Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 891, 23 March 1877, Page 3

OF ...S^W-.rS^BirTERIA^ CHFRCH, TOKOMAIEIRO, FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1876. At the end of the year, your Session consisted of twelve members (including the Moderator). Mr George Brown, the oldest Elder in the See sion is, to a great extent, unfitted for active duty by the infirmities of age. He continues, however, to take a lively interest in the welfare of the congregation, and aids us cheerfully, aa before, with his sympathy, his prayers, and his money. Mr James Farlane is still a sufferer from the painful illness to which he has been so long subject. He has been absent for a considerable time in a neighboring colony m search of ' health and is likely to return soon. We are sorry to think that his health hns not improved ; but we know that his sick-room is a Bethel, and that several hare found it good to be there. Mr Adam returned from his visit to the home country in July, and is amongst us again discharging the duties of the Eldership. Our best thanks are due to him for the excellent lecture he gave us on some of his home experiences. Your Session have held eighteen meetings during the year, at which there was an average attendance of eight. Many matters affecting the congregation, and several subjects bearing on the government and worship of the whole Church, were under consideration, and the utmost harmony prevailed. There have been, as usual, morning and evening services held every Sabbath during the year in the Church in Milton. The morning service has been well attended, but the evening service is capable of improvement in that way, as it doubtless is m other ways. A good feature of that service, however, has been the large proportion of young people present. The minister occasionally draws attention m the evening to the work of the various churches in the Mission field, and thus seeks to widen the sympathies and foster the zeal and liberality ot those who attend. In accordance with a resolution passed at a congregational meeting held on the 14th February, your Session engaged Mr Wm. Nichol as Missionary Four stations were placed under his charge, and it was arranged that he should hold service once a month at each ot them, and eive the rest of the time at his disposal to visiting and to the holding of prayer meetings. He continued his work with great acceptance until September when his health failed. A short while before, your Session had agreed to hold fortnightly services during the summer at each of the stations These services were kept up for some time by the Minister and several of the Elders. As Mr Nichols health, however, did not seem to be improving, and his absence was likely to be protracted, it was deemed advisable to secure the services of the Key. A. 13. Arnot. He has accordingly been holding meetings on Sabbath, in the forenoon and afternoon, at one or other of the stations. The Ministers Bible Class has been held on Sabbath mornings as usual. There are 33 on the roll, but the average attendance falls somewhat short of that number. The Class hns gone over part of the Acts of the Apostles during the Session, and it is intended, as on former occasions to hold a written examination on the work that has been done, and give prizes to those who obtain most marks. There are many Tonne people in the congregation who might fairly be expected to reap some benefit from this Class, and it is a matter for regret that more do not attend. The Session would earnestly dissuade young men especially from harboring the unmanly feeling of being ashamed to learn. The Sabbath School, held in the Church, continues to be well attended. There are at present fourteen teachers, and an average attendance of about 180 scholars. Your Session have to complain of tho great difficulty of getting teachers. The difficulty la not so much felt on the ladies' side but on the gentlemen's side it is very pressing. We could take several recruits now, and we know some who are quite able for the work • but there is a tendency, which is not very noble, to shirk a duty of this kind. If we had a full staff of efhcient teachers and if parents were careful to see that the children prepared their lessons thoroughly at home, some good and lasting work might be done in this department. There is also a Sabbath School held at the Gorge, with five teachers and an average attendance of about sixty scholars ; another at Fiurt ax, and a fourth at Akatore. The children attending the Sabbath Schools were taken to Dunedin to see the Dayspring on her late Twit to our harbor. Each of them received a cocoamit as a memento of the trip. Though the nut soon perished, it is confidently expected that the associations which were made to cluster round it that clay will remain fresh in the memory of the children, and be iruittul ot good. A Prayer Meeting has been held regularly in the Church on Thursday evening. We wonder, sometimes when the bell begins tc ring, if the thought of going to the meeting does not rise in the minds of those who hear it, and if so, how they always manage so successfully to quench the thought. Oh, for a tithe of the earnestness to secure spiritual blessings that is shown by many in the ordinary walks of lita I Other prayer meetings have been held and fairly attended in various parts of the district. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper has been administered twice during the year at the stated seasons. In May, seven joined :he membership of the Church by certificate, and three ns young communicants ; in November, nine joined by certificate, and seven aa young communicant^ We wonder how many have been joined to the Lord. Unless it come* to that, all our appliances are in vain. rasr^isrciA-i, sta.temeistt OF THE PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH, TOKOMAIRIRO, For the Year ending December 31, 1876. INCOMB. EXPEHDITURB. 1876. £ s. d. £ s. d.1876. £ c. d. £ s. d. To Sueteutation Fund, June ... ... 140 13 6 By Synod Treasurer, June ... ... 140 13 6 » December ... ... 133 4 0 „ „ „ December 133 4 ° 273 ]7 6 Extraordinary Collections : — By Synod Treasurer ... ... ••• 5 9 1 To Church Extension ... ... ... 5 9 1 „ „ „ ... ... ••• 5 0 0 „ Ministers' Passages ... ... ... 3 0 0 „ „ „ ... ... ■•• 8 8 9 „ Benevolent Institution... ... ... 8 8 9 „ „ „ ... ... ... 14 0 0 „ Bible Society ... ... ... . . 14 0 0 „ Expended by Minister ... ... ••• 816 7 „ Charity 8 16 7 „,,*< 41 14 5 41 14 5 Missions: — By Synod Treasurer ... ... ... 53 10 6 To Missionary Association (Ladies)... ... 53 10 6 „ „ „ ... ... ... 25 11 0 „ Dayspring Maintenance ... ... 25 11 0 | „„,•,- 79 i 6 79 1 6 Congregation Missionary Fund : — By 9 months paid to Mr Nichol ... .. 150 0 0 To Collected by Deacons ... ... ... 45 9 0 „ 3 Sabbaths to Mr Arnot ... ... 9 0 0 „ From Church Door Collections ... ... 79 8 0 „ From Seat Rents' Fund 34 3 0 " 159 0 0 159 0 0 Ordinary Collections :— | By Minister's Supplement ... ... ... 85 0 0 To Balance forward from last year ... ... 43 11 11 „ Precentor ... ... ... ... 20 0 0 „ Half-year, ending June 84 15 6 „ Church Officer 25 0 0 December ... ... 106 0 8 „ Synod expenses ... ... ... 6 0 0 (Includes from Akatore Station, £4 9s ;„ Communion, and Light... ... ... 910 7 lOd; Waibola Gorge, £11 6s 3d; „ Printing ... 015 6 Glenore, £8. Total, £23 16s Id.) „ Sabbath School Children's Party ... 5 0 0 „ Miscellaneous... ... ... ... 314 0 Carried to Congregation Missionary Fund... 79 8 0 234 8 1 234 8 1 Building Fund : |By Insurance, Church and Mause „. ... 15 6 0 To Balance from last year ... ... ... 36 0 3 !„ Drainpipes and Labor ... ... ... 2 4 0 Seat Kents ... ... ■■• •>• 15 9 19 0 „ Tanks aad fitting up ... ... ... 6 6 0 " From Church Factor, Manse repairs ... 50 0 0 !„ Manse repairs (from grant) ... ... 50 0 0 Interest on Fund ... ••< ..640 j Carried to Congregation Missionary Fund... 34 3 0 11 „ Balance in band ... ... 144 4 3 252 3 3 252 3 3 £1040 4 9 £1040 4 9 ! Note. — A balance is due to Mr Nichol. . v■ , , - j + ( James McMillan. Audited and found correct, j JAMES BRUCE. JAMES ELDER BROWN, Church Treasurer.

was the First Lieutenant of Coe's ship. — ' Monitor.'