ST. CLAIR PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 9

ST. CLAIR PRESBYTERIANS

COK&REGATION APPROVES BUILDIKG SCHEME 1 The annual meeting of the St. Clair Presbyterian congregation, held last night, was one of the most encouraging of tlio whole scries. Though the night was wot, about seventy or eighty attended ,and took a lively interest m the business. ■The llcv. H. H. Barton, Interim Moderator, remarked that all concerned were to bo heartily congratulated upon tho reports that had been compiled. There was a great deal in them to animate the church —clear evidence of a very hearty interest in all its activities. A great opportunity offered at St. Clair, with its largo and growing population and Ijie congregation well established, harmonious, and happy, and the church should go forward to' greater things. Everything pointed in that'direction. The minis-ter-elect, the Rev. R. M'Dowail, was a young man, full of vigor, and it was believed that he would bo prepared to do his part and find the people rallying round him. One of the evidence of progress was that during too year tho Sunday shool roll had enlarged from 231 to 261. Another good sign was the friendliness of the people, and ho counselled them to cultivate that fine spirit. Mr Barton also ma<te reference to tho efficient work of the office-bearers, specially commending the services on the Deacons’ Court of Mr A. Kilpatrick, who had resigned from the chairmanship of that court after nine years’ faithful occupancy, ana was now chairman of the Finance Committee. , , Mr W. Anderson, clerk of session, moved the adoption of the reports and balance-sheet. He mentioned that the latest reports about the work of the Bov. John Miller at Papanui, to which charge he moved during the year, was that the membership there had increased by 100 per cent. _ ine people of St. Clair would rejoice to know of such results from the work of their late pastor. ’ The office-bearers were delighted to have the Rev. H. .&■ Barton as Interim ana members would Join with them in expressing appreciation of the work being done during tho vacancy by the Rev. J. Ernest Adams, who _ had undertaken the pastoral visitation regularly and the preaching on alternate Sundays. Tho occasional preachings of the Rev. A. H. Wallace had also been most acceptable. All were looking forward most hopefully to the coming of the Rev. R. M‘Dowall. Meanwhile the services wore well attended in the mornings, the Sunday school was flourishing, though more teachers were needed, the P.W-M.H. was doing excellent work, the ladies guild was organising a big sale of work lor November, and all the branches of tho work were in good heart. The finance, too, had been entirely satisfactory, the revenue from most sources showing an increase, but greater expenditure was proposed during the coming year, so there was occasion to ask for continued and even greater liberality. Mr J Bowie seconded tho motion, and emphasised the call for more Sunday school workers. Dr John Dickie, speaking as a nonofficial member of the congregation, expressed gratitude to the. office-bearers for their wise guidance in tho affairs of the church, and spoke in appreciative terms of tho preaching by tho Rev. Mr Adams. Dr Dickie also put forward a plea on behalf of Mr L. A. North, choirmaster, for recruits to the choir.

The motion was adopted. Mr John Wilson presented and explained -.the recommendations of the Deacons’ Court with regard to building, and with the aid of plans drawn by Mr Dunning ho showed what was proposed to bo done. The main clause of tho recommendations was that additions to tho church, additions to the Sunday school, and alterations to the manse he adopted as a definite building scbcino. In pursuance thereof that immediate application be made to the Presbytery for aproval of tho proposed aletrations to the manse and for a grant of £2OO towards the cost thereof; and that, if Presbytery agrees to recommend Synod to make such grant, the alterations be proceeded with forthwith. That tho additions to the Sunday school bo also proceeded with immediately, tho Deacons’ Court to have power to decide whether by an attached or detached building. That the proposed additions to the church he deferred until after tho settlement of Mr M'Dowall, and until such time as the Deacons’ Court considers it advisable to proceed.—Mr Wilson moved tho adoption of those recommendations. Ho menijbncd that the total of the estimate for the work to bo done at once was £1,600, towards which there was £7OO in hand or in si~H, and that the present debt was £SOO. • Mr R. MTjcan seconded the motion. The Chairman said the cost of tho work would bo £2,500 for the church, £1,027 for the Sunday school, and £560 for tho manse. The grants expected were £BSO for the church and £2OO for the manse. The proposals were adopted.

During the evening songs were given by Mrs Cross and Mr H. Townrow, and Miss E. Harraway contributed a pianoforte solo. Supper w'as served in the interval, and whilst the members present looked at tho architect’s building plans they also cast admiring glances at the beautiful greenhouse cinerarias that Mr Percivai Shacklock had brought to beautify the platform.