WHANGAREI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1919, Page 3

WHANGAREI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL

MEETING,

(DEFINITE SCHEME OF IMPROVEMENTS AUTHORISED

The annual meeting of the Presbyterian congregation was held on Tuesday evening in the Church Hall, presided over by the Rev. G. W. Lochore,' Moderator. There was a good attendance of members and adherents and much enthusiasm was shown for a forward movement in church mat-1 ters. The meeting was opened with praise and prayer. The Moderator, in his opening remarks, expressed appreciation of the work carried out by the Board of j Matfagers, Session, and other organi-1 sations of the church during the past, year, and expressed a hope that the cloud of depression which had tern-' porarily hung over church matters during the war period would soon disappear. After the confirmation of the minutes of the last annual meeting the following reports were presented:— KIRK SESSION'S ANNUAL REPORT, 1918-1&. In presenting our annual report the Session once again desires to acknowledge God's goodness and mercy towards us as a congregation during the past year, and to return thanks for another year's worship and service in the name of our Lord and Saviour. , In common with other congregations throughout our Dominion, we commenced the year's service with the shadow of the great war cloud, with its death, but by the good Hand of God, and the united strength "and service of our gallant soldiers and sailors, the armies of the Emperor of terrbT and desolation have been overthrown, victory achieved, and national peace once more restored. The Session, on behalf of "the congregation, desires to extend a hearty welcome to those young: men of our congregation who have returned safely from the world's great war, to those who have come back with wounds, broken in health, and sickness, we wish them a speedy and permanent recovery. Also we desire to express our sympathy with parents, and friends who have lost sons and relatives during the great conflict. INDUCTION OF NEW MINISTER. The outstanding event of our church year has been the selection and induction of a minister, to fill the vacancy brought about through the translation of Rev. Wm. Day to another charge. The congregation melt on the 15th July, 1918, and appointed a selection committee, with j the result that the Rev. George Wright Loohore, of Waihi, was chosen our minister and was happily inducted to the charge on the 3rd September last. Mr Lochore immediately entered on his duties along with Mrs Lochore, and has proved himself to be an earnest and zealous pastor. Since coming amongst us he has been active in visiting the congregation, the sick, and aged, and has done excellent work in the outlying districts. Besides these good works he has conducted twelve marriages, baptised thirty children, and officiated at thirteen funerals. CHURCH ORGANISATIONS. The Session desires to express thanks to the various organisations connected with the church. Special thanks are due to the superintendent' of the Sunday school, and to the band of willing Sunday school teachers who carry on the work of the Sabbath school. This work is an important one, and parents are urged to eend their children more regularly. The Session and superintendent will be glad of further teachers to assist in carrying on this good work of the church. With the object of encouraging the attendance of children at public worship, a Young Worshippers' League has been formed, which is under the direction of Mr Lochore, our esteemed minister. The Young Women's Bible Class under its leader is doing good service, and the Session commenlds the class to all young women of our congregation. The Session appreciates and is grateful for the services rendered by Mr Dobson, choirmaster and organist, and also to members of the choir, for their unfailing help in the musical portion of the church service. The service of praise is a help to devotion and adds greatly to the attractiveness of the church services. Mr Dobson will be glad to welcome to the choir any musical person desirous of asBisting in the service of praise. The report of the P.W.M.U. under the presidency of Mrs J. M. Killen, shows that the branch has had a most successful year. This Union of Christian Women is doing excellent work on behalf of our missionaries at home and abroad and other church movements. We commend it to your notice and invite all ladies of the congregation to become members. HOME MISSION STATIONS. During the year a Home Mission station has been established at Mangakahia, with Titoki as its centre. Mr D. B. Stuart has been appointed pioneer missionary for this station, entering on his duties on the 18th of May last. By special commission appointed by the Auckland Presbytery, Mr 'Robert Lamont was ordained in our church as a Home Missionary for the Matigapai station. Our Moderator has visited these stations during the year and speaks in cheerful and encouraging terms of the good york that is being done in them. At Whareora our minister conducts a monthly service, but owing to the scattered nature of the district and conditions of the roads, the attendance at the service has not been large. During the month of June various charges .and mission stations in Northland were favoured by a visit of Dr. Pat-

terson of the Canton Village Mission. He addressed our congregation on the evening , of Sunday, June 22nd, and his finely illustrated lecture on the following Monday night did not a little to (.'ducat* , us and deepen our interest in the groat work our mis-Sionar.--3 are doing in far-away Canton. RED-LETTER DAY. Sunday, June 29th, was a red-let-ter day in the history of our church in Whangarei, in that the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Revd. E. Gray Dixon, M.A., conducted both diets of .worship. This was the first time in the long history of our church that we have been favoured by a visit of the Moderator of our Assembly, and we are grateful to our Presbytery for arranging ±« visit. The Moderator's sermon in the morning was based on the words of Haggai, "Go Forward." It was an uplifting sermon. At night the Moderator gave a lecture on "The History of our Church," based on Psalm 137. It was a magnificent effort and thrilled the whole congregation. During the year the Rev. Mr Day, our late minister, and Miss Day, paid a shrot visit to Whangarei when Mr Day conducted one of the .Sunday ser- • vices to an appreciative congregation. WEEK-EVENING .SERVICES. The week-evening services all through the year have been regularly maintained. These quiet gatherings for prayer and meditation on God's Word have not been in vain, for Christ said: "Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I will be in their midst and bless them." KIRK SESSION. During the year the membership of the Session was strengthened by tne addition of Messrs Norman McKeazie, William Simpson, and Wm. Rogers, as elders. The attendance at the quarterly communion services has been good, there being an average attendance of about 70. It is urged upon members of the church to he faithful in attendance at the communion services. The Session expresses its sympathy wth the sick and aged, who have not been able to be with us on such occasions. During the year the session held eleven meetings and has added fourteen names to the membership roll. There have 1 been several losses in membership ' through removals from the district. The past year has seen four old and esteemed members of our church pass away, in the persons of John Donaldson, senr., Nat. Clotworfchy, and Chas. Storey, and also Mr Worner. These pioneers of our church will be long remembered for their zeal in good works and their uprightness of Christian character. UNION OF THE CHURCHES. The question of the union of the churches has been fully discussed by the Session, wheh is in favour of the principle of the union of the Presbyterian Church with the Congregational and Methodist Churches, provided a satisfactory basis can be arrived at. BRIGHTER OUTLOOK. We end our church year with a communicants' roll numbering 111, and our adherents' roll stands at 175. Owing to the incomng of new members and adherents belonging to our denomination, the outloak*»of our church is decidedly bright and hopeful. If all aim at a more regular attendance at the two Sabbath Day services, and make our church, our minister, and the unreached residents of our town and district, the subject of our prayers, then God will abundantly bless our united efforts during the coming year. - APPRECIATION. In conclusion your minister desires to make grateful acknowledgement of the loyalty of Session, committee of management, congregation, and all workers of the church during the year that is passed. J. McKINNON, Session Clerk.