ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 131, 30 November 1933, Page 19

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

"MOST ENCOURAGING YEAR"

SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM

The annual meeting and social gathering of the members of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willis Street, was held in the schoolroom last evening. The Key. J. It. Blanchard, minister of the church, presided.

Iv the course o£ his address j\lr. Blanehard said the church had had a most encouraging year, during which they had made up some of the -way -which was lost during the preceding year because of the depression. As copies of the annual report had been circulated to members it was unnecessary that he. should deal with the facts stated in regard' to the various activities of the church. He thought the time was coining when the Christian church would have to express its thoughts in regard to what it considered to be the way out of the difficulties into which the world' had fallen. That was a difficult thing to do because of the attitude of many people outside the church. The church could not accept Socialism, because that predicated the sovereignty of the State. The State was not sovereign, for beyond the State was God.- The church could not accept Communism, which was materialistic. The speaker alluded to the Church's ideals of vocation, and fraternity. Mr. W. Hopkirk moved the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, a synopsis of which has been published. He spoke in terms of high' appreciation of the work done by the ladies of the congregation. - . ■ ■ In seconding the motion, Mr. A. Howitt paid a warm tribute to the work of the pioneers in St. John's Church. He menI tioned that there were two severe depressions during the history .of St. John's— one in 1879 and the other in 1888. It made most encouraging reading to peruse the annual report of St. John's Church m those years. The depression was faced with most wonderful and successful courThe report and statement o£ accounts were adopted. . On the suggestion of the chairman, cordial greetings and kindly remembrances are to be sent to the Rev. Dr. Gibb and to Miss Gibb; also to the Rev. G. MeNeur, Mrs. McKeur, and Miss McKeur, who are at present in China. Votes of thanks were passed to those who had nm'de the various activities of the church so successful. Songs were contributed by Miss Benmc and Mr. Bennett. " ■ '