ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, PONSONBY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5476, 6 February 1885, Page 3

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, PONSONBY.

The annual meeting of the congregation of Bt. Stephen* Presbyterian Church, Ponsonby, took place on Wednesday evening last, when therowas tt good atfcejidance of members. The oigWh annual report of tieChuich Committeo stated that the congregation bad continued to increase •teadily. They began the year with 09 wat-hilders, occupying 204 sittings, while novr thoy had 80 Beat-holders, occupying 02 sittings. The available sittings throughout the Church number 236, bo that there aw sow only 14 sittings to let. The Sunday: school had aleo made excellent progress dudng the year. There were 23 teachers and 240 scholars on the roll, and an average attendance of 180, during the last quarter. The «om raised in the school during the year was £58 3s Bd, of which the Sunday collections amounted to £25 2a 2d. The prayer meetings and meetings of jju Mutual Improvement Bociety held la connection jrij* the Church had Ibeen yell attended. Thp ney hymnal MOrarcb Praise"" had been introduced, and a new harmonium had been presented to the Church by a number ef kind friend*, thanks beine recorded to GroWn John Moßeplo and others.who Jiejped in this work. A cQns.idefab]e increase la shown in every department «ai church finance. In 1883 the seat rents proceed £148 7s 6d; in 1884 £182 11s 6d. TteaiWiath collections in 1883 produced &\l Jfc;7d |in 1884 £254 12s lOd. The LadieVaisooiation contributed £11 in 1883, H In. \m $$1 lQs. T|jey hod thus been able tcradoV'£Bo to the ininfster'a stipend, U well'as to Increase thfi salaries of the ehoirmigter and the caretaker. The conKtßgaiJon's contributions to the schemes of the Ghacch bad been £3 7r 3d in excesa of thorn of laat year. Beyond the debt of iiM there are no existing liabilities; The Coimnittee express the opinion £he time has Wy arrived *hep a hearty effort jpight be made to reduce the debt, and thpy reppmneod the plan of systematic collection of subscripfidns. Tho report, as well as the Treasurers' balance sheet, .was unanimously adopted, and the meeting closed with a voto of thataka to. the minister, Rev. P. "W. Pnnciman,