ST- PETER'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FERRY ROAD.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7264, 25 January 1889, Page 6

ST- PETER'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FERRY ROAD.

The anniversary services in this church were conducted last Lord's day by Rev. Wm. West, Southbridge. There were good attendances morning and evening. The annual congregational meeting was held on Wednesday evening, 23rd inst., when the various reports from session, Sabbath school, Band of Hope, and Committee were submitted and approved. The report of session, which gave a general resume of the work during the past twelve months, stated that four ruling , elders from the membership of the congregation and a Board of managers, consisting of seven members, had been appointed. Sixteen names had been added to the Communion roll, and thirteen struck off during the year, twelve additions were made to the baptismal roll. The attendance and interest at the ladies' prayer meeting ana the weekly service had increased. The Sabbath school and Band of Hope were in a flourishing condition, and the Board of Managers had been free of anxiety in meeting, from ordinary resources, all present linancial responsibilities. They recommend that a greater number of the adult adherents of the church would participate in the privilege of full communion; the fuller recognition of the obligation of attending the worship of God, even when the weather may be a little unfavorable ; a greater cumber of the male members of the church assist in Sabbath school work; that the officebearers of the Band of Hope open a list for the " total abstaining adult members and adherents; that a class for instruction and practice of sacred music be formed, and that all the people manifest a hearty interest in the mission scheme of the Church. The Sabbathsehool report, submitted by Mr James Irwin, Secretary, showed the number on the roll to be 250; average attendance, 220; teachers, 18. Raised during the year, £38 13s 9d; granted and expended, £34 as 6d. The Band of Hope report, submitted by Mr R. Beattie, LP., President, indicated that there are 191 on the roll, 63 having joined during the year; balance in hand, £1 16a 7d. The Financial Committee's report was submitted by Air James Anderson. From it we cull the following:— Sabbath collections, £197 18s 9d; seat rents, £66 8s; raised by soiree, concert, and cantata, £20 103 sd; total amount raised during the year. £306 lls lid; total expenditure, £306 Is 3d; including minister's stipend, £203; organist's salary, £10; Presbytery, Assembly, Church Extension, Aged and Infirm Ministers' and Foreign Mission Funds, £9 Is; interest on mortgages, £35 las; balance in hand, £3 14s 4d. (The year began with a balance of £& ;Ls Sd.) These sums do not include £250 raised for debt in 1887, and paid off during past. year. Mr Beattie, in speaking to the report, urged on all the importance and propriety of systematic giving; that the young people in receipt of salaries ataould recogrnise the duty of regularly contributing from their own earnings to the cause of God: and that the maintenance of a faithful ministry was a matter of supreme importance, as, apart from the salvation of souls, it was a constant protest against Sabbath desecration and every form of eviL The meeting concluded about ten o'clock by the Key. H. Iririn pronouncing the benediction.