KENT-TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 32, 7 February 1907, Page 2

KENT-TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

"THE PASTOR'S PAGE." Last night tile twentieth annual meeting of the Kent-torracc Presbyterian Church was held, Iho Rev J. K. Elliott being in tho chair. Thero was a goodly muster of members. There wero come remarks of special intereet comprised in "the pastor's page," which custom has mado nn appropriate adjunct to the annual report by tho church ofneers. As preface to tho page, Mr. Elliott regretted that at the present timo there was a wave, of non-attendance at church passing over the whole world. Ho hoped that thosb to whom lib was speakings would be warned against Ihe tendency in time ; for to be frrowarued was to be forearmed. Mr. Elliott also dca.lt with jtho subject, of Presbyterian polity, pointing out that tho Presbyterian system of church government was founded on New Testament prWetpldS, an,d 'aimed »t combining liberty with order and organisation. Tho individual congregation governed its own affairs, but was subject to the Presbytery synod or assembly in matters of wider interest. Mr. Elliott ako impressed upon his hcaijen tho necessity for cultivation of. tho eocial lifo of tho ohjiroh. As Dr. Fitchott had remarked in his inspiring book ontitlod "Wesley and his Century, ' there wero tWo possible theories of church relationship. Ono might bo called "tho : tranicar theory," and- the idea was an accidental group of persons sitting eiclo by eido for a few minutes, but oompleto strangers to ouo another. The other was the iamily theory of the church, according to which ideal humilu boingts were kmttod together by conscious anil acknowledged kinship, and had office of protection and help towards each other. Soino might be disposed to reckon this duty one of tho minor moralities, but it was tiignificant to find that, tho great Apostle dovotod to ' this very topic ono-sixteenth of that, great opistle to which had booii assigned the premier placs in tho Paulino writings. , ' Tho twentieth annual report vf&H road by Mr. O. S. Falconer. It stated than in spito of many discourngomfents, ami that centrifugal fores that was now sending many peoplo into tho suburbs), the Church had a large and loyal remnant. Tho success of tho church had not been limited to tho region of the temporal, for the .church's minister testified that many in conversation With him had intimated that their lives had been changed under tho ministry of thfe Word. The eoiflmunicants' roll had been most carefully revised, and the names of such persons tts gavo no satisfactory reason for lengthened non-attondahca were roiflovod. The numbcri present at the tjua-rlfcrty celebrations Werfr— January 142, April 184, July 192, October 165. Additions during tho year were 58 (40 by certificate and 13 by examination) ; tho disjunctions by doath were 4, by certificate 24, and bccauSo of tion-attondaneo 8. The number now on tho roll Was 300. Thbro wero 69 baptisms during tho yeaf, tiomo, adults feeing of the number. Tho anniversary services of the church wero held on 7th Ocibbbr, when thb ReV. Inane Jolly, M.A., of Palmerston North, conducted. The balaneo'shoct (read by Mr. Robert John-" ton) showed receipts totalling £962* 13s 3d, the principal itettiß in which wero churoh collections £585 JU 26, and seat rents £173 10s. Tho chief, heads of expenditure Wero salaries £490, property account £149 Bn, rations £117 14b Id. After all disbursement* wore made there remained ft credit balnnco at bank of £4 86. On tho motion of the reverend cHair- J man, seconded by Mr. E. 0, Jack, tho report Was unanifhously adopted.. After tho meeting hnd been concluded Mr, H. M. Hannay presented to tlio Sunday t-chbol pupils {ho annual prizes, totalllilft over oitfhty volmneß.