FOR THE CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 124, 27 May 1913, Page 2

FOR THE CHILDREN

PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGE AT BERHAMPORE ANNUAL MEETING. St. John's Schoolroom was crowded last evening, -.vhen the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Association was held. The Eev. Dr. Gibb presided, and quite a number of clergymen interested in tlie work were present. The annual report stated that the main event of the year had been the occupancy of the new orphanage buildings, on 16th November last. During the year 44 children were cared for in the home, 36 being housed at present. Of these, 23 wer« boys and 13 girls. Since the inception of the work 66 children had passed through the committee's hands. The religious nurturo •of the children continued to be the chief concern of those responsible for their welfare. In addition to Bible lessons and Catechism on Sunday afternoons, they, were taught to memorise portions of the Scripture at morning prayers every day of the week. The association was again indebted to Drs. Begg and Elliott, and Messrs. A. Hoby and Miller, .for their services during the year. The children of the orphanage and their guardians had suffered a very great loss in the death of Mrs. J. 13. Finlay, secretary of the Ladies' Auxiliary, who had done excellent work for the home and for the association. Some part of Mr. Mills's time was devoted to the rural districts in the interests of the work This had brought him into no less than 23 congregations, whose sympathies had been expressed, and he had obtained much-needed pecuniary help. Mr. Mills had now under his supervision, chiefly in the country, about 45 boys, most of them gathered from the Juvenile Court. It was worthy of note that there were fewer delinquents than usual before the Wellington Magistrate last year, most of the offences being of a minor character. Of these boys, it was cheering to know^ thai almost all were turning out well, and the association was under a debt of gratitude to the farmers and others who had undertaken the oversight of these lads. None of these boys had been in the orphan age. "In the course of his work," says the report, "Mr. Mills has been impressed with the number of lapsed Presbyterians^ and the conviction has come home to his mind that the association, with the sanction of the Presbytery, should provide a mission-hall service into which some of these at least might be gathered. Many Presbyterians find their way to halls maintained by other de nominations, and it is clearly our duty to look well after those who- belong V) us." The financial statement showed that £1600 had been received during the year in subscriptions. There is "still a debt of £3000 on the property. Piev. Dr. Gibb reviewed the salient features of the report, and earnestly ap pealed to the congregation to help on the institution with subscriptions. The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by t?ev. Mr. Thompson, and carried unanimously. During the evening hymns were sung, and several items were given by the children of the orphanage, who looker] the picture of health and happiness?.