PITT STREET CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16039, 4 October 1915, Page 3

PITT STREET CHURCH.

v>" ~ —■—- ♦ —~-— ■ '-■ ANNIVERSARY SERVICES. STATE OF FINANCES.

The forty-ninth anniversary services of the Pitti Street Methodist Church, were held yesterday. r . There were large congregations. V'[ ',;.'. •■ -'■ "-""' The annual report of the church was presented to the congregations by the trustees. This stated flat a marked improvement had been shown in the attendances during the year. ,The number on tie; Sunday-school' roll was 309. Special attention was drawn to the state of the finances of the church. The trust account showed debit balance of £133. It was mentioned that the offertories had increased by r £loo over the total for the previous year. Electric light had been installed in the church, at ,a cost of £78. The mortgage on the , church property stood at £7600, and was steadily beins reduced., ;'r; ;:; ;* >; - ;";' <* '■ ,;, ■> '.- - 6 '• At the morning service the, Rev. J. M. Saunders, %of St. ? David's Presbyterian Camrch,:; occupied the pulpit. Special musical items were sung. The ' service-in the afternoon opened , with the playing of ifvoluntary," "Meditation." The ; choir sang the ; anthem, " I "Will Magnify Thee," after which the Rev. J. Wrigley addressed those .. present on " Successful Character-building." Solos were rendered by Miss McLaren, Mr. Rutledge, and Miss; Muriel " Adams, while the organist played "Cantilene" and "Grand Choeur.')> The preacher in the j evening was the Rev, ,O. H. Laws. The choir sang the anthem, " The Day Thou Gavest,* p and Mr. W. Aspihall sang a solo. In fee course of his sermon, Mr. Laws referred to the threefold mission of the Churchy In the first place it was a great instructionalist and educationalist; secondly, it had a humanitarian function, and its most, important function was its evangelical mission. , .The anniversary services will be continued on Wednesday evening.