PRESBYTERIAN SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 16514, 28 August 1917, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

. ■ ■■ ■ « The eleventh annual meeting of the above association was held in Burns Hall last evening. The Rev. A. Cameron preThe Chairman said that the moderate attendance, he was glad to say, did not by any means represent the interest taken in the movement. The association had started in a humble wav to provide for indigent children, but they had always had in view the aim of helping old people as well. At present the association had a house in Clvde street, an institution at Grant's Braes, and one at Shiel ilill; and recently they had bought a house at Invercargill. No' doubt the work would extend. _ln Dunedin alone they had more than 360 young people under their care. Sixty of their charges were at the front. Six had been killed and seven had won commissions. The expansion of their work entailed considerable expenditure, bat the association now owned all their properties and -were free of debt. They felt that they could go on with the work of providing for old people. It had been said that the present was not a good time, but he felt that it was God's time. It had been proposed to use the Clvde street house for the old people, but that was too small. Then a gentleman had cc>me forward and offered a splendid sito at North-east Valley. The association Had met with so much encouragement that they felt thoy %vero called upon to pursue the work of providing for the old people. Rev. W. Trotter moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. He said that -when the war started the association were afraid that their efforts would soon be empty, but they were never in a better position "than now. The association aimed at providing homes for the old people. If it had been desirable to minister only to material wants they might have left the matter to the Government, as old people in Government institutions were well looked after; but the association felt that it was necessary to minister also to the old people's spiritual necessities. It was tlirongh no fault of their own that many old people were in poor circumstances. The association did not want to lift the burdens that lay upon the sons and daughters of parents" in need; but there was room for Christian charity. He was pleased to say that the fountains of charity still flowed in their midst from both rich and poor. They were making their appeal to both rich and poor, and even shillings would not be despised. It was out of the fountain of comparative poverty that they would get what they needed. Rev. R. E. Davies. seconding the motion, congratulated all engaged in the great •work. Last year was the best, financially and otherwise. He had just returned from Invercargill, where he found a keen interest being taken in orphanage work. The old people's homo was very much leeded, and the Church would never re*ret the step they had taken; but lie hoped :hat the money necessary would be gath;red in quickly", otherwise the general funds aiight be affected. There were many deserving old people in Otago who had outlived their usefulness, and he prayed that success woold crown the association's effort to help them. Mr Davies paid a special compliment to the work done by Mr Axelsen, and expressed the hope that that gentleman would put on the brake in order to conserve his energies for a lengthy period. He wa3 glad to have the. opportunity, also, of acknowledging the good work done in the hospitals by Mr Spence. The association were fortunate in having the assistance of Deaconess Norah. He trusted that next year would see the old people's home in full working order under the richest of blessings. Mr Axelsen (superintendent) thanked those who had paid him compliments. He acknowledged the assistance*of a good committee andthe liberality of many subscribers. Their Church was proving to the community as a whole that they could turn their doctrines into material effect. He was sure they would get the money for the old people's home, and thoy would go further, and make provision for the soldiers who returned broken from the war. The future was going to be brighter and happier than even the past had been. During the evening children from the Glendining Home gave several items—a quartet by girls, a dolly song by a dozen or so girls and a boy used as an ornament, and a chorus. Miss G'ovvie sang a song and took part with Mrs Taylor in a duet.