MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 21819, 7 September 1934, Page 11

MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIANS

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING ' The thirtieth annual meeting of the Maori Hill 'Presbyterian Church congregation was held on Wednesday evening in the Sim Street Hall, a reprelentative gathering being present. The (Rev. A. C. W. Standage presided. _ The reports of the different organisations, as well as the statement of accounts, were presented and dealt with, the meeting disclosing an excellent •pirit throughout. ' The report of the doings of the VVakari station was received with much interest, the spirit prevailing there auguring well for the work in that district. ' The session report stated that the minister (the Rev, A. C, W. Standage) had laboured most acceptably in all spheres and had tactfully led the congregation through most difficult times. Sirs Standage had ably assisted him. The church roll of 310 _ included eighteen junior members, besides which there were an additional sixty adherents on the supplementary roll, and, compared with the last printed report, showed an increase by 132 new members, less sixteen deaths, eighty-seven disjunctions, ' and thirty-seven written off. The work of the church had been carried on steadily by faithful men and women. . The wprk of the Deacons’ Court had been carried out under the supervision of Mr R. I. Fairmaid (clerk), Mr J. Craighead (treasurer), and Mr H. Harvey (envelop© secretary), and all unnecessary expenditure had been curtailed, The buildings were in good order and condition. During the year the section adjoining the manse was sold, the net proceeds being available -for the upkeep of the manse, renovations to which had already been put in hand. • The Bible Classes had made good progress, the acquisition by the young men of Mr Reg. H. Gardiner as leader giving much satisfaction. The congregation was indebted, to Mr C. A. Wilson, a leader for many years, who had recently found it necessary to retire. Under the superintendency of Mr gneddon, and a full and efficient staff of teachers, the importune work of the Sunday school was being' maintained. Much regret was expressed when Mr Hugh Neill, owing to ill-health, had bo resign. The Young Worshippers’ League, the Band of Hope, the Christian Endeavour, and the Boys’ Brigade had all done active work, while the Ladies Guild had been assisting very substantially in. local relief work, and would welcome new members and new subscribers. The loss of Mrs Wright had been keenly felt by the guild. Mr W. Pagot Galena playing, and the oboir under his painstaking training and conducting, had contributed a full measure of helpfulness to the worship in the sanptuary._ . ■ Stimulation of interest in the welfare of the Native race was much encouraged by Mrs Leslie through the Maori Mission. Birthday League. The Man’s League, for the encouragement of discussion and action in connection with present-day problems, was justifying itself, while the Busy Bees, under the leadership of Miss Agnes I. Peterson, continued the good work winch was for so many years carried on by Miss Jessie Hamilton, now Mrs Hobbs. .The Girls’ Auxiliary met fortnightly under the leadership of Mrs Forbes, and had a membership of twenty-three. The aim of the organisation was to promote interest among the girls of the congregation by stndy of and practical worx for missions, thus forming the link between the Busy Bees and the P.W.M.TJ. The P.W.M.U., with Mrs Standage president, and Mrs Forbes secretary, had a membership of thirtyeight. The system of collecting by means of mission boxes in the homes continued to be very successful. The monthly visiting of newcomers, invalids, and absent members was still carried on, and met with much acceptance. ' '