DEVONPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 23, 27 January 1900, Page 3

DEVONPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual business meeting of this_ thriving congregation was held on, Wednesday, the 24th inst., Rev. R. Per- i guson presiding. All .the reports for. 1899 were of a very encouraging nat- j ure, and afforded.much cause for sin-t cere thankfulness to the great Head; of the Church, /The Kirk Session has; been increased, Messrs John Budge; and Robt, Gardner having been ox- j dained to the.eldership in June last, j A great accession 'has been made toy"* the roll of membership, no less than forty-five; The number of ■> church members now stands at 166. The Sabbath services have been well sustained and fully attended, the-church often being crowded to the doors. Good work has been accomplished in every department, viz.. Sabbath School, Prayer Meeting, Bible Class, Fellow : ; ship Society, Band of Hope, etc. The Takapuna service continues to prosper. —The Sabbath--Sehool -there ; is now the best - attended... in the district. Kindly reference - was made to Mr Ernest Adams being installed as Student-Preacher at. Northcote. Special reference yWris! made in the reports to five great kind-1 ness of Mr and Mrs Hamilton Hodges < .taking,.fnil.charge, of ..the choir,„and > church music.. Althoug*h only . a fewweeks in 'office the general cohgre-1 gational singing -has undergone a I marked improvement. ~A"'.Packard organ has just been purChased'at an expense of £65. In August last, the Rev. R. and Mrs Eerguson took possession of the Manse, a fine new building on Mount. .Cambria, commanding magnificent views. The Manse is cop* sidered one of the finest in the cplonyy ' The site and building cost,'well on to i £1100. This debt is now.reduced to close on £700. Mr A. Watson was warmly thanked for his many ykinrt" services in connection with' the manse. The ordinary revenue has been* well maintained. The year ends' with a small credit balance, _.after_.dojiating £29 to Mr Fergson for seven months rent" in; his-: former .residence. The average collections were £6. 1.7/2. These collections form the one source of general revenue, all ' seats being free. - Seven" new' managers' were elected: Messrs S. C. Macky, H. McMurtrie, J. Fairgray,. T.. Stewart,. G. Johnstone, W. Stevenson ,and — Renshay; Mr George Sibbin was appointed auditor. . . . '•:-,