KNOX CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 22723, 10 August 1937, Page 14

KNOX CHURCH

THE YEAR REVIEWED The following extracts are taken from the reports to he presented at tlie annual meeting of the congregation of Knox Church to-morrow evening : PASTORAL LETTER. The minister (the Rev. D. C. Herron), in his pastoral letter, states:— Last year I wrote of the need for a full-time trained minister as a colleague to work more especially among the students. Presbytery sent a deputation to discuss the matter with our session. Meantime, two ' anonymous members of our congregation came forward and offered £IOO and £3O respectively for three years towards this project. The Presbytery also offered to arrange some help. The position now is that the greater part of the finance necessary for a three-year period is in sight. The suggested plan is that the full work commence in 1939, after Mr Turner, who has qualifications for the work, has completed his studies. In the meantime, again through the same liberality, it has been possible to employ him part time. It would be gratifying if someone or some group arranged permanently to endow this work in the way that the wonderful work carried on by Nurse Torrance is endowed. KIRK SESSION. From the report of the Kirk Session the following is taken: —At the close of another year; of faithful and devoted service, it is pleasing to record that onr minister continues to maintain the high standard of his pulpit ministrations. His inspiring addresses, directed more particularly to the youth ot the church, have been keenly appreciated by the congregation, and must have a good effect in keeping up and raising higher the standard of Christian living amongst all classes of his hearers. Airs Herron continues to take an active part in the work of the women’s organisations, and has earned the unfailing co-operation and affection of the women of the congregation. On September 10, 1936, the death occurred of one of our oldest and most honoured elders, Mr H. IC. Wilkinson. A memorial minute has been engrossed in the session’s records. The additions to the membership of the church during the year number 82 —62 by certificate and 20 by profession of faith. There were 76 disjunctions—--71 by certificate ami five by death. The present membership is 1,036. The attendances at corgmynupi yvere; Sep-

tember 741, December 583, March 681, June 697; average, 676. The seventy-seventh anniversary of the founding of the church was celebrated on June 20, when the Rev. J. M. Al'Kenzie, of St. Paul’s Church, Oamaru, preached at the morning and evening services to large congregations. For the first time in the history of ; our church we have “ living links ” with our two major mission fields, Dr Eaton having joined the staff of the Canton Villages Mission during the year. Sister Alary, who has won the affection both of the children who have been her particular care and of the ' older people into whose homes she has gained a ready entrance, handed in her resignation during the year. It is i always an occasion of regret when one ’ retires who has long been connected with the work of the church and is ; trusted and resected by the whole 1 congregation. Sister Mary lias been 13 years deaconess of Knox Church. ; The session appointed Aliss Catherine 1 Weir to succeed Sister Alary. Sister Catherine comes to ns with the highest ; credentials. 1 Sister Laura, our honorary deaconess. 1 and Nurse Torrance continue to shed the sunshine of their lives in many a 1 home. Those more closely associated 1 with them cannot but be amazed at the ; ramifications of their activities. An addition to the staff lias been ■ made by the appointment to a parttime assistantship of Air H. W. Turner, M.A., a second year student in the Theological Hall. Mr Turner gives the minister what assistance he requires and devotes the remainder of his time available to youth work, especially among students. DEACONS’ COURT. The report of the Deacons’ Court states:- —The court wishes to record its sympathy with Air Herron in the distressing experience which bofell him during the year. We appreciate the manner in which he continued to carry on his work. For the first time in the history of ’ the congregation there was no revenue from seat rents; these were discontinued last year. The year's working, account shows a credit balance of 3s 4d, general revenue totalling £3,114 4s Bd, and expenditure £3,113 19s 4d. The total amount received for assembly enterprises and all, benevolent purposes was £1,404 18s 4d. For assembly enterprises, including our two “ own missionaries,” we received £1,169 11s Id, P.S.S.A. £79 Os 2d, patients’ and prisoners’ aid £l3 5s 4d, social work £62 14 s. The amount received for assembly enterprises included £147 2s 4d raised by the P.W.AI.U.. Bible classes, Sunday school, and other organisations. By the generosity of an anonymous donor and his family, whose offer to

be responsible for a second “ own missionary ” for Knox Church was gratefully accepted at the last annual meeting of the congregation, we received during the year the sum of £3OO for the salary of Dr O. L. Eaton, who now represents our church in the Canton Villages Mission, including this and tho amount raised by the youth and other organisations the amount actually paid over for the missionary and other enterprises of the church was £1,233 16s 7d. equal to £1 3s 4d per member on the roll at the end ot the financial year. The amount expected from us for the year was £1,290, so that our contributions fell short by £37 3s 3d. It is worthy of mention that during the last six years the anonymous donor and family who have now made themselves responsible for Dr Eaton’s salary have given for missions, through our congregation, a sum of no less than £1,930. An appeal has been launched by the Assembly for a sum of £6,000 lo wipe off the deficit that has accumulated in the Alaori mission fund in recent years. The amount received through tho envelope system was £2,126 11s Id, an increase of £6l 4s 2d, as compared with the previous year. It has been allocated as follows:—Amount for ‘‘Ourselves,” £1,302 5s 8d; amount for “Others,” £309 11s Id; amount for “ Our first own missionary,” £194 14s 4d ; total, £2,126 11s Id. ‘ ’ It was with regret that the court received and accepted the resignation of Air (1. W. Carrington from the position of general treasurer, in which capacity he gave outstanding service for a period of 14£ years. Air F. AY. Al'Cuilongh was appointed Air Carrington’s successor, and Air D. R. AVilson has been appointed assistant treasurer.