ROSLYN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 8

ROSLYN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Tho annual report of the above church states:—At the close of our last ecclesiastical year there were 140 names on the communion roll. Of these, 10 have been removed by certificate and 3 by death. During the year just ended 26 have been received by certificate and 21 by examination, so that there are now 174 members on tho roll. When the congregation was erected into a sanctioned charge four years ago there were only 65 names on the roll. Three more deacons were elected early in the year. Messrs A. C. Alcock and T. £amboume were duly ordained ; and Mr R. J. Stark, who had been a deacon elsewhere, was inducted to office on Sabbath, 51 hj September. Owing to removal from the district, (Mr J. S. White resigned Ins office as deacon. Hearty thanks were rer- -ded for tho time and energy that lie Dad so cheerfully given in several departments of the church’s work. The sacrament cl the Lord’s Supper was observed four tines during the year. The number of members who engaged in that holy ordinance was as follows for tho respective quarters:—lo9, 151, 133, 140. An attempt lias been rrt.de to encourage the children to attend church. They arc provided with note books, on which they write the “ Golden Text ” for the day and whatever else they can remember of tho brief addresses given by the minister. These note books are brought to the church apd stamped as a record of attendance. After examination of the books by Miss G. Macgregor (who has charge of the scheme), prizes will be awarded to the most deserving. The resignation of Mr J. L. Salmond as conductor of tho choir necessitated changes which led to the resignation of Miss Mary ('allender as organist. Both of them had given their services freely all through the previous years of the church’s existence. Miss Callender’s services were specially valuable, as they involved attendance not only at choir practice, but at all the Sunday services, and very often at the weekly prayer meeting as well. The Session resolved that the two offices should be combined, and, after calling for applications, appointed Mr J. Z. LindJcy to be organist and choirmaster. The Deacons’ Court have improved the surroundings o! the church ana hall by draining a part of the ground, replanting hedges, and forming footpaths. Heaters have also been jirovided for the church, and the discomfort of winter thereby removed. The financial state of the congregation continues satisfa itory. The. sustentation fund is a little higher than last year, but there is a slight decline in the ordinary collections, notwithstanding the fact tliat the membership of the church has considerably increased. It was resolved to leave the matter of the erection of a manse in abeyance until the end of the financial year. The dumber on the roll at the Young Women’s Bible Class is 46, and the average attendance 32. The class suffered a great loss in the removal of Miss Strang to Nelson. Misses S H. Riddell and J. Williamson were .appointed joint leaders. The leadership of Mr James Bremner at the Young Men’s Bible C Jess is much appreciated. The class bar a membership of 29, and the average attendance is 20. There are 180 on the Sunday School roll—an increase of 52 on last year’s number. Tlie average attendance for He year was 125—65 boys and 60 girls. The children contributed £27 4s during tlie year. There is a difficulty in getting male teachers, and the library needs replenishing. I lie Ladies’ Guild met fortnightly in the guild, room from the beginning of March to the end of October, with an attendance of about 20 members. From the proceeds of the previous year’s sale of work a donation of £2 was sent to the Training Institute, the sum of £6 10s was handed to the Foreign Missions Committee, and £8 10s was paid to the Deacons’ Court towards the purchase of umbrella-holders for the church seats. A sale of work was held on November 1. The attendance vas fairly good, and £25 was realised. The thanks of the members are due to Mrs Crawford for so regularly attending to the afternoon tea. Monthly meetings of the I’. W.M.U. have been held during the year, with an average attendance of 19. In connection with a Friday afternoon class and the help of Misses Coull and Macgregor. 4j dozen dolls were provided and dressed. These, along with 21 dresses, 4 quilts, and a few scrap hooks, procured by some of the senior girls, with the assistance of Mrs M’Ara and Misses Werner, Gillies, and Huie, were sent to Miss Henderson! of Madras. The untiring energy of Mrs Borrows in connection with this work will bo greatly missed. Tho Mutual Improvement Association Had a successful session last year. The Band of Hope is a new branch of the church’s work. It started with a membership of 59, which has since increased to over 80. Perhaps no movement of recent years lias been so fruitful of good amongst the young as the C.E. movement. Some of the young people, knowing this, resolved to make a start on the ordinary lines. There are 11 active members. The choir has done excellent work during the past year. It consists of 31 members, of whom 13 are treble, 6 alto, 5 tenor, and 7 bass. Mr Lindley, who was appointed organist and conductor, takes a great, interest in the choir, with the result that the attendance keeps well up, both at week-night practices and Sunday services.