BAPTIST CHURCH SOIREE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5178, 27 May 1885, Page 3

BAPTIST CHURCH SOIREE.

The soiroo in connection with (he Anniversary of this church was held last even, ing. The tea-meeting, was well attended, and at its closo considerable additions were made to the numbers. The pastor, Rev. W. R. Woolley, presided, and there were present, among others, Hevs, P. H. Cornford, R. . Laishley, G. Tawhai, Taylor, and_ S. J, Neil), Letters regretting inability to-be present were read from Revs, KG. Evans and E, Best, ■ : ■'.

■ After Mr 0. B, Stone had led in prayer, the Chairman called on Mr Whitehead to read the following report :—

By the goodness of God, we have been spared through another year, and we desire you to rejoice with us.that we are etill spared to sit under the sound, of the Gospel. In accordance with our. usual oustom, we now give a fragmentary account of another year of this church's history, which, though not marked by any special oases of conversion, there is nevertheless ovidenoe that the Word preached has not been in vain. In JanuaiylasfcMr Woolley was unanimously myited to tako the permanent oversight of this church, and he has acoepted our invitation. We aro glad that his health continues to improve since ho has resided here, and we look forward to spending many hnppy years together. Mr Woolley has paid a few visits to Paeroa, and is desirous of continuing to hold services there on the week evenings as opportunities permit. The Bible Class under under tho presidpnoy of our pastor, continues to be both atfcraotive and useful, and wo cordially invite any one to join with us in the study of the Scriptures. The Sunday Sohool is fairly well attended, bufc the teaohers could wish that more of the youug , men oould be iuduced. to como oftener This church has recently deoided to use tho enlarged edition of "Psalmsand Hymns"in public worship. Membors of tho church and congregation who have not supplied themselves with;'hymn-booka can bo supplied'bn:application- to Mr Renshaw. An inJOTting service was held in this placo in

Mruary last, when our pastor baptized three members of the.Salvation Army who desired to follow the lord by being " buried with him in baptism." ; The additions to oar membership during the year have been small; only two have joined us. We have on our church books the names of 151 persons, and although the members' roll has been revised, there are still 45 of these who are either living in country districts, or have not yet joined themselves to other churches. We had reoently to mourn the loffl by death of our sister Mrs Walters, who suffered very much in her affliction, but we are comforted with, the thought that " Blessed are the deaJ who die in the Lord' We desire to express our appreciation our brother Mr H. H. Driver's efforts in helping us at our Anniversary, and we pray that his .future may be bright and useful whore his lot is now cast. We greatly rejoice that he was called to the ministry, and we hope that this colony may.produoe many such youii'' men who shall be desirous of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. We desire also to thank our old friend, Rev. P. H. Cornford, for; his visit to us'afc this time; his faithful words and counsel, we trust, will riot soon beiforgotten. We hope that his life may long be spared, and that his last days may be his best.-M i ,WHiTEHBAD,Churoh Secretary. ; Wr Rensjiaw read the following •— ; Treasurer's Report for 11 months'to April 3Othj 1885 i—iK; : ;;;: ;

Receipts: Bank balance, sd; 47 collections (£3 lla 9d '£168 13s id • annual tea, £3 6s'6d;.private gifts, £3; £ o 3 7 to l' Unlon ' £3 10s.-Total £178 10a 3d. Expenditure: Pastor (£3O unpaid), £135; cleaning chapel, £13 5s j gas, £8 Us 6d; Baptisfc.Union,',£4 16s 3d hospital, £4; interest,' £4' 10s ; insurance f, , 3 i ; s m^ ri , e8 ' £s;B? '" balancoin bank »-*1 : 11s 6d.—Total, £178 10a 3d. | Poor Fund i.balance last year, £112sld; : contributions; £5.4s 9d.-Totalj'£6 16s:10d! V 3' ba^nce in "and, 6s 10d !r TotaI,-£616510d.7;,, ;,V : - _ Improvement Accountj-To'loan, iig'in hand; 19a Bd, ~ •■••-■■••••■. .-'

-Mr Renshaw said that unfortunately they had not. made the push necossary to keepMip the funds.Undiinicdnsequenco were somowhat behind. Ho had no doubt hey would got forward again bood, and this was necessary as they wished to make turther" expenditure very, speedily ■' Thev werenow.nbout £75 ia,arrear. He spoke in no fault-finding spirit of those who' did give, but believed that, considering! the times they had done well. They wanted what New. Zealand requiredr-larger numbers'and more means. '' / " \'" _The Chairman showed that the fieurea given hardly represented all that had been done...He regretted that sorfew instances ot_ were' linown, so little spirtual work.ahown, that at he had been much. discouraged, -but yet among hem instances had come to his own knowledge of the exertion of such kindness and brotherly love, that lie waisdre there was more being done than appeared on the surface. He-had tried to preach Christ on y, and believed that the theme was ; so lull that it could .neve* become exhausted. After singing, , The.Rfty.-B: Laißhleyspbke !; of the intense pleasure hefelt at being with tliem, and most of! al 1 at being with his dear! old friend Oornford. That gentleman had : not been ,a.voluminous writerrbut he had written one volume full of interest. In it he found related an anecdote of mission work in Jamaica, and it was one of : the most interesting, instances' 'of "'moral leroiam ho had ever read. Of it sample,'-and said that this was what the Gospel was doing always. The Gospel transformed society by units, and that was.a point we.were in the: habit of forgetting. What it had' done was a pledge to him of the transformation he gospol would yet accomplish. The fact had many aspects, and should lead to'the inqufty." Had the Gospel- done the most it could for me?" Dr. J. Hamilton told how some men built a bridge wbich fell into the river. The builders considered the matter profoundly, built it again, and when the were, removed!the keystone sprung up and it again fell. Ihey called in a great architect from Lon(on. He could only find that the plans wore right, and could make no improving suggestion; but 1 a local'stonemason,after hearing the long discussion about the plans, said, "There is not a brick hereabouts that will bear the weight: of another." There was the fault: it was in the material. Let them 1 see to that. As to the report, their little difficulties would

disappear with a-slight exertion. He trusted that their pastor might be spared to them for years, and that both himself and Mr Cornford might long live and labour in the Master's service. Rev. S. J. Neill spoke as to Christianity reqmringi.for greater success the cultivation of the quieler gr: es. We sometimes expected too mt'ch from others, and sometimes too little from ourselves. We were not ai truthful, as honest,; not as ready to praise good in another if he should happen to impunge'on anything he valued, as we should be/ If we were : careful to look at the good in other denominations, and in other people, and less on our own, we should then he able to find something that would do good to all. Let us each be prepared to exorcise the spirit of Christ as hewalked the streets of Jerusalem. He concluded by wishing tho church and pastor every success. .;

t The Rev. Mr Potter said he had pleasure in being present for one reason, that he could listen to his senior brethren in the ministry, During,the speech of Mr Laishley he had felt the high and holy influence of it; and as to Mr Cornford, although that gentleman did not know him he knew Mr Oornford, and in his boyhood had felt his presence and .the power that accompanied-it, and he owod him much. Mr Potter then made some very praotical remarks on the duty of church mewhers. _ The Rev. P. H. Oornford said he ought indeed to have something to say if he would como up to the standard his friend Mr Laishley had set before them. Ho had now reached a period when he had all his life behind him; and although the exporiences weru not pleasant at the time ho could look back with somo satisfaction on Ins first coining down to the Thames in the little Midge, trying for two whole hours to got ashore, and landing at two in the morning, finding a bed on a floury shelf, and travelling through mud and slush. But a church had been ostablishod, children had been taught in tho Sunday School, souls had boon saved, and it was a great thing to bolievo that ono had had to do with that Under somo of llio difficulties, ho bad then felt as did Win. Mason, who asked for somo hard work for his Lori find when tired of struggling in the bush in vain, cried "No. harder, Lord; no harder." When he thought of the Thames swamps and Thames weather did they think ho rogrettod those troubles ? No. ho stood in tho presence of a Church of Christ, and called to mind many who had boon led to present themselvos as living sacrifices to their Lord. Could anything bo greater than that? -Many who know that they shall meet again with those who Imvo gono and moot übovo, Wo-you and I-are following i n thoir footsteps. Our ono object is to wago a spiritual warfaro with all the forces around us. and no Christian was exempt from tho contost. ihero woro mighty powore in ovory ono

wiio r..Mcivcd the grace of God. No coinmotion, perhaps; there was no noise in salt, but it was the work of salt - that prfc served tlie world from putrifaction. Above all things; he urged on the : members td be consistent— the world expected it from them ; aye, and the Lord expected it too. Mr Potter had rominded him of along forgotten sentence that, ehowed how ; our. speech should always be seasoned with salt, and the effect of that .speech bn a youth./; When; a boy himself, he >ad. fluttered from those who loved him mot speaking of spiritual, matters to hinv'ahd he urged parents and teachers to avoidFthe common: habit, of reticence, on tfpi'riiual matters, Mr Gornford pressed all Ciiristians tb.repollecf that in this lifelhey were sot as Olinst's-golden caridlesticks'to.giVe' light toallaround,and the.Masterwalked among them' to ■? filling their function.,,: If they.: were, Christ would soon soe: of the travail of I his Boul,and..bo satisfied;: let them-thinlj of that. Some,'perhaps, wished to btjind higher Jthnn Wnd excuse not shining! because of .their ijttl? importance and power. -If a .inan ; a single talent, Christ' wanted, that pnejput' out to interest.: Theonly real joy : of life was that of serving Christ/ who had shown such love. for,.them. -, Hβ concluded an address full of solemn pathos by .bidding them all farewell.. In doing scyh'e; rejoiced that they had such a pastor as Mr Woo Hey, wished him God speed in j his work,., and,, continuance .'.of. help/ ?M strength. He prayed for all the. spiritual and temporal prosperity that was.gqpd! for-' the people,'and trusted the Lord would >be ever with them. ... . :..;; ■n..;T '\:f; _ Mr Tawhia briefly addressed tho meeting, and received considerable applausp. :.;After a.few wqrcls,in response,.,to'Mr Cornfoi'd's good' Wishes' by tW Chfiirmany ■the doxology was sung,' the'benediction pronounced : by Mr. XJornford, and jthe meeting ; " - : •-; 'v ~;'■:■■-.