CHURCH MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 14637, 5 August 1911, Page 11

CHURCH MEETING.

The congregation of the Maori Hill rresb.vleriau Church held their annual meeting ihU week, the moderator of the charge (Rev. D. Borne) presiding. Tho annual report contained the following:—Our minister has preached wh.h greater vigor and earnestness than ove:. but we close the year with the prospect of a grt'at loss through his removal 10 Waiphkuiju. The session would put ou record their deep sense of the very valuable work of Mr Iti'Dcnald during the tour years that he has b':en cmpastor, end their feeling ct loss at his departure. The attendances at the services have increased dming the. year, and point to the fact that at- no distant date further accommodation will be necessary. The Wednesday evening prayer meeting is better attended than previously, which speaks well for tho spiritual life of tho conjrrerjation. Tho attendance at the Lord's fchipptr shows an increase, being 93, 107, 105, ami 115 for tho four quarters. The membership has also inereased, and now stands at 176. During the year 15 have joined by certiticate and 20 by profession, while S have disjoined by certificate, leaving a net gain of 27, this boiEg a satisfactory" increase for the 12 months. The young ladies of the congregation have opened a brick fund for the putposo of assisting in raisin? funds for the election of a new church. The Sabbath school continues under 'he superlnienclency of Mr Kinnear, who has a staff of teachers and officers numbering 20. The number of scholars ou tho roll has increased to 157, including junior Biblo classes, which are under tho _Jiblo leadersliip of Mrs ISorrie and Mr C. Wilson, who have deno earnest and good work. The contributions for the year amount to £l9 17s 9d, which have been devoted to mission rurposes. Tho Senior Young Women's Bible Class has been carried on during the year by Mrs Somerville. There are 12 numbers oil the roll, with ita average, attendance, of 9. The Senior Young Men's Bible Class meet; every Sundav afternoon. The average attendance for the year is 10, a slight decrease ou last rear's avtraee. The collections amounted" to £1 15s 2d, £1 10s 2d of which was criven to mhsious. Mr W. J. Craig is If ne'er. The choir, under tho leadership of 31 >■ Ritchie, hare done excellent, work, and have improved the service of praiso very considerably. Tho P.W.M.U. held their regular meetings durimr the year. They have oontribut»d 14 dotjen bandages to the missions in India and China: thi.y further contributed £3 to the same missions, and also douated £1 to the traininsr home. The ordinary leverne is considerably in excess of that of any previous \ear. The expenditure has been fairly heavy also, as the enlarged building has "entailed extra cxpeufe tor furnishing-: also additional equipment for the fc-abbarh school. The debt remains at the same figure \ as last year. The Sabbath Day collections have been verr e.vnc-rous!v responded to. If tbn j could he increased to £325 tho ordinary leveuus would be very satisfac- , t'iry indeed. Ti'.i ordinary revenue amounted to "£377, and the amount raised for mission and other funds amounted to £101; also £2i for buildics funds; total, £502. Salaries .2285, interest. £lB. Sunday school £l3 are ike main items of expeiidituie, while £6S was spent on tho buildings."" The' report was adopted, and the moderator called tor nominations for additional deacons. Ten were proposed, and it was agreed trial voiiup- papers "lie Usued on Sunday. The Moderator intimated that, as tho charge had been declared vacant, steps should nnw°be taken to fill the . vacancy. _ It was then resolved to set up n sekelion committee to recommend the name or, it" desirable, several names of ministers to the con-i-re--r.tion. The committee, appointed confuted of the session, with The deacons, and Messrs Keav, Ititchie, Martin, Ander-m, W. j. C'nur;, and Young, rrpi-cseniing the cour/rcL'atiwi.