CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18023, 19 May 1930, Page 8

CHURCH OF CHRIST.

48TH. ANNIVERSARY. REUNION AND SPECIAL SERVICES. REVIEW BY PASTOR SALISBURY. The Church of Christ, Claudelands, held a reunion social and special services yesterday, in commemoration of the founding of the church in the Waikato 48 years ago. At the social, held on Saturday night, Pastor Salisbury gave a review of the church in Hamilton, from the time the work was started by lectures given by Pastors G. A. Brown and G. Aldridge, late of the West Street Church, Auckland, in October, 1882, in Le Quesne’s Hall, Hamilton East The congregations in those days were almost as large as they are now, and it was the custom to baptise the adherent in the Waikato River, in the place then known as Coates’ landing, near Wellington Street, Hamilton East. An old minute records the police subduing an unruly onlooker, who seemed to be interested in upsetting the ceremony at one of these functions. Some of these old members were present at the reunion, and many letters and telegrams were received from those who could not attend owing to distance, age and sickness. The present churoh building in Claudelands was erected in 1911 in six days, after a revival of the work in 1910, when meetings w,ere being held in the Masonic Hall,* Hamilton East. Yesterday’s services were largely attended and enthusiastic, and the speakej in the evening was Mr Laurie Wilccfck, of Auckland, an old evangelist of the Association, and worker in Hamilton in the early days. He addressed a very large congregation last night on “The Prodigal Son,” stressing the fact that in Christianity there is “enough and to spare," while in the world and evil there is not the satisfaction Christ can give to human life. Mrs H. Aldridge was the soloist.

The present position of the church is highly satisfactory and the finance# sound.