ST. JOHN'S YOUNG MEN'S BIBLE CLASS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 10, 12 July 1909, Page 2

ST. JOHN'S YOUNG MEN'S BIBLE CLASS.

ANNUAL REPORT. The report of the committee of St. Jbhn's Young Men's Bible Class and Institute f-tates that the year just closing has been a bright one tor the class "although there been no soul-stirring missions to rouse the conscience of sluggard members." It was with, sincere regret that the class accepted the resignations of Messrs. G. A. Troup and C. S. Moore as leaders. At a special meeting of the class, held .subsequently, these gentlemen were appointed as life hon. leaden h, in recognition of the valuable services they had. rendered to the class and the Bible Clafife movement. The vacancies created through the resignations of the aforementioned gentlemen were filled by tke appointment of Messrs. C. A. Redgrave and J. S. Butler. v . The average attendance during the past 12 months shows a flight decrease compared with the attendance for. 1908. On the Ist July last year the number . on the roll was 105, and it was the same on the l&t July last. The average attendance per Sunday during 1907-8 was . 71.53 ; during 1908-9, 69.15.' * forty-eight new members have been enrolled during the past year, and un , equal number has been lost from the ; ranks. Of these latter a good numner ' have had to sever their connection with • the class through departufe from Wt-1 s lington, and among them were some of i the committee's most energetic workers. ! But there are some who still remain in , this city, who, with a little more p*t ! suasion, might have been induced to i stay. ; The number ' of books ib the library ■ has increased fronl 1006 tb IW3. ' The ' new books added havfe been obtained t from the proceeds of a lecture given by ' the Rev. J. CrOokston. The number of " books in circulation shows a considerable increa-se, as compared with previous years, the number issued for this y.ear being 652, or an average of 16.5 per > Sunday, as against 301, or an average o) 1 7.5 for 1907-8> In athletics the class holds a very s - satisfactory position, there being 40 E members of the .tennis clwb, two teams . cr.tejed for Rugby and two for Association. s The meet ings of the LiteYary and Dei bating Society have been cxceediugly ) well attended, and much better than in - former yeai?. Thele has been no lack I of speakers, and the speeches have been I of A high order, the matter being ex1 cellent, and members have improved con3 eiderably in their delivery, 'the most J gratifying feature, however, has been f the large number of young and- new - n~ embers taking part in the discussions. 5 Satisfactory results have been achieved 5 in connection with the Boys' Institute ?• ivork. Owing to the increase in mems bership the building is taxed to its ut- ' most; but it is hoped that in the near - future, the Institute Committee will be s in a position to ai range for an enlargement of the building. The sum of £36 17s 6d has been col- ■ lected by the class on behalf of the various missions, during the past year. ! "On the spiritual side, the report states L that the highest aim of the Bible Class j has been fulfilled. The class meetings : during the year have been of a distinctly 1 high character. The papers have, on the 5 \vh6le, been very good, and have evinced ! careful preparation on the part of the '• members whose duty it was to introduce ■ the subjects. During the yeai some 14 of our members have joined the church, 1 The statement of receipts and payments for the year discloses a very satibfactory position. There is a balance of £5 Us 3d in hand, and the sufrl of £100 has been deposited with, the WeJ- ■ lihgton Trustee Agency, Ltd., on behaK ' of the H. Druininond bequest.