ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7693, 19 July 1886, Page 11

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The annual soiree of the Newton Congregational Church took place on July 6 in the church. There was a large attendance, over 200 people partaking of the very excel* lent tea, the trays for which were provided by Mesdames Wood, Adams, Hoskins, Service, Ellyett, Lee, Smeeton, Bergin, Redfera, J. Lee, J. Howe, Rowe, and Misses Forth, Gash, Rowe, F. Hoskins. At the public meeting, the Rev. T. Adams, the pastor of the church, presided, and he and the Revs. J. S. Hill and W. J. L, Closs gave most interesting and practical addresses, which were listened to with marked attention. Mr. Wood, th« secretary, read the annual report, which showed the church to be in a most flourishing condition, whilst the Sunday-school and tract services were also very satisfactory. The treasurer, Mr. F. Rowe, read the balance-sheet, which stated that the receipts for the past year amounted to £302 2s 7d, and the expenditure, calculating outstanding debts, to £304 4s 7d. The Sunday-school fund showed a credit balance of £42. The proceeds of the night's soiree were expected to enable the church to commence the new year with a small balance in hand. The choir of the church rendered a number of ooal selections in a praiseworthy style. It transpired at a meeting of St. Benedict's congregation that the nett proceeds of the recent fancy fair amounted to rather more than £610, the gross receipts being £900, but it is expected that the amount will be augmented by sums which have yet to be received. The debt on the ohurch now stands at £2600, On Saturday, July 3, the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new church of the Epiphany, about to be erected in Karangahape Road, was performed by the Right Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, in the presence of a numerous gathering of pectators. On the evening of the 15th July the annual meeting of the Auckland Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the Baptist Tabernacle. The Ven. Archdeacon Maunsell occupied the chair. The Rev. H. H. Lawry (hon. secretary) read the annual report, which showed that the local sales daring the past year had been 5520, against 5243 last year. The value of copies sold was £414 12s Bd. The free grants, 280 in number, chiefly to Sundayschools, are not included in the above statement. The first consignment of 1000 Tongau Bibles had been received from the parent society, and was at once sent to the Friendly Islands. The colporteur (Mr. Long) had been doing good work in the dintrict to the northward of Auckland. The balance-sheet showed a total income of £1115 10s from all sources, and the expenditure left a credit balance of £8 8s 2d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Among the speakers were the Rev. C. Worboys, Mr. Trotter, the Hon. Mr. Waldegrave, and Mr. F. Battley. The last-named gentleman proposed, " That the thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby presented, to our highly esteemed chairman for presiding on the present occasion ; to the members of the Maori Bible Revision Committee; to the committee and officers of this auxiliary and its branches, and especially to the collectors for their efforts in aid of the objects of this society, and to the choir to-night." Mr. Battley paid a high compliment to the chairman for the labour he was taking in revising the Maori translation of the Bible, so that the Maoris would have the word of God as nearly as possible a literal translation. The motion was passed unanimously, and a collection was then taken up, which amounted to £15. The Baptist Mutual Improvement Society held their half-yearly meeting on the 13th July at the labernacle. There was » good attendance. The officers for the ensuing session were elected :—President, Pastor T. Spurgeon; vice ■ presidents, Professor Aldis, Messrs. E. Bell, and F. A. Cleveland; editor of journal, Mr. M, Aldis.