KNAPDALE PRESBYTERIANS

Mataura Ensign, 4 November 1911, Page 4

KNAPDALE PRESBYTERIANS

A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL. The annual social was held in th« Knapdale Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening, the church being well filled and several visitors from neighboring districts being present. Rev. A, Hardie occupied the chair and the visiting ministers present were Rev. A. Cameron, B.A. (Andersen's Bay), Hev. W. Marshall (Balfour) and Rev. A. Maclnnes, M.A. (Hiversdale). Apologies for absence were received from Revs. Hercus and Collie. The proceedings were commenced by the congregation singing the "Old Hundredth" and after a short prayer the choir rendered an anthem. The chairman then called upon Kev. A. Cameron to address the gathering. This gentleman said' that on a previous occasion, when collecting for till* jubilee fund, he had had the pleasure of addressing a Knapdale audience when perhaps he was not such a welcome visitor. He congratulated the Knapdale congregation on having for their minister such an earnest and faithful worker as Rev. A. Hardie who was a former parishioner of his own and in whom he continued to take a • deep interest. The speaker impressed upon the people the necessity of helping the minister in his work. In older to do this it was not always necessary to teach in Sunday-school or take up some active branch of Christian work All were not fitted for that, all were not needed for that, but all could help materially by carrying into al! the ; r at-ion;* —in the home, in the V market and in all their dealings with their fellow-men —the spirit of Christianity. Some people were very genial and forbi«aring outride of their own families, but were not always m patient with those in their own home circle. He exhorted the congregation to prav for their minister, adding some striking illustrations in support of the efficacy of prayer. During the course of his remarks the speaker expressed his pleasure at seeing so many .voung people present and ho hoped they wero in the habit of attending public worship on Sunday. Ono of the greatest weaknesses in church organisation at the present time was the absence of children fr»>ni the services. There was a gap in the lives of young people between the time when they were too old for Sunday School and yet had not got into the habit, or were considered txKi young t:> attend church. Just at tin's critical ago the Church lost its hold on a very large percentage of its people. There was a marked discrepancy between the number of those passing out of tho Sunday School and those attaching themselves to th® , Church. Children should be trained to come to church from a very early age. An interesting and instructive address was brought to a close by the speaker wishing the congregation and mil lister every success for the future. Tlie next speaker was llev. W. Marshall who ba»ed his remarks on Sunday School work. Ho made special reference to tho several conferences of Hunday School teachers that have been . held throughout the Presbytery during the year. These, ho would he [helpful to tho teachers and through them to the children. He emphasised yth»» necessity of employing up-to-date ifrethods in Sunday School work and 1 added thai if a manufacturer wished to sumvd in buainesH h:> got the very latest machinery installed. He would not think of using antiquum*! machinery. Tlie same practice should apply in Sunday School work. The speaker reiterated what Mr Cameron had said in regard to the absence of young j*>ople from church services. Hev. A. Maclnnes gave a brief address on church work generally. The chairman read tiie report* handed in by the secretaries of the various societies in connection with tfbe Church. The Band of* Hope had just closed » very successful season. The C.K. Society, which meets fortnightly on Sunday evenings in the Church, is in a healthy condition, mid the Mutual lm , ■ roveinent Society has had a successful session. During the winter tin* ioitnigjtlv Bible Class conducted' by Hev. A. Hardie had In", n well attend- . t\l. The rejKirt from die Knapdale Sunday School was not so optimistic, the chief complaint being irregularity of attendance on tho part of some of tin* pupils. The re|>ort from the Ea«t Chatton Sunday School was good and Mr R. Byars had an excellent account to give of tho Otaina Sunday School. This result was partly brought about by tiie giving of certificates to tlie children. Thet>a were stamped every Sunday— a reward for which the children showed great eagerness. At the end of 'the year prizes were given. Sand table lessons were proving very interesting to tho younger pupils too. The proceedings were enlivened during the- evening by a strong choir whi<A rendered: very acceptably several items A undo-, tho efficient baton of Mr W. Marshall. The following also contributed items: —Solos, Mrs W. (ierkin, M isw Archibald and White and Mr Moffat, and Miss Archibald and Mr Moffat a duet. A littie girl, Miss May Gerkin, sung "Tiny Little Snowflake*" very siveetly. At the conclusion of the reading of the Sunday School reports a quartette of Sunday School girls— Misses K., A., M. and V. Gerkin and M. Byara—sang "A Pansy Song" in a very pleasing manner. Miss Prebble ably presided at the organ. During an interval tea and cakes were handed round. At the conclusion of the pr<x<cedi«gs votes of thanks were passed to the speakers by Mr \V. Dunn, the choir by Mr I nine, the ladies (for providing eatables) tea-makers by Mr ble, and tho chairman by Mr A. Uyaf*, after which Hev. A. Cameron pronouneed the Benediction.