ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2347, 3 August 1871, Page 3

ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.

AWrrUAL MEETING. Tnc annual meeting of the members of the above Cfaurch, Wellington-street, was hold Inst evening in the church. l'hero was a veiy small attendance. The Rev. T. Macniccol occupied the chair. Tho proceedings were opened with singing and prayer, after which the Chairman said he was sorry the weather was so unfavourable, as it had, no doubt, prevented a good many of the congregation from beiug present j but he felt that it was better to go on with the business, rather than to have ta adjournment. Mr. Brock, the Secretary, then read tho following :— " Seventh annual report of St. James's Presbyterian Church, Auckland, for tho year ending June 30th, 1871. "The Committee of Management, in preseuting tho seventh annual report to the congrogation, hare great pleasure in staling that the results of the yoar just closed are extremely satisfactory. That the congregation have not fallen beli-nd in their liberality is fully proved by the fact that, although tho past year has been far from one of commercial prosperity, the contributions from all sources (including the subscriptions for the manse and fencing in the church),amountto £86110s 7d, being upwards of £62 in excess of the amount collected last year. It wii l be in the recollection of tho congregation that it was stated at our last annual meeting tiiat tho consent of tho Presbytery had been obtained to convert the school building into a manse. Your committee, acting upon that consent, and in pursuance of the general desire o ' the congregation, have utilised the building as above-mentioned, at a cost of £210, and have had tho necessary deeds prepared dedicating the building to the use of our present respected minister and his successors. The committee, since our last annual meeting, have caused the church to be painted, at a cost of £63 35., a vork which was necessary for tho preservation of the building. Your committee have further to report that it has been agreed to orect a fence around thj church as sjoa as possible, hut are unable at present to

state the exact coat of the same. As the works above-mentioned were special undertakings, a special effort rra» made to raise the requisite amount aud so render it unnecessary to encroach upon the ordinary revenue of the church. Your committee rejoice to state that in consequence of your liberality and the generosity of a few other friends, nearly the whole amount neccssary lias been subscribed. The irome Mission collection this year amounts to £42 75., aud is Bs. Gd less than the amount collected during the corresponding period last year. Your committee beg earnestly to draw tho attention of all to this scheme, which is one of the most important in our church. The Mission was instituted to bring the means of trace to those situated in the remote districts of our province, and to aid those of our ministers whose stipends ara inadequate for their »upport. It is expected that the Presbytery will shortly publish a report of the administration ! of the Ilome .Mission Committee, to show the members and adherents of each of our congregations the results and value Mission. And it is hoped that such information w ; ll stimulate your interest in this branch of Christian effort. Your committee also request you to givo your earnest consideration to the subject of the Foreign Mission. Tho amount collected for the year just closed amounts only to £10, a sum, which it is hoped, will in future bo largely increased. Since the arrival of the iter. Mr. Cosh in Auckland a great amount of interesting information has been given by him concerning the indefatigable labors of our missionaries among the heathen, of which many of us were before bis arrival ignorant. Your committee, therefore, trust that you will all contribute in a libera 1 marner, according to your respective circumstances, to this important object. The Sabbath-school during the past year has been very successful, under the superintendence of Mr. Peter Mackie, there being at preseut on the roll 170 scholars, under the instruction of 20 teachers, as compared with •10 scholars and IS tcachers on the roll in the previous year. Tho average a'tendance lias been 130, aud tho sum of il3 has

> ocen subscribed by the scholars for Missionary i - (', .v'irr pu'-j)c>»es. The Bible Class, conu.icted by ou» loiDi'ste.-, . o::'inues I ) bo well ! ai tended by tho young people connected with i tbo Church, who in this way derive a larg» i amount of scriptural knowledge. The weekly prayer meeting continues to bo held in tho church, but the attendance is far from be'ng as good as might be expected. A few attend voty regularly, but why not more of thoso who believe in prayer ? It nl" be in (he remembrance of the congregation that at our last annual meeting it was proposed " That the ITymn Cook agreed to by the Synod of the Presbjtc-ian Ch' -h : n England, approved of by the Grcueri l Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, and recommended by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, bo adopted and used by th : - congregation." It was also proposed that the Toting for aud against tho introduction of the hymns should tike place on tho 12th day of August, 1870. On that day it was found that there was a uiujority of votes in favor of tlio hymns. Tho hymns were accordingly introduced on tho Ist day of January of the preienfc year. And your committee would take this opportunity of expressing their satisfaction with the forbearance and good-will manifested sinco that time by those who were opposed to tho movement, and they trust that in the course of time the hymns will come to be appreciated by ail as a suitable addition to oar psalmody, and that the concord which ought to cliarac- ' -i<e every Christian congregation will still bo maintained amongst us. Your committee have also to report, in connection with the psalmody, that on the 20th day of March now last past, Mr. Westmoreland, our late precentor, who was then about to proceed to England, asked your committee to grant him leave of absence for twelve months. It was agreed with Mr. Westmoreland as follows: ' That leave of absence be granted for a period of twelve months, provided tho committeo hear by letter from Jlr. Westmoreland before the expiration of eight months of his intention to return to Auckland within the said twelve months.' You" committee thereupon obtained the services of Madame and Mr. Winter to conduct the psalmody in the meantime, and, in the event of no communication being received from M-. Westmoreland within the time agreed upon, it will then be tho duty of the congregation to confirm the appointment made by the committee, or elect a new preeontor. In conclusion, the committee would expross their gratitudo to the Great Head of the Church for the measure of prosperity with which He has been plea«ed to bless us during the past year; and thev ivoi'ld oxpress the hope that'the serwees of the snnct.ua-./, and tho other duties in which. BB a congregation, we have taken part, have not been void of succers in promoting the of many amongst us. n —Mr Thomas Maekay then read the balancethe chief items of which be found embodied in tho report, and moved its adoption. In answer to a question, Mr. Mackay said that financially speaking, the clu—ch was i-1 a better position than it was last year, although the debt upon it remained the same, namely, .£750. — Mr. l'eter llackio soconded ' the adoption of Iho report, which, he thought, was of a very satisfactory character. liT was vi-ry gratifying to him, and must bo to every member of the congregation.—The report was thou put and adopted unanimously, nnd ordered to be printed aud circulated'among the members of tho congregation.—The election of oflicc-bearcrs for the ensu-'ng year was then proceeded with.—Mesirs. James Stew-

art and Mr. Brebner were the reti-ing members of committee.— Mr. Stewart was nominated for rc-elcction, but declined lo serve, as he lired so far from the church.— Messrs. Stevenson and Richardson were then elected. — Tho Chairmau briefly addressed those present upon tho present condition of the church. He was very grateful for the satisfactory state of things generally, and ho thanked the congregation i.:ast sincerely for the accommodation they had provided for hi-u at tho manse.— The procccd'ngs closed with prayer.