ST. JAMES'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10033, 21 January 1896, Page 6

ST. JAMES'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The thirty-first annual meeting of the members of St. James's PresbyteriauChurch was held in the church, Wellingtomstreet, last evening. There was a very good attendance, and the Rev. R. 1?. Macnicol presided. After devotional exercises, Mr. Thomas Macky, session clerk, read the report for the past year, which stated that the affairs of the church compared favourably with the records of recent years, They were encouraged by recent additions to both members and adherents of the congregation, aud the average attendance at the Sabbath services had been fairly well sustained.' There hud been an increase of 19 members to the communion roll -during the year. The work in the Sunday-school had been faithfully and prosperously carried out under Mr. A. J. Eutrican (superintendent) and Messrs. T. Richardson and B. MoKerras, sen. (vicesuperintendents), and thanks were returned to them for their services. The Bible classes for young men and young women had been conducted, and the attendance well sustained ; as also the Young Men's Fellowship Association. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour continued to maintain a good degree of vitality, arid the meetings had been characterised by much earnestness and devotedness. There were 60 active and 22 associate members. The revenue raised during the year amounted to £14 16s, of which £4 14s 9d been distributed an.ougst the poor, and the balance in mission purposes. The various' organisations of the church were all in a flourishing state. The Ladies' Association had carried on its benevolentwork,andseasonablehelp rendered to several in need, £1510< having been raised and expended. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the year been £949 Bssd, as against £948 2s 9d last year, and there was a balance in hand of £13 12s 4d. The committee of management's report was read by .Mr. Ramsay, the secretary, and regretted that the revenue from ordinary sources (collections and pew rents) was still inadequate, having barely recovered from the falling-off of previous years. The church collections exceeded those of last year by £33 Is 4ds while the pew rents had fallen off by £1317, 6d. A total of £137 17s 9d had been raised by special appeals, and the committee urged upon the congregation increased and continued liberality to'crevent the necessity of special appeals. The painting. and other necessary outside repairs to the church had become necessary, and the committee emphasised the remarks in a previous report on this matter. _ Mr. Maooicol had kindly intimated his intention to donate the rent of the manse for 12 months in order to assist and stimulate the congregation to have the church put in thorough repair. The estimated cost was £109, 'and , the committee thought that with ;> their % minister's 1 donation (say £40), it should not be difficult to make up the balance. % The mortgage on the hall had been reduced by £70, ana the principal now stood at £650., The various mission schemes < bad been continued as usual, (The following

members of committee Messrs. Sinclair, Darter, T Gnlrt' McCroskery. jun. (re-elected), and Lees and J. Mercer. The rVZi ile % Sunday-school stated that the nil ll » teachers on the roll was 55, and ,^ r '•< number of soholars about 420 I-, average attendance of 268. All th. s » and the balance-sheet were XllS ordered to be printed and circuUueA.N the congregation. u "i%