THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 279, 18 August 1908, Page 7

THE CHURCHES.

< — ST. ANDREW'S ANNUAL REPORT. Tho congregational'year of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church formerly ended on September 30. Owing to the desirability of bringing tho congregational year into lino with tho church's year, which ends on Juno 30, the report to ha presented at tho annual meeting this week deals with nine months only of tho congregation's work. The ordinary work of the congregation, it is stated, has been carriod out with considerable success, in, spite of an unusual amount of sickness And an unusual number of departures from tho district. Nineteen mombors wore added to the roll, and thero wore 25 ■ removals, ■ making tho prcsont number 239, as against 245 last year. Fooling reference is made to tho deaths of Mrs. Newall, Miss Christina Hall, arid' Mrs. Guthrie. Tho attendance at Communion in Decombor was 167, being tho highest number yet attained. The minister, has officiated at 10 baptisms, 30 matri.iges, and 14 funorals. Tho Committeo set up to endeavour to proctlro tho 'formation, of a gymnasium which might bo taken advantage of; ill turn, by tho Young. Men's and the Young Women's Biblo Classes, roport that they have been able to successfully attain their end. Having received the sanction of tho Board of Managers, and a donation of £10, they wero able,- with tho aid of members' subscriptions and fees, to pilrchaso tho necessary material, valued at over £20. The sorvices of Mr. Murroll, as instructor, were engaged, and tho ' first term began early in April.' The membership of .tho .Young Men's Class was .17, and tho. Young Women's 14. Tho question of starting a Magazine Club is now being considered, and a number of membeis lifevo oach agreed to subscribe to a rtiagazino. Tho report of the choir shows tliat tho task. to which .that body has sot itself, iiamoly, tho establishment of a fund for tho enlargement aiid alteration of tho organ, has been kept steadily in view. Tho •total to tho credit of this. fund is , now £19 2s. 6d.' Tho Sabbath School has room on its staff for at least threo more teachers. Tho-nnmber of scholars is 132. The cradle foil, under the' care of Miss. N. 'Lambert, may henceforth bo considered a permanent fcaturo of tho equipment. A touchers' training class has becii conducted by tho minister on AVcdnesday evenings. Tho .Young AYomon's Biblo Class, with a membership 'of 28, is doing good and useful work.' Satisfactory referenco is made to other church ■institutions. •.

Tho. managers report that tho Sunday school accommodation is quite inadequate. In tho last annual, report it was mentioned that an. attempt'juid been mado to seciiro a small, portion of a,block of land at the rear of tho church, proporty for srhool extension purposes, but that the, amount required by the owner was considered prohibitive.. Since then, however,' negotiations have hecn renewed, and (the whole i of the land referred to has been purchased. -. Tho.- portion . not required, for school, extension - purposeswas sold for a greater price, than...thc,cost; of tlio wholo ;block, tho ~Board , of.-Managers- • thus not only securing a sito free , of cost, but. a sUm in. aid of : the "building fund-as. well.

Mr. Bonnie has kindly undertaken to draw the. plans of the now schoolroom. A sale of'work held ; by tho Women's Guilds resulted ih £130 beingj raised, for the scheme,' and a' second sale is now in preparation. The sum of-£2900, obtainedifrom tho sain of 1 th 6 church'B farm at .Turakina, has been temporarily iiivestc'd by the- Presbyterian Church Property Trustees, pending a' decision as to its ultimate disposal; v It was suggested to tho Board by somo members of the congregation that tho timo has arrived When the question of the provision of land, to be used in.the future as a site for St. Andrew's Church should be considered. In support of this proposal, it is-pointed out that land in tho vicinity of tho present building is becoming so valuable that tho residential population.js being driven further and further away, tho tendency being to leave the church in a business area,, far removed from, the residences of its. members. While thero may, bq .a.'considerable amount of trutli in theso arguments, tho Board does not, consider that- the time has yet-arrived when the matter should be dealt with. -, . The balance-sheet Shows receipts £752 13s. lid., .expenditure. £682 4s. 10d-., and credit 'balance £70 9s. Id. Somo of tho main items of receipts : are Collections £262 15s. 5d., -seat rents £106, ground rents £123 17s. lid., collecticn.,fof' churph. extension fund, per visiting committed '£34 12a. 6d., Canton Mission,- por Young- Men's Bible Class. £8 55., foreign missions, per Sunday School, £7 10s.

CATHOLIC CLUB. ■ ;Dospitp ail exceptionally large expenditure, tho balance-sheet to bo presented at. the half-, yearly meeting of tho Wellington Catholic Club is expected to show a. credit balance of over £25. ; All the club's property is now free, of debt, and great activity has been shown'in the variou.. branches of club life. The tennis club had a most successful"season,' socials'wero well attended, and tho annual danco produced a credit' iialknco of £G 10s.' Tho combined sports gathering held ■on St. Patrick's Day by the Catholic Club and tho Hibernians! resulted lii-the to the club of £.15 Gs, .2d. : as its share of tho profits.

A popular concert-was given by ,the St. Thomas's Sunday School pupils last night in order to raise fuuds to liquidate tho last picnic .. liability and provide for. tho equipment of-the, school. . .The schoolroom was crowded witlv juvenile enthusiasts, .and as the various itoms wero submitted they we'ro well applauded. A popular item Was tho "March of the Flowers" by tho Sunday School girls; this was very prettv,.' and the performers wero heartily received. Tho childron'3 items were arranged by Miss Bland. An interesting programme was submitted, to which' tho following contributed:—Misses E. Norris, May Jijorrish, Olive Barnes, Reeve, F. Bland, Bryant, Mollio Clark, V. Cliaso, Tyler, Messrs. Oakoy, Edwards, Levin, H. Leese, A. Kerr, Edwards, A. Bland, Masters G. • Holloway,. Sherwood, ' Wahlers, aud P. Chase.