RAKAIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18152, 15 August 1924, Page 6

RAKAIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

, ANNUAL MEETING, The'annual-meeting of tho Eaiaia. Presbyterian Charge was' held in St. Andrew's Church, on Wednesday evening, tho Rev. A. g. Morrison presiding over a good attend\ance.

Tho session report choked that tnc year -had teen one "of quiet hut steady and useful Christian work. 'Mention \vs3 made of the V.ery severe losses the- congregation had suffered 'through the deaths of Mr 3 J. McLean, Mr D. B. Carruthers, Mr T. A. Blackley, Mr Thos. Stevenson, and Mr Eonaid Campbell. During the year there had been conducted 13 baptisms, S marriages, and 6-funeTals. There was a pleasing atter.dajjee of young people at tho services, and the Session urged upon them the vaJ'ie and importanco of early makiug 3. definite pro-, feseion of faith and becoming conim u ur canta. In tho twelvo months, ucven members liad joined by certificate from other congregations, and - five by profession of faith. Thero were now 115 members on tho rolL Eight members had been lest through removal to other districts, whom wero Hr and litre J. Y. Cameron. Devotional missions had - been held at Rolcaia and at I/auriston. The missions were very helpful, though the attendance was not large. As a successor to Mr Reid, at Pendarves, '•T. 'S. Itamßio was ordained elder, and this appointment should bring strength to the Church in that district. Choir practices were held weekly at Rakaia. The P.W.M.U. had begun , a new centre of work, with , good hope 3of usefulness, at Caertsey. A monthly Bible Class was held at Chertsey, hut the Lauiiston cla&s had suffered Geverely through rein orals from the district. Siindav Schools were -conducted- at Ttakaia, Rclseby, OverdaJe,- Cherleey, Pendarres, and Lauriston, and upwards of two hundred children were reached by this means. The managers' report elated that during 1 .the. year a 'Very, successful ealo of work, j held at Chertsey, resulted in over £9O beir.jj t raißed, - and thi3 waa epent on renovating the 'Chertsey Church and grounds. The charge now contained within it 3 bounds three churches, recently repaired and renovated, end a. manse, all free of debt. It was proposed to install electric light in tbo Ea"kaia Church and manse, at an -approximates cost of £3O.

• The Bible Class report showed a- membership of twenty-three at llakiia. Meetings held weekly, were vrell attended. The class Had . been helped during the year by addresses from Muss McEee, travelling secretary of the' P.W.JI.TJ.. end Mi£3 "Wilson, Bible Class travelling secretary. ,i The P.W.M.TJ. report showed that nine meetings had been held. Several prominent workers had been lost through, death or removal from the district. The Bible Women Fund was well supported, £l2 2s Gd being 1 l collected in Bakaia, £3 lis at 11 eke by, £3 5a at Lauriston, over £2 9s at Chertsey, and «, considerable eum at Pcndarvca. Tho Maori Mission Birthday League had a membership of thirty at Bakaia, and thirty-three ai Bokeby. Mr Liddixig-ton presented tho Sunday School. report, which stated that tho £er\T,ce3 of one or more "new teachers wero urgently needed. The reports of the Busy Beeo and Girlo' Auxiliary were presented by Mrs Morrison, and showed a year of gTeat activity. The balanoe-sheet presented showed receipts £544 Is 7d, the principal items being; Subscriptions, Bakaia, £62 lis; Baurieton, £10; Chertsey, £22; PectJarves, £24; Bokeby £l6; Dorie, £6 sa; collections: Rakaia, 17s; Laurisbon, £46: Chertsey, £26; "Peodarves, £22; ■ Hokeby, * £lO 7d; and' Dorie, £5 73 10d; balance from 1023, £3O 19s lOd. .The principal items ■of "expenditure were; Minister's stipend, £350; "Home, Foreign, and Maori Missions, £6O-4a 9d ;V Waimaii!& Boys' College, £lB 9s 6d ; Assembly assessments, £lO '-10s; ■ BibleWoman, £24 13s; Bodal service, £i 9s 4d; b«le£fi.ciary, fund, £B-153; theological college, £7 Is -6d;- repairs to organ, £6 10s; balance in J hand, £ll 2a lid. It was noted that tlio total amount spent on missions nnd other outside objects totalled just on £l2l. St. Andrew,'a Sunday School had a balance of £1 i4b 7d, ; and the'. Lauriston SeS-Oi. a balance of £1 18a. The balance-sheet was adopted aa -read. " . ■The meeting recommended to the maragors that the proceeds of tho forthcoming anniial soiree bo devoted to defraying the cost ; of the electric- light installation :i; church and'manse. It -was proposed to appoint lady members to the Managers' Committee, but th& project fell .through, as non 6 would accept nomination. Mr B. Oailey was "reappointed treasurer. Votas of thanks were passed to the Be?. Mr and. Mrs Morrison, Mr R. Oailey, Mr Liddington (organist), the Sunday School teachers, and all church worker;. . ; ,Suppfir,„was_£ervcd by .the ladies, and a short address given by, ■ th« Kev. Mr. Alexander.