ST. CLAIR PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 19017, 12 August 1925, Page 1

ST. CLAIR PRESBYTERIANS

HIE AKIIUAL REPORTS • The annual report of the Kirk Session of St. Clair Presbyterian Church states (inter alia) : The membership roll steadily increases, and at times the seating capacity of the • church has been severely taxed. Forty-three have joined the church by transfer, and twenty-two by profession of faith. There have been twenty-two disjunction certificates issued, and the membership roll now stands at 251. The attendance at communion totalled (September 1, 1924, to June, 1925) 727, as against 589 for the corresponding period last year. The session is pleased to state that the Sunday school work is well up to standard, and that the number of scholars attending is steadily increasing, but regrets that the position of superintendent of the senior division has not been filled. This vacancy was caused by the resignation, on account of ill-health, of Mr W. Anderson, which was accepted with very great regret. This all-important post, in the meantime, is being capably filled by the Rev, J. Miller. There is still a shortage of teachers, and the session invites members to come forward and help in this good work. The Deacons’ Court reports:—The amount received from all sources (excluding interest on the building and debt extinction fund) was £BB4 12b 2d, as against £BBO 0s lid for the preceding year. The ordinary and envelope collections decreased by £7 lie 5d and £4 Is 5d respectively, but there was an increase of £1 7k in'the amount received for the sustentation fund. The receipts include amounts raised for the building and debt extinction fund—£49 19s 4cl by means of a special collection and donations, and £l2 10s 6d by means of a concert. The proceeds of Dr Merrington’s lecture amounted to £ll Is net. On the expenditure side it may bo noted that the cost of repairs and maintenance was £2l 14s lid (last year the amount was small, and was included in sundries); donations and sundries, which included some substantial amounts paid in cases of need which the court considered deserved the congregation’s assistance, increased by £l6 7s Id, as also did or stationery and advertising by £7 18s Id. There were decreases in the cases of salaries £l2 7s, and assessments £l7 17s 6d. The court again made a contribution of £2O to the P.S.S.A., but it was not called upon to pay the usual grant of £3O to the Sunday school. The year opened with a credit balance in the general account of £97 Is Od, and in view of this satisfactory position £IOO was transferred to the building and debt extinction fund. The amounts specially raised for building and debt extinction purposes, except £5 2s, have also been transferred to that fund, which now totals £177 13s 9d. The year closed with a orediV balance in the general account of £55 11s. For the first time since; the envelope system was instituted there was a small decrease (£4 Is sd) in the' amount contributed. The,average number of contributors- (M:«py-y.]u - oe) was the same as b*a^;'ear. though have been several ifnil romdviih. the district, but the places of those who have thus dropped out have been taken by now members. The Deacons’ Court would again earnestly commend this system to those who have not yet adopted it. Even in its limited application it has been of great benefit to this church, and lire court trusts Unit the now financial year will show a large increase in the number of contributors. The amount contributed to missions, although not so groat ns last year, when tiie amount was swelled by the proceeds. of a sale of work, was again very satisfactory. _ This year’s contribution, £99 Is Gel, included £3-3 raised by the Busy Bees under Mrs Cross, who deserves credit for her work with the little ones. The members of th P.W.M.U. have again worked hard, and they collected £56 14s 3d medium of the mission boxes. This was slightly less than last year’s collection. The Sabbath school report shows a roll of 354 and thirty teachers.