ST PAUL’S CHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 3

ST PAUL’S CHURCH.

At tho annual meeting of tho congregation of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, the Eev Dr Elmslie presided. The following names . were read as those of the newly - elected managers ;—Captain Anderson, Messrs Alex Burnett, D. C. Burns, G. Gallpuder, P; Duncan, P. Hyndman, J. Mitchell, T. W. Reese, W. Robinson, M. Eobertson, W. Tait and H. West. The financial report showed. the amounts raised during the past twelve months to be as follows: —Sabbath offerings, £734 10s; pew rents, £293 5s ( conversazione, £36 5s Cd; collections for missions and charities,_£G4 19s 9d ; contributions for debt extinction, £97 Os 3d, making a total of £1230 6s 6cl. Tho year closed with a debit balance to the general account of £36 12s Id. In addition to the annual payment of £25, the mortgage debt was further reduced, in December last, by £225. This payment was i made up by £2OO invested by the trustees of the church on account of Miss Stevens’s bequest, and a sum of £25 from tho funds of the church. At the same time tho mortgagee agreed to again reduce the interest on'the mortgage, which would effect a further annual saving of about £3O. The Committee expressed its thanks to members and adherents for the generous manner in which they had always responded to the financial needs of tho congregation, and to the organist and choir for the excellence and regularity with which they had kept up their important work. At the close of the twenty-first year of tho pastorate of the minister. Dr Elmslie, the committee had great pleasure in acknow- \ lodging the valuable help they had always ' received from him. The report was adopted. The report of tho Teachers’ Association showed the number of scholars now on tho roll at tho central school to be 345, as against 337 at the close of the preceding year. The teaching si all showed an increase of two, tho number on the roll being thirty-five. Tho number of scholars on tho Richmond roll was 77, the average attendances being scholars 58 and teachers eight. Tho funds collected for missionary purposes In cl been £42 10s lid. Tho report was adopted. Tho report of the Young People’s Bible Study showed that the attendance had fallen off considerably during the preceding year, but the attendance this year showed a marked improvement. The report was adopted. The report of the Y r oung People’s Society of Christian Endeavour showed the number on the roll to bo fifty active, seven associates and ton honorary members. Tbe sum of £23 Os 7d had been collected by this Society during the year for the benefit of tbe various missions. The report was adopted. Tho report of the Young Men’s Bible Class was of a very satisfactory nature, tho attendance having been larger than at any other time. The report was adopted. In the report of tho Ladies’ Association, special attention was called to tho desirableness of introducing in tho interests of home and foreign missions, the use of a family mission box, to simplify the work of the collectors. The report was adopted, and the meeting closed with the benediction.