MOSGIEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 22627, 20 April 1937, Page 13

MOSGIEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CONCLUDING JUBILEE FUNCTIONS The Coronation Hall was crowded last night, when the diamond jubilee celebrations were brought to a close with a social, at which pictures of great interest were thrown on the screen. The stage was decorated with flowers, evergreens, and coloured lights. The Rev. Hugh Graham presided over the jubilee social, and welcomed all present. After adverse of the National Anthem, the choir sang the anthem ‘ Gloria in Excelsis.’ Scripture reading and prayer followed, and then the programme proceeded as follows;—Solo, Miss Jean M‘Gregor; greetings. Professor J. Collie (Dunedin Presbytery); solo, Miss A. Melrose; greetings, Rev, N. F. Sansom (North Taieri congregation) ; greetings, Rev. W. W. Ewart (Mosgiel Ministers’ Association); anthem, choir; greetings, Rev. N. Challenger "(Mosgie] Methodist Church); solo, Mr N. F. Sansom; greetings, Mr 'VVilliam Allan (East Taieri) ; and greetings, Rev. D. N. M'Kenzie (West Taieri). An interesting time followed, when many photographs of personages and scenes were thrown on the screen and explained bj the chairman. The cutting of the jubilee cake was followed by supper. The cake was a three-tier one, and was mhde and given to the congregation by Mrs M. Brown and her daughters. The cake was cut by Mrs M. Hendry, Mrs John Hendry ; and Mrs Elder. The candles were extinguished by Mrs E. M‘Gregor, Mrs Reid, and Miss Riddle. The Chairman returned thanks to all who had helped to organise and carry out the celebrations. He paid a special tribute to the Press for the space granted to the reports of the various functions. The present Church Management Committee is composed of the following ; Mr C. Leary, Mr E. Pilling, Mr P. Hall, Miss Jean Hendry, Mrs E. MTheat, Miss E. Prentice, Mr A. Sinclair. Mr E. Weddell. Mr A. Weddell, Mr E, Hasler, and Mrs Hasler. P.W.M.U. SOCIAL. At the reunion of past and present members of the Mosgiel P.W.M.U. the principal speaker was Mrs W. J. Porteous, who gave an interesting acocunt of the formation and growth of the union. Mrs Porteous said .it was fitting on such an anniversary to honour the pioneer women, who had so helped to expand the mission work of the church, and who had built up the P.W.M.U. on sound lines. No admiration could be too great for those courageous women, who blazed the trail in the face of many difficulties. Mrs Porteous mentioned such names as Aitken, Prentice, Pilling, and many others of sterling worth. Mrs, Banner- 1 man had been the moving spirit among the women of the church, and after many years of striving she had succeeded in starting the Otago missionary Aid Society. The past 60 years had been marked by great expansion in numbers, contributions, and activities in the Homeland, the speaker continued. Much of the inspiration for the work had been due to the high quality of the personnel of the missionaries in the field in China, India, and the New Hebrides. By unparalleled devotion and endurance the pioneers had left an heroic record. Living alone among cannibals, drenched in torrential rains on bush tracks, sleeping in crowded huts with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes destroying hospital and dwellings, tropical ' diseases bringing sickness or death, the missionary’s life was one of heroic self-sacrifice.