ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7863, 4 February 1887, Page 3

ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual meeting of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was held last evening. There was a moderate attendance of the congregation, but a very fair attendance of the committee and choir. The Rev. Mr. Carrick presided, and the proceeding# were opened witn singing and prayer. The minutes of last meeting were not read, owing, we believe, to the absence of the secretary, but Mr. Hazlett read the minutes of the deacon's court, held shortly after the annual meeting. He also read the Kirk session report, which showed that, referring first to finances there had been a very considerable increase in collections and seat rents, and through the augmentation fund, which, was taken up by the ladies, £120 had been handed to the treasurer. The Committee of Management trusted that this work would be continued energetically. The building fund debt had been reduced by £100, and now stood at about £800. Application had been made to least a portion of the church property for building - sites, and it was expected this would be obtained, and be a source of tevenue. The Sunday services showed an increased attendance. Twenty new members had joined, six of whom were communicants for the first time, and fourteen had joined from other Churches. The report referred to the Sabbath morning services, and the Evangelistic services conducted by the Rev. Duncan Wright. The *abb«th schools wore progressing favourably, and the choir deserved the thanks of the congregation. It was suggested that a leader of singing should be appointed. Another matter which was brought before the court, was the use of' unfermented wine in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and this they unanimously recommended. A supplementary report was brought up, giving details of the working of the augmentation fund, from which £120 lis 4d was derived during eleven months, thanks to Mrs. Bewes and her energetic staff of collectors. Mr. J. Raid, treasurer, read the statement of receipts and expenditure for ISSG, of which the following is an abridgement: —

Receipts Collections. £431 15s 2d; scat rents, £177' 17» 3d; augmentation fund, 11 months, £120 14s 4 1 ; collections, Symonds-street School, £6 18« 7d ; collections, P*rnull School, £1 j* ; rent of symonds* street School, 10 mouths, £26; rent of ground, £3 10s; donation, W. S. Jones, £1 Is; balancss from Christmas tree, £1 129 3d; old materials sold, 6s; City M siion, collections, £27 15» ; balance. 'lefiuloncy, due to treasurer, £43 Is 6.1 ; Total, £840 14s 7d.

Expenditure: Minister's stipend, £450 ; organist's ■alary, £4j ; otga.n blower's salary, £0 ; churcli officer's salary, £40 ; cleaning church, £3 58 (id ; insurance pr»miumf, £10 Oa lOd ; interest on debt on building, £69 lis: repairs, material and labour, £41 5s Id ; gas, £14 193 2d ; exchange, stamps, and advertising, ltis 4d ; printing, etc , net, £17 4d ; Star ad* tilling "I). Wright," 12s ; hymn books, U. chapman, £1 2s 6d ; city ratee on schools, etc., £5 2s Id ; collecting scat rents commission, £4 Is; collections paid to -Schools, and other schemes, £90 12s 7d ; sundry small accounts paid, £S 3s ; cash paid '.o wards reduction of dibt on building, being po.tion of pro* ceeds of Christmas-tree, £42 191 6(1: total, £840 I4s7d. Mr. Winks, Superintendent of the Sundayschools, read his report:—ln the Symouds. street school they had a staff of liO teachers, with an average attendance of 18. There was a great want of accommodation, but if that was overcome the school would be increased in number and efficiency. The number on the roll in the first quarter was 125 scholars, with an average attendance of 101, and they closed the year with 157 on the roll, and an average attendance of 139. At Farnell the number on the roll wag 60, and the average attendance 45. The report then dealt with the great success of Mr. Earl's entertainments in aid of the library fund and the Sabbath schools generally, and referred to the union which had taken place between the Symoods-street and Farnell Sunday-schools. The report concluded by regretting that there had not been greater interest displayed by the Church and representatives, and hoped during the next year to have cause to feel that they were not lost sight of by those whoue duty it was to encourage them in the work. Mr, Haslett moved the adoption of the reports, and Mr. McLachlan, in seconding it, made some remarks. On the suggestion of Captain McKenzie the report was discussed seriatim. The first subject for discussion was the appointment of a leader of singing. In the course of the discussion it transpired that the general impression of ohoir and congregation was that the organ and choir gallery wore in the wrong place, and that they should be on the floor of the church. It was finally agreed to appoint the singing master after consultation with the ohoir, and that as a test the choir should be placed in the body of the church, and that the harmonium be used for a few Sundays instead of the organ. In regard to the use of uofermented wine for the sacrament, there was a very general discus* sion. A motion was proposed by Mr. Grandison that in future unfermented wine should be used for the sacrament. Mr* Campbell moved as an amendment, that things remain as they are. The amendment was lost, and the motion carried by a large, majority. On the motion of Captain Mo< Kenzie, who urged the necessity of making some better provision for the support of th< city missionary than special collections, it was agreed that some system of weekly conbutions be adopted, and that for this purpose envelopes be placed in the pews with the object of making collections for the city mission. The reports were then adopted, and other detail business having been transacted, the meeting, after a very prolonged si tting, closed with prayer.