TIMARU BAPTIST CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18629, 26 July 1930, Page 4

TIMARU BAPTIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. There was a splendid attendance of Baptist Church members at the annual meeting held in the Lascelles Hall, Wilson Street on Wednesday evening. Rev. C. W. Duncumb presided and opened the meeting with praise and prayer. Greetings were received from Mr D. H. Stewart one of our members who is training for the ministry at the Baptist College, Auckland. A motion of sympathy with Mr A. H. McClintock in the recent loss of his brother was passed in the usual manner.

’ The secretary, Mr Hopkins, presented 1 the fourteenth secretarial report which referred to various departments in connection with the church which had given their loyal support, and merited the best thanks of the executive officers. A strong intermediate Christian Endeavour Society had been formed during the year, and had been loyally supported with an average attendance of 24, and a membership of 32. Owing to the leader, Miss Gray, ■ removing from the district me Rev. C. W. Duncumb had also had the oversight of the chair during the year, and was leader of the Senior Bible Class. There was also a Junior Endeavour Society, with a membership of 22 which meet on Sunday morning, prior to the church service. It was very gratifying to report that the Sunday congregations had been well maintained, and the pulpit ministration of the pastor had been of a high standard. Special addresses had been given on several occasions. The attendance at communion services and the week-night meeting for prayer and Bible study had been very encouraging. Miss Rae’s faithful and capable services as church organist were eulogised. The Sunday School work, with Mr Keeley as superintendent, and 10 teachers, had continued steadily during the year. A successful concert had been held, and the annual picnic held in the Pleasant Point Domain was a very happy and successful function. The Sunday School has contributed liberally to the founds of the Missionary Society. The branch of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union was a live organisation with a membership of 27. The members were very loyal in their support of the mission work, both in their contributions and in the making of garments for the two stations in India. During the year they were privileged, by visits from Miss Bradfield and Mr H. A. Jones on furlough from the mission field, and from the president of the New Zealand Baptist Union (Rev. Joseph Kemp), Rev. Pallastpn. Rev. Jenkin, and Miss Jennie Street of the Christian Endeavour movement. The annual church concert was a pronounced success, much credit being due to Mrs Mclnnes for the high standard of the programme. The Tennis Club were to be congratulated on a successful season, and on the

“ laying down of a second court on the [ church property. The Club had , shown a fine spirit in its efforts tc J meet its financial obligations, the yeai r having closed with but a small debit balance. A Harrier Club was formed during the year with much enthusiasm. Seven members took part creditably in [ the recent Temuka to Timaru contest. The report referred in eulogistic terms [ of the work of the esteemed pastor, , Rev. C. W. Duhcumb. to whom was due a large amount of the success of ’ the work accomplished during the year : in all departments. The pastor was very heartily and actively assisted by Mrs Duncumb in Church activities. Mrs Duncumb was a very capable leader of the Sunday School primary department. Mr Simon, treasurer, presented the financial statement, and referred to the very generous response made to various appeals in addition to the orI dinary contribution of the church. | The total amount raised from all ! sources was £545/15/-, an increase of I £67 over last year. The annual selff denial offering for Home and Foreign Missions was £32/6 6. also an increase; and in addition, £3O/10/- was contributed to other funds, £4/11/-, being contributed as a free will offering to the Cancer Campaign Fund. A benevolent fund had helped deserving cases,

j during the year. A pleasing feature i was the increased amount received I through more members contributing | systematically through tne envelopes. The church officers w’ere unanimously re-elected for a further term, and thanks expressed to them, and to all committees for past faithful service. Mr W. W. J. Gatchell and Mr J. Q. Sutherland were elected to All vacancies on the Deacon’s Court. Supper w-as provided by the ladies of the Social Committee, and the meeting closed with the Doxology..