Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church Soiree.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 82, 3 February 1876, Page 6

Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church Soiree.

The annual soiree in connection with the Presbyterian Church, Tokomairiro, was held in the Church on "Wednesday evening! As usual there was a large attendance. The good things were provided in great adundance by the following ladies, who also presided at the tables : — Mesdames Chisholm, J. E, Brown, Gray, M'Laren, Goodall, Malcolm, Mackay, Soutter, and Smyih. There was also a bachelor's table. Tea over the Rev Mr Chisholm took the Chair, and called upon Mr J. E. Brown, the Treasurer, to read the financial statement, of which thejfollowing is a copy : — INCOME. 1875 £ s d To Sustentation Fund, June ... 150 0 0 -„ „ „ December ... 147 17 0 297 17 0 Extraordinary Collections : — To Church "Extension Fund ... 7 13 3 „ Ministers' Passages ... 6 14 6 „ Benevolent Institution ... 13 13 0 „ Charity . . 8 0 0 36 0 9 Missions ": — To Missionary Association (Ladies)... 53 15 11 „ Davspring Maintenance (Children, Sabbath School) ... 26 0 0 79 15 11 To Bursary subscribed for Student at TJniversary ... 25 0 0 25 0 0 Ordinary Collections : — To Balance from last year ... 19 7 0 „ Half year ending June ... 93 9 0 „ „ „ December ... 98 15 4 (Includes £8 153 from Woolshed, and £4 3*3 3d from Akatore station) 211 11 4 Building Fund :— - To Balance from last year . . 114 2 3 „ Seat Rents ... 209 9 0 „ Interest on Fund ... 210 0 326 1 3 976 6 3 EXPENDITURE. 1875. £ s d •By Synod Treasurer, June . . 150 0 0 „ „ „ December ... 147 17 0 297 17 0 By Synod Treasurer ... 713 3 „ „ „ ... 614 6 „ Benevolent Institution . . 13 13 0 „ Charity Dispensed by Minister ... 8 0 0 ~~36 0 9 By Synod Treasurer ... 53 "15 11 „ „ „ ■ ... 26 0 0 79 15 11 By SynodiTreasurer ... 25 0 0 25 0 0 By Minister's Supplement . . 90 0 0 „ Precentor ... 20 0 0 „ Church Officer ... 20 0 0 „ Synod and Presbytery Expenses... 9 0 0 „ Printing and Advertising ... 3 3 6 „ Communion, Light and Fuel ... 8 911 „ Pulpit Bible and Psalm Book ... 5 16 „ Sabbath School Paity .. 5 0 0 „ Miscellaneous ... 7 4 6 „ Balance in hand . . 43 11 11 211 11 4 By Stable with Pavement . . ■ 66 0 c „ Painting Church .. 83 13 0 „ New Gallery andßoof of Tower... 69 16 6 „ Plumber work, Church, Manse, and Stable . . 7 11 4 j, Paperhan-jing and Painting in Manse ... 17 5 1 „ Platform Alterations ... 22 12 10 „ Repairing Manse Fences, &c. . . 717 3 „ Insurance, Church and Manse ... 15 5 0 „ Balance in hand ... 36 0 3 326 1 3 976 6 3 Notb. — Rise in Sustentation Fund, £15 163 6d; Church-door Collections, £11 6s 3d; whole Funds for the Year, £B*2 17s Od. James Elder Brown, Church Treasurer. Audited and f L. W. Smyth. found correct ( James M'Millan.* The Treasurer having made a few explanatory remarks — The chairman congratulated the congregation upon its satisfactory financial position. The Rev. Mr Will; after the usual congratulations, addressed the meeting upon the subject of progress. In the course of his address he said he could remember when their contribu- , tions were small, but they had gone on increasing and advancing, but had not yet reached a stage at which they could sit at ease and be content, as in such a case they would be apt to go back.. It was a bad thing for a Church, as for an individual Christian, to go back. Some Churches had gone back. It was the glory of the reformers that they had begun the work that succeeding generations would carry on, as there was no standing still. Every forward step in social progress had been objected to. There was no doubt a danger of excess, gat society would speedly right itself again, by-and-bye, and the fittest j would survive. We were bound to study the Word of God, and adapt the progressive ideas of the times to the wants of the Church as existing now. Our Saviour had taught us this in the saying that new wine must be put into new bottles. Missions, Sunday Schools and other valuable improvements were at one time considered innovations. Let them send their ministers, elders, and members to the Bible to find what they were taught there. Let Christians be as liberal as the Bible, and not bound by any outside opinion*; and, so lon a* as they take scriptural sanction along with them, the Church need not bq called upon to regulate tbo strictly upon minor matters such as their position during prayer or singing. Let them stand orsit as they chos?, or prostrate themselves upon their knees if they pleased, singing psalms, paraphrases, or hymns as they chose, or t

even portions of Scripture entire if they pleased, such as the story of the Prodigal Son, and many other portions of Scripture equally suitable ; and so long as they abode by the Scripture standard they would not go far astray before they would be brought back again. The Rev. Mr Paterson, Waihola, delivered a humorous speech, taking for his text the word " Soiree," which he divided into the following heads : — Social, orderly, instructive, religious, and entertaining. The Rev. Mr Watt, Greenisland, delivered an excellent address, taking for his subject " The Bible." The Revs. Messrs Sutherland, Salter, and Allan also addressed the meeting, and after the usual votes of thanks the proceedings were brought to a close by the Rev Mr Paterson pronouncing* the benediction.