GRAFTON ROAD WESLEYAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7695, 21 July 1886, Page 3

GRAFTON ROAD WESLEYAN CHURCH.

SOIREE AND PUBLIC MEETING. La t night a tea and public meeting were held in connection with the anniversary services of the Grafton Road Wesleyan Church. The tea was held in the schoolroom, and was largely attended. The following ladies gave and presided at trays;—Mesdames Bavin, John Burton, Clark, Garrett, Gooseman, H. H. Lawry, J. Lawry, Holdsworth, Rose, W. B. White, and J. L. Wilson, Mesdamts C. F. Buddie, Stone, F. A. White, Bartlett, Wayte, Bailey, Neal, Jones, and Meachem also contributed. The bachelors' table was presided over by Misses Mears, Froude, and Ormiaton. The public meeting was held in the church, and was presided over by the Rev. R. Bavin. The proceedings were commenced with singing and prayer, and Mr. White then read the report of the trustees for the year ending June, 1886, from which it appeared that they had been able to hold on their way without further debt, in spite of extra expenses in church and school buildings. Their total indebtedness was £900, against which there were promises amounting to over £100 During the year the alterations and additions to the schoolroom had been completed at a total cost of £230, and the new accommodation made very comfortable and convenient provision for their churoh work. The number of sittings let was 275, showing a considerable increase during the year. The attendance at their Sabbath services had shown a marked increase, and there had been a cheering improvement in the week night services. The society classes had increased in number and interest, and also the number of scholars in the books of the Sabbath-school, The Band of Hope had done good service, and the service of song had been continued to be led by Mr, W. E. White, Mr. J. White presiding at the organ, their work being entirely one of love. Very gratifying results had been reaped during the mission services held recently under the Rev. J. S. Smalley, Mrs. Smalley, and Mrs. Donald. The financial statement read by Mr. Froude showed receipts for trust collections, £43 4s 4d ; pew rents, £101 18s ; subscriptions and donations, £225 10s; Sabbath - school Easter tree and sale of work, £28 8s fid; tea-meeting after opening, £41 18s 8d; sundries, £3. Among the chief items of expenditure were architect's commission, £127 7s 6d ; contractors for ohurch £710 5s 6d, and school vestries £202 Os 3d. The Rev, R. Bavin said they had every reason to be gratified at the reports, and at the excellent gathering at that their first anniversary m the new charch. He believed in completeness and convenience, though not in size, they had a church hardly equalled in New Zealand. With a membership of about 175, they had not had a single death during the year.- He was gratified for his period of pastorship having been extended for a year. It was thought he might have had to go to Sydney, and though about four months of the year had expired he was grateful now, especially after very recent experiences, to be at Grafton Road, and not in Sydney. He nrged members not to let the attendance fluctuate by giving way to the disease called "itching ears," and to do their utmost to build up a powerful Churoh at Grafton Road. Alluding to the financial statement, he said that did not represent all their income, and he mentioned other items from circuit fund, contributions for home and foreign missions, poor fund, etc., which brought up the amount to £950, for which they were thankful. The Rev. C, H. Garland gave an address on " Singing in the Sanctmry," tracing its growth from early Christian times, and giving amusing examples of hymns once used in the Church. He urged all their members to learn to sing by note. The Rev, C. Worboys spoke on the subject of " A working Church " enforcing the need of earnest work to keep up the life of the Church and its members. Sir William Fox spoke on " Some much needed moral reforms," dwelling especially on the drink question and the duty of Christian churches in helping on temperance reform. The Rev. J. S. Hill then addressed the meeting on subjects of his own choosing, which he called " A medley," introducing a number ef topics, and drawing from natural objects lessons for moral and religions application. Mr. R. Neal expressed the thanks of the trustees to those who had helped to make the meeting so successful— ladies who had presided over tables, the speakers, the choir, and the Press. The chairman said he was sure they would heartily aooord their rote by acclamation. The meeting terminated with the benediction. A selection of music was excellently rendered by the choir in the course of the evening.