ST. JOHN'S METHODIST CHURCH.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

ST. JOHN'S METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL HOME MISSION APPEAL.

(From "The Colonist," Sept. 20t1.)

The annual meeting in connection with the above was held iv St. John's School Hall last evening. ■■ -The Rev...W. Baumber, who presided, .stated that last year the income of the fund from all sources- was £6797 Is, and the expenditure £5821 9s Id This year, however, the estimated income, including the credit balance, was £6870 lls lid, and tlie expenditure £7290 lls' Bd. Tins larger expenditure was necessary owing to the increasingclaims on the fund. St. John's Church last year raised le.ss than £»0 on behalf of the fund, and it was hoped that this year there would be a considerable increase.. They were sending £120 to the Foreign Mission treasurer and the Home Mission Fund was equally deserving of help.

The Rev. T. G. Brooke, the general secretary of flic fund, then gave a mo?;t interesting address on "Patches of Colour from the Back-blocks of the King Country " He showed how that country, wfiich for long years had Been closed to Europeans, had 'been opened up by the Main Trunk Railway, an 3 how quickly European settlement wa3 taking place. Where a few years ago there were more Maoris than white men, to-day there are ten times more white men than Maoris. Townships have grown up as if "by magic, and settlers in the back-blocks were everywhere striving to make homes for their I'amilies. The speaker gave a vivid picture of the hardships and difficulties met Avitli by these people, of tho need there was for religious services, and of the great effort that was being made by the Methodist Church to meet the need.He made a most earnest appeal to those present to assist the fundto tlie extent of their ability. There was a large attendance, and the address of the "deputation was greatly appreciated. A vote of thanks to the speaker, moved by the Mayor (Mr W. W. Snodgrass) and seconded by Mr S. Gorman, was carried by acclamation. .

The meeting \va,s brought to n dose Vith ihe singing of the National Anthem.