DUNDAS STREET CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 14631, 29 July 1911, Page 2

DUNDAS STREET CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. The members and adherents of the Dnndas -Street Primitive Methodist Church held their annual meeting <m Thursday evening. Like previous meetings, this year’s function was an entire success, goodfellowship'being evident on all sides. Tho pastor of the church (the Rev. G. Knowles Smith! presided. The office-bearers, in presenting rtRSf twenty-second annual report, stated;— “ The year has been one full of activities, and a gratifying measure of suoces, for which we give thanks to the Almighty Head of the Church. Oar membership nefw stands at 160, this being a net increase for the year of 6. During this period we have received 34 new members. 28 on confession of faith and 6 by credential. It is peculiarly gratifying to us that amongst the 28 confessions of faith are a number of young men. and maidens trained in the Sunday school. This splendid increase has, however, heeu minimised by tbs removal of no less than 23 of our members to other districts. Our Sabbath cervices have kept up a good average attendance, and we trust have proved helpful to there attending. Our minister has followed his general course of making tbs morning worship the occasion for expository addresses and the evening for evangelistic and special topics. The children have their recognised place in the morning worship, one hymn being particularly fur them, and a ten-minutes’ address, for which we recognise our jjastor has peculiar aptitude. We regret that the mid-week prayer meeting is not attended in such numbers as the size of our congregation warrants us to expect, and we would urge our friends to give serious thought to the spiritual helpfulneas that is loci to them by the neglect of this means of grace. Wo have again to express our appreciation of tho services of the choir, who, under the baton of Mr Robson, have rendered help not only at the ordinary services, but on all special occasions willingly; and also to Miss Moore, our organist, who is ever ready to give us her services as accompanist. Under the able leadership of Mr W : . M. Roberts the Sunday school continues its good work. We have now 27 teachers and 223 scholars, being an increase cf 6 teachers and 18 scholars. The officers have, alter full consideration, introduced tho new graded lesson system, and this is found to be working exceedingly well, especially in tha junior department. We have again to express our thanks to Mks Brown lor her work in connection with tha young ladies Bible class. The young men's Bible class lias been merged into a men's meeting, held in the- church aedcr the presidency of the minister. Under tho presidency of Mrs G. Knowles bmith, the Ladies’ Missionary League maintains its interest. Ito ladies raire- tne great proportion of oar missionary revenue, and at present ara working hard lor tha support of the saddle-nag missionary to the back-blocks. The Junior C.E. meets on a Sabbath morning, and it well attended. During the year the leader, Mr Batcher, removed from ttic city, but the society are fortunate in having secured. Miss Blair to take up the. duties. The Senior Endeavor has now a membership of 25 active members, and one of our n unmet - is secretary for the Dsne-din Union. Tho Literary and Debating Society continues on its prosperous course. It is now the oldest continuous- society of the kind in the City - . The weekly gatherings are well attended, and the society are to be congratulated on holding the challenge banner lor the Otago Debating Society Union. Tho pastor's study class is held after the mid-week prayo" meeting for the study of theology, and alt-ho ugh not largely attended, is greatly appreciated by its members. The officers desire to express their heartiest thanks to the many workers who readily and willing! v co-operate in the work of the church. Whilst detailed figures are out desirable in this report, wc would mention tiiat the folic wing amounts have been rabed during the year:—For circuit purposes, £277 ’l2s 6*d ; for trust purposes, £6l 6.5 Id; for Sunday ccbool, £59 12s-4d; for missions, horn© and foreign, £2B; for Andt.-r.-ou Bay, £SO ; for small and general bn id-. £l2—a total financial result of £458 11a lid. In conclusion, whilst grateful for the- work of the past your, the officers ririilir© that tins year will bo a streauoufl and true 1 , chat the church will rally to their aid. The demands made upon our minister ter public and oonnexional work me already very heavy, but will be increased this year, and negotiations axe now being made * with a view to securing a cjjimh sister to cany on trie pastoral duties. We ara anxious to realise the final clearance of th® debt upon these school pr-emire*-', and lor this object a scheme to raise £IOO is being laid before you. Wo have no doubt that, true to the traditions of the pat-t, our people wii] rally to Ukj support of the No-license party and assist in* .-securing not only local but Dominion Prohibition at the coming poll.” During the owning tho Kev. T. W. Vcalie a;ldn.sre-d a few remarks suitable to tile occasion to more present. A capital jjj o-.'-L'a-umic oj voc-d and instrumental items was iiuu.il appreciated. The contributor v.t-iv Mb.s I', Janwr:. Miss Mitchell, Messrs Dull'. .M’Nmnara, and J. Jago (songs), l!b? ]5 ■ ;vs: i-r i i eei ta tioii.j', M oafres M ‘Kinky, Dam-hop, Oliver, and Reid (quartet), Ml M‘Berni -flute i.oio , The choir also contributed se-vcral anthems. At ti*> conclusion of tb« meeting refreshment's were provided, and a while was ,-jieiil in social ml ereoiirse.