ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11870, 20 April 1899, Page 2

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

A well-attended meeting and “social” was held last night at the schoolroom of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, the Rev Dr Elmslie presiding. Mr W. Cbrystall explained that the committee had formulated a scheme by which the sum of £2OOO could be paid off the church debt by next year. The method suggested was by weekly, fortnightly, or monthly subscriptions, and it was proposed to appoint a committee to work the matter out steadily during the year. The debt had originated in the days of the land boom, when it was easy to get money, and they had allowed their indebtedness to go on for twenty-one years, during which time they had paid £II,OOO for interest, or twice the amount of their mortgage debt. The interest on this debt had amounted to an average of £520 per annum, while in one particular year it was no less than £7OO. A few years ago the sum of £1225 had been paid off, leaving the present amount of the debt £5225. The sum of £1725 from the Owen bequest would shortly come into the hands of the trustees, who could hardly invest it better than in the church mortgage, which would then he reduced by an equal amount. When they raised the £2OOO now asked for, the annual interest they would have to pay would be only £75, instead of £520. The matter had only been taken in hand some three days ago, and in that time they had received £750 from nine persons, and there were fully five hundred people still left in the congregation who had not yet subscribed. Air R. Strnthers farther explained the scheme, showing that it was in the power of the congregation to raise £2250, the lowest subscription being put at 6d per month. There would he no difficulty in bringing the matter to a successful issue if the people would take it up. Air Mitchell (secretary) said that 401 replies were expected out of the 631 circulars sent out, and he thought the amount required could he raised in twenty months by small givings. It was encouraging to know that some thirty little girls were willing to contribute one shilling each per month, and he had received promises from six people which amounted to £3O. Mr Robinson expressed his sympathy with the movement, and Mr G. Callender (treasurer) also addressed the meetiug. During the evening the choir sang the anthems “Incline Thine Ear” and “I Waited on the Lord” Airs Livingstone sang “ The Holy City,” and Airs Strnthers “ Abide with Ale.”