ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7252, 7 March 1889, Page 6

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was held last evening in the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association buildings, which proved very suitable for the occasion. There was a good attendance. After partaking of an excellent tea, catered by Mr Freeman, the business meeting was opened by the Chairman (the Rev. Gordon Webster, the pastor of the church), calling on the choir to sing an anthem. The Treasurer (Mr D. Craig) then read the balance sheet, audited by Major Newail and Mr G. Croll, which showed that the receipts had been £1125 11s Bd, of which the ohief items were : —Pew rents £137 ; Sunday collections, £376 12s 10d; net proceeds of bazaar, £414 18s 3d; maintenance fund, £138 18s. The pew rents showed an increase of £40, and the offertories nearly £100 over the previous year. The expenditure, including a debtor balance at the beginning of the year of £378 3s 9d, had been £1105 10s 9d, leaving a credit balance of £20 0s lid to carry forward. Mr Craig remarked that this was the first time for twency years that such a satisfactory balance-sheet had been presented. He urged that an effort be made to still further increase the amount of offertories. Mr W. Boag moved the adoption of the report, and congratulated the pastor, congregation, and creuHiirer on the satisf ctory state of the nuances of the church. He suggested that the question of building a new church should be considered by the congregation. Mr T. Elmslet seconded the motion, and expressed the opinion that the spirituality of the congregation had increased since the ad*ei»- v f the Rev. Mr Webster. He also urged earnestness in attention to the various meetings held in connection with the Church work. The motioti was agreed to unanimously. The Chairman supported the remarks that had been made in. reference to Mr Craig , m ability and fitness for the position of Treasurer. Mr R. Nairn, Superintendent, read the report on the Sabbath School. It stated that the number of scholars on the roll was 160, the largest attendance being 147, and the average 116. The staff of teachers numbered nineteen, and their average attendance sixteen. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £6 Oβ 9&d, and the amount subscribed to the mission fund had been £4 13s nd. The necessity for a good library was mentioned. Mr J. Deans ruoved the adoption of the report and a vote of thanks to the teachers. Major Newall seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr G. Croll submitted the report on the Band of Hope, which showed that the Society was in a nourishing condition. The totalnumber of members was—children, 120 and adults 37. There was a small credit balance in the funds. Mr Croll gave some figures in connection with the money spent on drink in the colony. Mr Bowie moved and Mr Cuthbert seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to unanimously. The Chairman stated that the membership of Che church had increased by fifty during the year, and there was nothing to set against this in the way of decrease. The adherents' roll had increased by seventy. He should feel greatly pleased if he could report a similar result next year. He hoped to be able to announce shortly that steps were to be taken to form an association for young people, in order to bring them together and keep up their interest in the chnrch after they passed on from the Sunday school. Mr O. Craig made some remar** on the finances of the church, and read the minute recording the vote of thanks passed by the Deacons Court to all those who had assisted in the holding of the recent bazaar. Another anthem was sung by the choir under Mr E i Adley, the organist of the church, and after the usual votes of thanks, the meeting, which bad been a very pleasant one, was closed with the Benediction.