they went away, Mr Bull said the invitation of Scripture was "to come boldly to the throne of grace," and though many men hesitated in the duty of family worship, any such cross taken up would bring abundant blessing. The Eev. J. J. North, after referring briefly to the references to the conduct of the war made by previous speakers, said there was a danger of forgetting domestic responsibilities, and stated that New Zealand had been betrayed by the National Government, which had for two years played the fool with every moral question. That Government had encouraged gambling, grovelled on its knees before the liquor party, and had pretended to deal with the question of social diseases in a my that had sickened every social reformed.. The Government had shuffled shamelessly. Referring to (lie work of the church, Mr North said that there was no man more detested than the .man who shuffled in religious matters, The people who were inclined to talk a lot about Heaven and do little to make the earth better were usually the people who paid more attention lo ceremonies than to anything else. Such a belief in ceremonials was largely crystallised in theEoman Church, which paid little attention to consciencious living so long as its ceremonies were rightly and consistently observed. What was required was a religious experience .which took hold of life and affected every act of conduct—a religion that would make life sweeter and happier, and the earth better for its iiilluence. -Mr North urged his hearers to translate their religious faith into active work.

Interspersed with the addresses were several musical it-cms, im-lwliug ;in ;i 111In*in liy tli« choir, vocal numbers by <Mr and Mrs U. L, Cooper, and a violin solo by Miss Kva Jones, Mrs Cooper and Miss Jones playing the accompaniments.

The chairman proposed a comprehensive vote of thanks to the speakers, the ladies who had provided and presided over tlie tea and to all who had assisted to make the anniversary a success, the vote being carried by acclanvation. The meeting closed with the singing of the Doxology and the pronouncing of the Benediction.