ST. PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 750, 5 July 1923, Page 5

ST. PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH.

BOARD MEETING.

The quarterly meeting of the officers of St. Paul's JleLhodi3t Church was held last evening when the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt presided over a large attendance. Mr H. E. Pacey briefly voiced a welcome to the chairman, expressed great pleasure at the inauguration of the ministry of Mr Pratt) and spoke of the throbbing vitality of the church and congregation, Mr Pratt acknowledged the cordial personal references and expressed his confidence in the future of the work. Matters arising out of correspondence were dealt with. It was resolved, to aj> point Messrs G. H. Bennett and L. Laurensou to represent the laymen of the congregation at a meeting shortly to be hekl to consider tho formation of a Council of Churches for Palmerston North. In response to a request from the local branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society it was resolved to appoint Mis J, Cunninghome and Mr J. Walker to act with the minister at ft conference to arrange for the visit, of the Rev. G. T. Davis, of the Pocket Testament League, to this town. A small committee was set up to consider an appeal from tho Wellington Central Mission for financial assistance.

The roll of«church membership was reported as having been revisod, Mr B. Gordon Bennett was appointed teoretary of the Deaconess's committee. Reports of the Sunday Bchools and young people's organic sations were received and favourably commented upon. In ah departments good work is being done. Tho school at St. Paul's appreciates tho additional class rooms recently erected. It has now an enrolment of 65 mombevs of the oradlo department; 80 in the primary section; 139 in the intermediate and 47 in the Bible class sectiou. Tho average attendance is good. The circuit stewards (Messrs H. E. Pacey and L. Laurcnson) presented the financial statement, which showed the. quarter's in* com© as £235 10s IQd for ths circuit fund. The expenditure, inoluding removal expenses of the minister and the largo deficiency of last quartor, amounted to £336 12s Bd. Tho accumulated deficiency stood at £lOl Is 10d. The recent church anniversary offering was £l2O, but this was for tho trust fund. Special collections wore sanctioned for the,Dominion Sunday schoo department, and for both Home and Foreign missions, The balance-sheet for the Ashhurst branch of the circuit showed buoyant finances but there remained a deficiency of £l7 14s 9d. . Arrangements were made for the forthcoming visit of the Rev. J R. and Mrs Metcalfe, of the Solomon Islands Miwon, and for the visit of the Rev. N. H. PapaJura of the Maori Mission.. The various departments of church activity .wore passed in review and great' gratification was expressed at the state of the church.