WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7163, 14 May 1891, Page 1

WESLEYAN CHURCH.

THE ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the Durham Street Wesleyan Methodist Church was held yesterday evening, when the twentyseventh anniversary of the founding of the Church was celebrated by a tea-meeting given in the schoolroom. There was an attendance of about three hundred at the tea, at which the following ladies presided: Meadameu Searell, Amos, Allen, Eowe and Gray at the choir tables; Misses Parker and England at the bachelors' tables ; and Mesdames Harrington, Bone, Burgees, Cockburn, King and Aitken.

The chair at the subsequent meeting- was taken by Mr Jameß Eutland, who has been identified with the Durham Street Church since its foundation stone was laid.

Mr E. Dawson, in the absence of Mr N. Martin, the Church Treasurer, read the annual report, which stated that during the year the Church Trust, which, had been weakened by deaths and removals, had been renewed and enlarged, and the Trustees presented to the congregation a statement of accounts for the year ending March 31. The debt on church and parsonage had been reduced this year by .£67 10s. The present indebtness was £1100 on the church and £450 on parsonage and caretaker's house. Of this, £550 was borrowed from the Church Building and Loan Fund, to be repaid by quarterly instalments during a term of years, free from interest. In the trust account the debit balance reported was smaller than laßt year's, but this was simply owing to payment of rates and quarterly accounts being held over. Beyond ordinary assets, the outstanding liabilities now amounted to J670, a sum which it was necessary to raise by the present anniversary. When the fact was borne in mind that within the last two years it had been found necessary to spend over JBIOO in repairs absolutely requisite, and that no special appeal was made for that outlay, the reasonableness of this expectation would be seen. Some re-arrangement of the choir accommodation and gallery had been projected for two or three yearß past. After considering various plans, the Trustees agreed to those now completed, on condition that the whole cost was defrayed by special contributions. The members of the choir had exerted themselves nobly in obtaining the necessary amount. The entire cost of these alterations would be about £180, of which up to the present £120 had been paid or promised. It was hoped that the balance would be subscribed during the present month.gjWhile (the total "income from all sources was considerable, the Trustees regretted to note that the ordinary Sunday collections were less than tho3e of previous years. As this was a most important branch of the revenue, and ! all could help therein, it was hoped the coming year would show considerable improvement in this respect. The Home Mission fund subscriptions were also below the previous year; and in view of the pressing character and value of that work, they should certainly be increased. If all the members of the congregation would contribute regularly and systematically, the Trustees were persuaded there would be no difficulty in meeting necessary demands and keeping all the agencies of the Church in healthy operation; and they hoped before long the debt would be considerably reduced. Mr Dawaon stated that the gross receipts for the year amounted to over £1100, and in a happy speech welcomed the two newly appointed ministers, the Eevs L. M. laitt and E. J. Murray.

Daring the evening the Revs E. Erwin, W. Baumber and E. J. Murray gave interesting addresses relative to the Church and its work ; while the statement of accounts presented was a fairly satisfactory one. A number of anthems and selections given by a strong choir under the leadership of Mr E. Trist Searell, were capitally rendered.