MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 20346, 30 November 1929, Page 28

MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIANS

annual church meeting The. twenty-fifth annual meeting of the congregation of the Maori Hill Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday evening.' ‘ The report and statement of accounts for the sixteen months ended October 31 were presented. After the usual opening exercises the minister (the Rev. A. C, W. Standage) welcomed all present, and expressed the wish that all who desired to would accept the opportunity of speaking freely and frankly on matters as they were brought forWi The Session Clerk moved the adoption of the session report. He regretted that several familiar faces were missing, and tendered sympathy with the relatives of those who had passed away during the year. On behalf of session and congregation he tendered to Mr and Mrs Standage sincere thanks for their consistent loving service during the past year, and expressed the wish that they would long be spared in health and strength to continue the work they had set their hands to. The report showed that the year had been one of quiet and steady progress. There was great opportunity for the congregation among the many young people attending Bible classes and the Sabbath school. The roll had been steadily increasing, and now stood, including twenty-four Wakari. _ members, at 449. The numbers attending at the quarterly communion sex-vices averaged 244. against an average of 239 last year. An evening communion service was commenced in March last, but it was not decided yet if this would be continued. Combined services had been held with the Methodist people during the Christmas and New Year holiday season, the morning services being held in the Presbyterian Church and the evening services in the Methodist Church. A similar arrangement had been made for the coming holidays. The Sunday school and Bible classes continued to show excellent progress, during the year a change was made in the general superintendency. Mr Neill, who had brought the Sunday school up to its present state of efficiency, found it necessary to relinquish the full control, and Mr A. Ho worth was appointed in his stead. The members of the young men’s Bible classes continued to show their interest in the work and appreciation of their leaders, and continued to do good work. Daring the year they had lost Mr C. C. Robinson, thensenior leader, who had been transferred to Takapmia, and Mr C. G. Wilson, junior leader, who was transferred to Oamaru; but they were fortunate in having secured Mr J. L. Gregory and Mr J. Collier in their stead. The young women’s classes had as leaders Miss Chisholm (senior), Miss Ironside (intermediate), and Miss Jessie Hamilton (junior). Bibles were presented to three members of the Young Worshippers’ League who had completed seven years of continuous attendance. The number of members of the Young Worshippers’ League was fifty-four. The Band of Hope had grown considerably under Mr Sneddon’s earnest leadership. Among the activities of the Youth Committee appointed last year had been the recommendation to form an advanced class for young men and young women with any of the congregation who cared to join. Hr Elder would direct its work. The cjtamitteo appointed last year to considemhe church’s chief requirements for the next few years recommended the securing of a better organ for the church, and this had been accomplished by the installation of a two manual pipe organ of excellent tone and workmanship, made possible only by the generosity of Mr Jamieson.

The choir, with Mr G. J. Scott as choirmaster, and Miss George as organist, were tendered the thanks of the session for so ably leading the service of praise throughout the . year. The number of members of session was now twenty, two having been lost—Mr J. Scott by death and Mr J. Jowsey by removal to South Dunedin—and one gained—Mr J. Russell—who was proving a most valuable member. The congregation was congratulated on its representation in the foreign field by so able ami consecrated a person as Miss A. E, Henderson, of, Jagadhri, Punjab, India.

The Wakari congregation was in good heart, and met regularly under the leadership of Mr C. Tweedie, while the Sunday school continues to advance under the able leadership of Mr James Milne.

Very great pleasure was expressed at the installation of the Rev. H. H. Barton, former pastor, into the charge of Lawrence. The work amongst the ladies in the P.W.M.U. and Ladies’ Guild had been quietly and faithfully carried on. The Presbyterial triennial visitation took place during the year. The visitors were Dr Gumming, Rev. Thomas Miller, and Mr M'Elrea, who visited the congregation and reported favourably on its work. The coming year would be a notable one for two reasons. It marked the completion of the first twenty-live years of our history, and it was. also a year to be observed specially .as children’s year, being the 150th anniversary of organised Sunday school work in the world.

Mr Craig, in seconding the report, said the congregation had met on an important occasion, seeing that it was almost twenty-five years since it had its beginning. He also took the opportunity of voicing the appreciation of the congregation of the excellent work of Mr and Mrs Stanhdage. He thought that the new organ did credit to the congregation, and was a decided acquisition to the church. He spoke appreciatively of the work of,the congregation, but took the opportunity of making some wholesome criticisms. Mr A. Sneddon, in speaking to the motion, also invited the congregation to give more serious heed to the real things of life, and to place first things first, and other things would follow in their train. . The motion was carried. Mr Fairmaid, in moving the adoption of the Deacons’ Court report,. said the court had had a strenuous time, and had not been idle. They were unfortunate in losing Mr Johnson, who had done splendid work. He congratulated the court on appointing Mr Park in his place as treasurer, as he was proving to be . the right man in the right place. The sub-committee’s hard work had lightened the work of the Deacons’ Court. The report would not be complete without favourable mention of Mr Scott, Miss George, and the choir. He thanked Mr and Mrs. Kilim for their attention to duties during the year. Mr Fairmaid also thanked the Ladies Guild for work done, and for providing sundries for halls, etc. The court regretted losing deacons Messrs C. G. Wilson, C. C. Robinson, and F. Johnson/ but he congratulated them on their advancement. ‘ Mr J Park (treasurer), m seconding, spoke in figures and expressed pleasure at the result of the year’s work He commended the budget system to the favourable consideration of those who had not already joined. Mr James Hogg also spoke in appreciative terms of the financial position, and of the appointment of Mr Park as the new treasurer. (The report showed

that the total amount raised from all sources during the sixteen months was £3,004 17s.

It was agreed,, on the motion of the Rev. A. M. Finlayson, seconded by Mr Steven, that, the congregation continue to. pay £125 per annum towards its own missionary’s salary.

An election of deacons resulted in the four retiring members—Messrs James Hogg, S. X. Brown, J. K. M'Cahon, and J. D. King being reelected, and Messrs James Craighead, H. Harvey, and J. W. Ferrie being elected.

At the close of the ordinary business Mr James Hogg asked Mr Jamieson to accept an enlarged framed photograph of the organ, the installation of which had been made possible by him, the inscription containing the following statement:—“ln grateful recognition of a magnificent gift.” Mr Jamieson briefly gave thanks. Mr Leslie voiced a hearty vote of thanks to all and sundry workers throughout the church, which was carried bv acclamation.

Mr Standage followed by expressing appreciation of loyal and capable work done among the office-bearers and members of the congregation. He reminded members of the semi-juhilee to be held, next year about Assembly week, and gave an outline of the meetings proposed. In looking forward to this event, he trusted it would mark a forward move in the life of the congregation.

Supper was provided by the ladies, to whom Mr M'Gregor tendered a hearty vote of thanks.