ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10294, 14 March 1899, Page 3

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

• The annual meeting of this congregation was held on the sfch inst., the Rev. Dr. Elmslie, the pastor, occupying tbe chair. Reports were read and* adopted, from the Session, ths Financial Committee, the S.S. Teachers' Association, the T.P.S.C.E.,"the Ladies' Association, the Young Men's Bible Class, and the Literary Society, all showing enterprise and activity. The congregation has received and expended during the past year some £1400, and further, that £1700 'of the Owen bequest has come into its possession during the saane period, This latter is regarded as a handsome contribution towards lessening the congregational debt. The staff of workers assisting the pastor consists of thirty-seven office-bearers, fortyeight Sunday school teachers, twenty-four lady visitors, sixty-twp Christian Endeavourers, and a choir of forty-two voices. In several of the reports gratification is expressed at tbe return of Dr. Elmslie from. England in the possession of increased strength and vigour. It is announced that be bas begun two series of discourses, to be given alternately, one on "Neglected characters among women of the Bible," and the other on "Some of the great parables of our Lord." He bas also commenced a series of Wednesday evening addresses on "Tbe Prayers of the Bible," and hopes during the coming winter to take his Bible Class over Hortons "Ckimmandxnents of Jesus." Tbe office-bearers express thanks to the Revs. Dr. Erwin, N. McCallum, J. Gibb (Dunedin), G. B. Ing__ (Asbburton), and many others for the timely aid they so willingly rendered, during the pastor's absence on furlougb.