St. John's Presbyterian Church.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 8 February 1888, Page 4

St. John's Presbyterian Church.

Tho annual rongrogafional meeting of St John's Preabyteriftn Chnruh was held in the schoolroom last overling. Tlio chair wa* taken by tho Roy. J. PaterHon, and thorc woro present tho ol'lnrs of tho church, find i very largo congregation. Tho proceeding* were oponed by tho singing of n psalm by the choir, after which the Rev. Mr. Sidey, of Napidr (clerk of the Presbyterian General Afwombly), lead the gathering in prayor. Tho annual report was then read by tho Chairman. It stated that tho congregation had fully maintained its poßition of former yearn. In moml-o - t-hip and pxoroi^ii, tliero was a slight wereaßO, mid tl.cra win a oorrcflrjomluiir iMcreadoin tl.n attendance at the baotatli Bervicos. Thirf was not, however, the main thing doiured ; what was reciuired wiw to see an increase of Hpiritual life and power in tha church— a higher moral nnd religious tone, and a forvont zeal and dovotedness in every good oauso, and more abounding fruitfulness in all the members. The membership m reported last year on tho communion roll was 332 ; since added by examination, 12 ; by certificate, 48; in all, 60. Withdrawn, 26; loaving a not gain to tho momborohip of .'it. The number now on the roll was 416. The session, which consisted of eleven elders, with tho Modorator, hold stated meotings bofore and after oaoh communion, and_ as often as occasion required. Tho districts were vi.iitod qnartorly, and tho communion cirds distributed. It was felt, however, that some of tho districts woro too largo, and an addition to the oldorahip was needed inorderto make the visitation more thorough, Henoo the request that i.lx additional olderg might be elooted. Witli this addition to tho Htaff of office-bearers tho intorosts of tho mngrosratioq should bo more efficiently carod I >r. Tho attendance at the weekly prayor meetings was about the same as in formor yoars. A hope was expressed that more of tho congregation would aeok spiritual reliof at those mootings. Sppoial ovangelUtio survicos woro hold in the ohuroh in the early part of tbo yoar, oonduoted by tho ministry of tho Presbytery, and more recently by the Roy. Mr. Mountain. From those soryices good rosults were hopod for. The Ministry Bible class, with a membership of 44, had met in May, its session extending till November. St. Jolin's Literary Sooiety, which since the burning of the church had boen virtually defunct, had been revived during the past year. Upwards of 30 mombors had boon enrolled, and ronnlts woro most encouraging. Reforring to tho progress of the two Sunday sohools conneoted with tho chnroh, and also of tho Band of Hope, the report spoko of them in very favourable terms, and made eulogistic reference to the teaching staff. To the organist (Mr. England), and the mombors of tho church choir, the bo3t thanks of the congregation wero dne. After referring to the spooial sorvioes hold during the yoar, and tho addition made to tho church funds by tho holding of a successful conversazione, the report remarked upon the financial position of the ohuroh. The ordinary Sunday collections amountod to -E7OO 14s Gd, boing an increaso of £49 on the previous year. Tho soat runts amountod to £536 175, being an increase of £13 15s. Spooial collections had boon made, the procoeds of which amountod to J8149 03 9d. Tho total rovonne amounted to .£1547 12s 6d. In concluding, the report referred to the Ladles' Visiting Sooiety, and spoke in high terms of tho benevolent work effected by this sooiety. The balanoc-fheet showed tho assets to be .£9251 13s 3d in oxcess of the liabilities, the principal item in tho latter being a mortgage of .£IOOO on the ohnroh property, which consiatod o£ tho ohuroh, school, and dwellinghouse, and mango and grounds, valned in all at £ 13,230. Tho Treasurer also stated that tho receipts of the Ladies' Visiting Sooioty showed a oredit balance on tho year's work of £2 6s 3d. Tho Chairman said that in looking ovor tho roport thoy would boo that a very largo amount of money had boen •oollectod during the year, and ho thought it showed a very liboral spirit among the congregation. Their collections had beon very liberal, showing an avorago of £15 for each week. Ho oonolnded by formally moving the adoption of tho report. The motion was seconded by Mr. J. Maokay, who first referred in the most eulogistic) torms to the ohoir. Referring to tho reports he thought that thoy wero most satisfactory. Tho speaker also referred in complimentary terms to Mr. James Smith, the hon. treasurer, to whom, he said, they wero greatly indebted for the flourishing financial position of the Church. The report and balanco-shoot were then adopted, and it was decided that thoy be printed'and circulated amongst the congregation. On the motion of the Chairman, a unanimous vote of thanks was passod to the Secretary and Treasurer of the church for their ssrvioes dnring the past year. The annual roport of the Sunday Schools was then, read by the Seoretary (Mr. W. Hopkirk). ' The report was very satisfactory as regards attendance, showing an inoroase in all the schools. The staff of teaohero, however, had slightly decreased. Daring the year 212 volumes had beon added to the school library and a nnmber of books repaired, and it was hoped to add new volumes during the present year. The singing classes had been a suacess, but the toaohers* meetings had not answored so well as had boon expected. The balance-sheet was rather unfavourable. The Band of Hopo organisation showed a very favourable advance. The balance-sheet of the Sunday Schools was thon road by Mr. T. M'Konzio (Treasnrer), and showed a debit balance for tho year's operations of £12 18s lid. He explained that there was an amount of £7 or £8 still owing for books, and another £5 for subscriptions, which would more than set off their amount of liability. Ho attributed the deoioase in their receipts to the goneral depression,, Mr. M'Konzio also read tho balance-sheet of the Band of Hope Sooiety, which showed a orodit balance for the year of £4, 16s 4d. The reports and balance-sheets wero adopted as read, on tho motion of Mr. T. MoKonzie, seconded by Mr. J. MoKorrow. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to tho chair, on the' motion of Mr. W. T. Glasgow. Mr. Jamos Smith thon mado an announcement in reforenco to the ohuroh organ. He said tho congregation was now in possession of an organ whioh was admitted to be one of the best in New Zealand. It had cost thorn £1461 3s 3d, and he supposed that long faces would be pulled woro' ho to toll them that thoy had suoh a dobt to pay off ; but he could give them more pleasing news, and that was that the dobt had boon noarly all paid off. Inolnding interest, &0., the organ up to the present had cost them £1533 lls Gd, of which £1114 7s 4d had been paid. There was still a debt of £419 4s 2d, and this was hoped to be paid off dnring the year. Continuing his remarks, tho spoaker said tho organ was.ono whioh would outlast the lives of many generations, sweet and powerful as are its tones now, age and practico will but render them still, more mellow, rich, and full. It was Mb earnest prayer that it may be a pleasant thing to all worshippers in St. John's Church, and that so oiten as thoy assemble there on the Sabbath after the cares and toils of the week, its tonos would sootho and calm the par tin bod and weary broast and be a means towards lifting tho soul heavenward. Though, ovorythincr in connection with this organ had been to him a matter of great anxiety, yot ho felt a confident assurance that a day would come — and that right speodily— when evory member of this Church would more and iroro approoiato the efforts that had been made to procure thin noble instrument. When tho voice of him who thon spoke should be silent in (loath, may tho organ continue to be a great and vainable aid to the dovotion of tho sanctuary, and boar its hnmble part in fitting tho weary pilgrim for tho higher joys and sweeter anthems of the Churoh triumphant. (Applause.) The following gentlemen were then deolarod to have been eleoted as church members for the ensuing year : — Messrs. J. R. Blair, R. Gardner, D. S. Gray, J. Grubb, R. Greenfield, R. Hannah, J. Kirkcaldie, A. Macdougall, J. Maokay, J. H. Pope, D. Pryde, W. S. Reid, T. Warnook, G. v7ilßon,T. Whitehonse. This was all the business, and the proceedings were dosed with the benediction. Dnring the evening refreshments wore handed round to those present, and tho ohoir rendered a number of anthems. Two lady mombors of tho choir also gave solos dnring the evening, and reooived well deserved applause for their efforts.