HANOVER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13210, 17 February 1905, Page 8

HANOVER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

NBW SUNDAY SCHOOLROOM,

i Last night the Suuday seTioolroom lately added to the Hanover Street Baptist Church was opened in tho presence of a very largo gathering of the congregation of the church and many friends in the new room. Tho chair was occupied by the ltev, \Y. Hay, pastor of the church, and scats on the platform were also token by tlio Rev. J. J. North (president, of-the Now Zealand Baptist Union), Jhe Rev. F. \V. Boroham, Mr Duncan Wright, ami Mr A. S. Adams (superintendent of the Sunday school). After devotional exercises

The Hev. Mr Hay gave a brief address, lie said it was not only with feelings of pleasure and gratification, but also with sineero gratitude to God, that they had arrived at tho beginning of another phase of tho history of tho church. For soma years those who had' laboured and worshiped in the church, and had seen the need for increased accommodation for the Sabbath school, including those who had faithfully laboured, and whoso names were woven with the history of the church, had desired to see what those before him that night were able to look upon. It was by earnestness and enthusiasm and generosity and love that they were able to do what tho mind was never able to do. Tho mind might conceive splendid plans, but it was tho love and tho earnestness in people's hearts that made it possible for those plans to be carried out. The nvospect of having a commodious building for Sunday school work lay in tho minds of many of tho people of the church for years past, but the plan could not be carried out until tho earnestness and tho enthusiasm, and the liberalitv of the people which they manifested not long sinrc had made it possiblo for those plans to be given effect to an > to meet that, niqrht in that new and wellappointed building. If the work of the Sunday school was carricd on as faithfully in tho future as in the past—and there was no reason to think it would not hf—those who had been so "arnest in the matter would have a maimificcht interest upon (heir investment. Mr n. H. Driver, secretary of tho Building Committee. read apologies for nonattendance from a number of friends, and presented tho following history by the committed of the work: —

The committee have pleasure in presenting the following history of the work, the completion of which we aro met to-night to celebrate. They, rejoice that tho building is at length ready to bo devoted to the noble purpose for winch it hns been reared, and trust that wi.thin its walla much faithful and fruitful worl; for God may be carried on. The earlier part of tho structure, fronting Hanover (street, was built in 1830, during the pastorate of tho Rev. J. Upton Davis. 8.A., at a cost of £1220. It was felt from the first that the accommodation provided then for the school was inadequate, and that ampler provision must be made as soon as the requisite funds could be raised. It was soon found, too, that it was inconvenient for the nged and, the infirm to have the hall in which many of tho most important meetings of the church wore held upstairs. In 1599 the church resolved to establish a building fund, with the twofold object in view—first, of completing the school block, and next of erecting a statelier and more substantial church: In order to inaugurate the fund, the pastor (the Bev. A. North) sat in the vestry oil an appointed day in May, 191)0, to receive free-will offerings, when something over £100 wag placed in his hands. His removal shortly afterwards to Calcutta, nnd the period of unsettlcmciit through which the church then passed, largely arrested the growth of the fund, so that at the end of March lost it had riscij to only £2SB. About that time the church set up 1 a committee to obtain rough plans and an estimate of the probable cost of the enlargement of the schoolroom. This committee consulted Mr J. L.'Salmond. who brought to boar on' the question his best professional knowledge and skill. Ilis first thought was that the work outlined to him; might he accomplished for about £1000,, but it was soon found that that estimate was altogether too low. The scheme seemed then to be ill danger of indefinite delay, as tho church had determined that the work should not be put in hand until at least two-thirds of the amount required was in sight. It suddenly occurred, however, to a few adventurous spirits that if a hold policy was adopted and ail urgent appeal made, an unsuspected measure of liberality wight be elicited. Tho officers' authorised Messrs Alait'and, Graham, and Hercus-to ascertain within a week if £500 could be secured ill aid of the undertaking. They at once made a diligent canvass of the members of the church and the friends of the school, and soon had the joy of reporting that they had been inct everywhere with the utmost generosity, and that promises amounting to £84t had been received by them within a. month of their appointment. This spontaneous outburst of generosity proved that the hour for action had struck, and a Building Committee was elected to put the work in hand forthwith. Tenders were called for in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by the orchitcct and approved by tho officers of the church. Nino tenders wero made for the work, the highest being £1750, the lowest £1490. The latier. by Mr Dempster, was accepted, and we are glad to report that he has executed his contract with conscientious care. The chief difficulty that confronted the architect and the Building Committee, arose from the restricted limits of the ground available, and only after the plan had been pcrutiniscd and criticised with a desire to utilise every inch of space was it finally adopted. The committcc trust that the finished building will eommend itself to the contributors as the best attainable under the circumstances. They feel that Mr Salmond is to be complimented upon the excellency of the design, as well as upon tho careful and satisfactory manner in which lie has seen it executed. They desire to express their deep thankfulness to God that the work hns been carried out without the least accident to the men employed upon it. The main hall, which is well lit and well ventilated, will seat about 50 more than the old ball, and is much more easily reached. The lower hall, which was used by the Chinese class and for the week-night service, has been divided, one-half being turned into the minister's vestry and the other into a commodious class-room for the young women. The old upper hall, apart from the space required for tho stairs, has been cut up into four class-rooms; one of the larger rooms ha? been devoted to the young men's class; the other largo room will be appropriated "either for the infa-nts' class or the Chiutse class, as may be found most convenient. Above the new hall there are ranged 11 class-rooms, all light and airy. This additional' accommodation will greatly facilitate the work of the teacliers and add greaty to the comfort of tho scholars. The library adjoins the hall, and is well fitted up with shelves. A small kitchen has also been added, which will be a. great convenience to the ladies on occasions when refreshments arc to be provided. The church is largely indebted to Mr Frank Graham for the general supervision of the building during its erection. He lias devoted much time, energy, and technical knowledge to this task, and has rendered service all the more' vnluable because it has been honorary and voluntary. The' entire cost of the alterations and enlargement has been £1630. Towards this sum we had in hand £288, and have since received f074. £208 is still outstanding in promises, which. it is expected will be entirely fulfilled. This makes a total of £1170, and leaves a balance still required, of £460. : Towards the liquidation of this amount an earnest appeal to your liberality will be made to-night. It is our earnest hope that tliis balance will be wiped out at no distant date. The necessity for tho, ercction of a new church will he increasingly felt as Hie years elapse, and until the schoolroom ha 3 been wholly paid for no further building scheme can, of course, be adopted. Mr Salmond (architect of tho building) and Ur Dempster (contractor) gave short addresses. >

The Rev. F. W. Borcharo addressed himself to the subject'of work'among childron. The Rev. Mr North spoke of the relation of young men to the Church, dividing his .remarks into two pajts—what the Church offers to young men, and what young men ought to offer to the Church. ~ J- A. M,'inland, on behalf of tlie Blildini* Fund Committee, urged the congregation to make an effort to' freo tlie building from debt.

Mr A. S. Adams spoke of the importance of Sunday school work' in connection with the-Christian Church.

During the evening two part-songs v/ere given, by male voices (conducted by Mr T. A. Maitland). Miss Hariand presided at the harmonium.

At the close of tho public meeting nv freshments were handed round by ladies of the congregation, and after an inspection of the new room and its accessories the gathoring reassembled' for a farewell hymn, the proceedings being brought to a close with this benediction.