ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 56, 29 November 1929, Page 12

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING AND SOCIAL A SUCCESSFUL YEAR The first service of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian congregation was held on Petoiie beach in February, 1840, and the 89th year was celebrated at the annual meeting in the schoolroom on the Terrace last night. The minister, Rev. J. R Howie, 8.A., presided over a large gathering. The chairman said he thought they might claim that they were fully holding their own. They had accomplished many things on which they had set their hearts. He had now completed three years of ministry at St. Andrew’s, very happy ones, and he had no regrets on coming to Wellington. His wife would support him in saying that. The services had been inspiring, but the more important and difficult was the pastoral work. It was the minister’s bounden duty to keep in touch with the sick and incapacitated. Some of the church members were hale and hearty and would not expect to be chased by the minister. The minister was supposed to be a shepherd, but was not supposed to be a sheepdog, and he did not think that had been expected of him. During the year he had paid 836 pastoral visits. They were the oldest Presbyterian congregation in New Zealand, he said. The report showed that the number on the roll was 363, 61 new members having been admitted, while 72 were lost by disjuncture and other causes. The Minister had officiated at 25 baptisms, 42 marriages. and 19 funerals. Regret was expressed at the death of Mr. S. Turner. The Rev. H. Mitchell, 8.A., had completed his course, and was licensed by the Presbytery on November 14 in St. Andrew’s Church. The Sunday School roll was 40, a slight decrease. Mr. C. D. Morpeth moved the adoption of the annual report of session, and spoke appreciatively of the ministry of the Rev. J. R. Howie. He suggested that the falling off in the attendances at Sunday School was possibly due to the development of the motor-car, as many people liked to take a motor run in the afternoon and also took the children. However, they were now holding a Sunday School prior to the morning service, and they hoped this' would have the desired effect. Mr. J. T. Martin referred to the organ fund, towards which further donations amounting to £231 had been received. There was now a credit balance of £l6O. He also spoke of the fund raised to provide the minister with a motor-car, for the minister of a city church could not adequately carry out his duties without one.

The meeting proceeded to the election of the officers- of the church for the ensuing year, and passed thanks to the chairman, officers and committees for their services. The remainder of the evening was of a social nature. At the conclusion of the meeting, a resolution was passed by the congregation to increase the stipend of the minister (Rev. R. J. Howie) to £650, the allowance being inclusive.