ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6330, 2 March 1882, Page 6

ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of St. James' Presbyterian Church was held at St. James' Hall, Wellington-street, last uiglit. The Rev. R. F. Macnicol presided. The minutes of last annual meeting were coufirmed. Mr. J. C. Maeky then read the reports. Tiie report of the Kirk Session showed that the Sabbath services had been well attended. The communion roll received the following additions :—lO joined the fellowship of the church, aud 9 were received from other congregations : 7 were disjoined through removal. There were at present 227 names on the roll, and the attendances at each communion service during the year were—January, 15*2; April, 15-t; July, 175 ; October, 174. The Wednesday prayer-meetings were maintained, but the attendance had not been encouraging. The average attendance at the Thursday evening Bible-class was IS. During the latter part of the year Mr. Macnicol conducted a class on Saturday mornings for the instruction of children. The Sabbath-school continued to prosper uuder the faithful superintendence of Mr. Peter Mackie, assisted by Mr. Richardson. There were 360 scholars on the roll, and the average attendance was 320, being 31 more than that of the previous year. There are *23 male and *23 female teachers. There were also two advanced Bible classes, conducted by Mr. Thos. Mack 3*. The session while regretting the resignation and loss to the choir through Mrs. Mitchell's resignation, were gratified that the efficiency of the choir had been maintained under the able leadership of ; Mr. Rees. The report referred to the Presbyterial visitation. The report of the Committee of - Management congratulated the congregation on the comparative success which had marked the year. It had not been marked by any special effort on the part of tiie congregation, yet the sources of revenue had shown a steady increase, and the amount raised in this way showed a total greater than had been seen in their balance-sheet for the past twelve years. Daring the year the committee, stimulated by a handsome donation from Mr. R. Currie, had imported a new harmonium, at a cost of £69. Now that the debt on the hall had been reduced to reasonable limits, tiie committee desired that a special effort should be made to improve the lighting and ventilation. £150 had been wiped off the debt of the hall but the committee was compelled to draw £*200 from church funds. The income from the hall for rent was £70. The members of committee who now retire by rotation, were Messrs. Sinton, McCoskric, Steel, Hanna, J. C. Maeky, and Drinkwatcr. The balance-sheet for the church showed the total receipts of £925 13s 2d, and the expenditure the same, less £9 10s 3d. The hall balance-sheet showed : Receipts, £322 15s 2d, leaving a balance due to treasurer of £41 2s 2il. The reports and balance-sheets were adopted. Committee.—An election of six members of committee then took place. Eighteen names were proposed, of whom five declined to stand. The following were elected by ballot : — Messrs. Senton, J. C. Maeky, Drinkwater, McCoskric, R. C. Barry, and McCiivcu.

ArbiTous.—Messrs. John Hauua and Eu trican were appointed auditors.

A conversation then took place relative to the choir and church psalmody, and the best means of improving it, but no decision was arrived at, and the meeting then terminated.