St. David’s Presbyterian Church

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 187, 9 August 1940, Page 4

St. David’s Presbyterian Church

MEETING OF CONGREGATION The annual meeting of the congregation of St. ifavid's Presbyterian Church, Terrace End, was held on Wednesday evening, the minister, Rev. R. Warnock, presiding, | Mr. J. Blackwood, secretary, presented the report of the management committee, which said that the position disclosed by the financial statement should be considered satisfactory a* the outcome had been sufficient for the ordinary expenditure and in addition fairly heavy calls had been made ou the congregation for other purposes. Sunday collections had produced £354 11s 2d, compared with £312 10s 3d the previous year, and special collections £3l 14s 6d, compared with £sl I4s 3d. The retiring collections for debt reductions had yielded £9 6s, compared with £lO 9s Bd. Donations towards the ordinary working expenses to the amount of £4B Is had been received. The committee expressed thanks to the Ladies ’ Guild and the other organisations of the church for their efforts in raising funds for various church purposes. The centennial appeal in connection with the Presbyterian Church had been R launched during the period, and to ' a date the contribution from SC. David’s had reached £492 9s 6d, which included « a donation of £IOO from tho Ladies’i‘

Guild. This represented a highly satis-I factory effort on the part of a small r congregation. The balance-sheet dis*. closed that the balance of assets over I liabilities amounted to £.1017 14s Bd. j Tho committee again expressed its ( thanks to the members of the congre-J j gation for their support. Attendances ' at the services under Mr. Warnock were | £ increasing in a most encouraging man- j ner and this materially assisted the j. revenue. At the same time it was felt! s that more members should subscribe through tho envelope system. Thanks j were also due to all who assisted at the ( services, particularly Mr. J. Murray and the choir, the organists, Mrs. Murray aud Miss E. Allen, also the Girls' Auxiliary for providing flowers for the church. The session, report, presented by Mr. A. C. Allen, said that the utmost harmony had characterised the carrying ou of the work of the church and good results had accrued from the efforts ' made by the various societies. The l attendances at Sunday services had been well maintained. Throughout the year Mr. Warnock had been instrumen-j tal in bringing not a little blessing to the people of St. David’s by his exposi-1 tion of the word of God, and in his pas- ■ toral work he had wrought much good. ■ In this latter service Mrs. Warnock had again shared largely. Mr. Warnock had regularly conducted a Sunday afternoon service at Milson, and had continued to share in the conduct of services at the Awapuni Home and at the Public Hospital, .in addition to leading the Young Men’s Bible Class. Thirty-j one new members were added to the; Communion register during the year, 1 making the total Communion roll 130. j Fifteen children were baptised. Regret was expressed at the death of two members, Mrs. H. Mowlem and Mr. J. W. Rogers. Work of Societies. The report oi tho choir, presented by Miss Margaret Feist, said that several new members had been welcomed and attendances had been good. Appreciation of the services of Miss Joy Newlands, who was recently married, was j placed on record. Miss E. Allen presented the Sunday School report, which said that the year closed with a roll number of 76, which for tho first time for a number of years represented an * increase. Mr. A. C. Allen had carried on since the resignation of Mr. Murray | as superintendent. The sum of £S had been handed to the church for missions. The annual report of the Presbyterian * Women’s Missionary Union recorded another year of quiet work. More than £8 had been forwarded for missions. | Mrs. N. Sorenson presented this report. The report of the Girls’ Auxiliary of) the union, presented by Miss E. Allen, said that the work went on steadily; it had been possible to hand £1 10s to] church funds Bnd £2l to missions. AI motion was carried congratulating the Girls’ Auxiliary on its financial work. Miss Mary Lavery, leader of the Girls’ Bible Class, reported that members were keen and that the year had been most fruitful as regards finance, £2 9s 7d having been given to missions, £1 10s to a missionary in India, aud .15s to support a Chinese orphan, Mrs. A. Stewart (president) presented the Ladies’ Social Guild report, which said that the programme had been of a high standard and always interesting and bright; the finances were in a sound position; a sewing committee was making clothing for refugees and hospitality was extended to the Maori Battalion when it was in camp here. Mr. A. R. Acheson read a report on the centennial thanksgiving fund, which said that the fund appeal was launched in 1937, but owing to financial difficulties in the early stages it was not. thought possible to give active support to the appeal to this congregation until 1939. The response by the congregation was generally very helpful and generous, as was borne out by the fact that, of tho £SOO aimed at by the committee, £407 3s had been re-

ceived in cash or promises at the end of the canvassing period. Further substantial amounts had been received during the year and up to June 30, £466 8s 6d bad been received or promised. A particular tribute was paid to the Ladies’ Guild for raising £IOO for this appeal. General satisfaction was expressed by the minister and members of the congregation at tho result. The various reports were adopted.

The following management committee was elected:—Mesdames A. Stewart, D. Heggie, W. Moffatt, Messrs. J. Blackwood, A. Newlands, A. R. Acheson, D. Falconer, A. H. H. Judge, E, McCulloch, F. Townshend, W. Allen and

A. Smith. Mr. A. P. Stuart was reelected auditor. The minister conveyed his cougratulations to the congregation on the results achieved and the spirit of co-operation shown by members. He (hanked all who had helped in the work of the church. Ho said that the war would make a difference iD the personnel of the congregation; already eight men had enlisted, and ho appealed to members of the congregation to forward the names to him of any adherents joining the Forces so that the church could keep in touch with them. Further financial difficulties might also srise. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the minister, to Mr. A. Newlands for his services as treasurer, and to Mr. A. 0. Allen, session clerk.