MASTERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 15 September 1913, Page 3

MASTERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the report to 'be presented at the fifth annual meeting in connection with the Master'ton Congregational Church to-morrow night: The Deacons hav* great pleasure in submitting this, the fifth annual report an the work of the Church. Since the last anniversary the Church ha*> continued to be guided by the Divine Hand in all its undertakings, and we are able to report a period of real progress in all the departments of the Church's work. Membership.—The actual number of active members on the roll is now 58. During the year 6 new members have been received, all by transfer from other Churches. Against this 3 have resigned, and 2 been transferred, thug making an actual gain of one member for the year. Meetings.—The Sunday services have been well attended by the members and others, and the Wednesday evening services and monthly business meetings have been held regularly, and the attendance at these has kept well up to the usual standard. Finance.—With regard to the financial side of the work, a full report will be given by the treasurer. Suffice it to say here that we have been able to discharge all our obligations, besides contributing as usual to both Home and Foreign Missions. A number of very enjoyable "At Homes" have-been given during the year by the ladies, both in their own houses., "and more recently in the new Social Hall, in aid of the Maintenance Fund. A very successful "Christmas Feto" was. held at the Y.M.O.A. Gyanriasium in December last, and realised the -sum of £25, which was also .devoted to this fund, i '[ iChoir.-—The "Choir has continued to perform its'duties faithfully, and although lacking in a sufficient number of male voices, has done excellent work in its particular branch of Christ's service. During the; greater part of the year the Choir has been without a leader. Recently, however, Mr B. iSmith has come forward and taken over the leadership, and the' thanks of the Church' &re due to him for the substantial improvement that is already noticeable. We desire here also to express our deep sense of obligation to Miss Lexie Green, our organist, who, besides presiding-at the organ, has acted in the capacity of leader of the choir for the greater part of the year, and?sve recognise that if is in a large measure due to her faithfulness that the Choir has been kept together during its period Sunday School .-—The Sunday school, with. Mr Shoosmith as superintendent, and with a full'staff of enthusiastic teachers ;and officers, continues to look after the spiritual -welfare of the children, an 3 is , making steady and. rapid progress. , ' l Pastorate.—At the last annual meeting the\C3rureh was, without a Pastor owing to the resignation, oit ; account of ill-health, of the Rev. 1 T. G. Butler. A-"call", was given to our present Bastor, the.Bev. B. L. Thomas, then of Nelson, on the 18th September last, and his acceptance of this Pastorate was made known to' the members on the 30tK October. Mr Thomas arrived in Mastertori in November, his Induction arid Recognition Meeting being held on the 14th of that month, at which the charge to both Pastor and Church was delivered over by the Rev. J. Reed Glasson, of Wellington, and a number of speeches of welcome were given by the local ministers and others. Mr Hornsby.—<We should like her© to express our appreciation of the splendid service rendered by Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, who did such good work in conducting the services for a number of Sundays prior to the arrival of our Bastor. Harvest Thanksgiving.—Very successful Harvest Thanksgiving services were held in the Church on Sunday, March 16th, the gifts of produce being disposed of at a social the following evening. Heating.—During the winter, we have had instilled in the Church building two gas, heaters, which been greatly appreciated both at the Sunday services and at" the various meetings held in the Church during the winter months. Rule3.—The Church has also recently adopted a definite set ctf rules for governing the business of the Church. ' New. Social Hall—The largest and probably the most important under-, taking carried out by the Church during. the year is the addition of alarge iSocial Hall,: 30ft by 24ft, at the rear, "of the Church building/ The want of greater accommodation ha 3 lieen keenly felt by the Church for the purpose oif holding its social gatherings, it having been necessary in the past to hold these in other halls, in the town, which arrange' uent was found inconvenient. The Sunday school for a long time had been much hampered by its being limited as to rooms in which to place its various classes,' including the two Bible, classes connected with the school. The Boys' Club, formed at the. beginning of last year, immediately became so popular among the youths an<s young men of the Church that the room now utilised as a Vestry speedily became totally inadequate for its requirements. At the end of February in this year, therefore, the Church decided to take definite steps towards the erection of a'Social Hall, and our. Pastor was empowered to canvass the members and others to ascertain if sufficient financial support would be forthcoming, to• enable the matter to be,gone on with. Within a surprisingly short space of time, sufficient money was given or- promised to er able tenders to be called for the work. In due course a tender was accepted, and the building erected at a total cost of approximately JEISO. A very enjoyable opening function was held on August ; 21st last. The new hall has already been found to be a, great boon to Church, Sunday school and Club, and no doubt as time goes on its utility will increase and much real good will thereby accrue to the great cause for the furtherance of which it was erected. Conclusion. —Iu conclusion, we wish to place on record our appreciation of the good work done by our Pastor, who, although he has been with us only a comparatively, short time, has already endearecl himself to the hearts of the people. We are looking, forward to having him with us for a long time to come. We •would urge, the members to rally round him, and continue in the spirit of xinity and cooperation, which has been so marked 'during'the "past year,. and if this is done,? w.e feel sure: that the work of ' our hands will b& evei more abundantly prospered than it has been in the past. '