PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15930, 18 June 1917, Page 10

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

HI CLE CLASS ITOOM FOR

RICCARTON

Oil Saturday afternoon, iu the presence of a fair number of people, Mrs John' Deans performed the tcrcmpny of laying the foundation stono of the now Bible Class room attached to the Riccarton Presbvterian Church.

The Rev. A. T. Thompson, minister jof Si . ■ Andrew's. and who is in charge of Riccarton, apologised-for the absencc of the Moderator, the llev. F. Rule, and read a loiter of congratulation from him. Mr Thompson rc-fcrml to the history of the Deans, family, and the great support they had always given to the Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's in particular.. . It -was a great, pleasure to him and to members that Mrs Deans luid kindly consented to perform the ceremony that afternoon. Tho .speaker said that St. Andrew's had two out-stations, one of which was Riwarton, and he realised the time was approaching when they would have to be separate eharges. Though the creation of new eluirges might- be *aid to bo Iho brcakingr-up of the mother church —St. Andrew \s —he thought they could nt least congratulate themselves on her having a lusty daughter. Mr A. Murray, chairman of the committee, stated that the bajre cost of tho new room would be -C--")-. and with furnishings it would run to £.300 or so. Donations and subscriptions totalled £177 10,s. including a transfer of £52 from tho Bo\*3 and Girls' -Bible Class Fund. There would be a debit balance of £120, and he hoped that it avould be cleaned off quickly. Mr Murray then handed a, silver trowel to Mrs Deans, who declared the foundation stone well and truly laid, amid applause, which was followed by the'singing of a hymn. Brief - addresses were given bv the Rev. W. T. Todd, of Lyttelton, and Mr TV. S.-Mo-Gibbon, .chairman of the District Bible Class Union. Tho first spoke of the spiritual value of Bible Oass work, and tho latter in his speech said that 200 members of the Presbyterian Bible Class of New Zealand were. serving. their country. The first New Zealand Y.C. had bet-n- gained by a Presbyterian Bible Class student, and Sergt. Brown, Y.C ..of Oamaru, liad also been a keen worker. , A letter of congratulation from Air G, M. Pottinger. leader of the St. Andrew's Young Men's Bible Class, was read, and the ceremony concluded with j prayer. ' ' * ! ■ The trowel.- given- br Mr-Murray, was presented to Mrs Deans as a memento of tho-occasion.