CHURCH MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12932, 31 July 1905, Page 7

CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. ANDHEW'S. ' , Tub annual meeting of the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was ' held in the hall on Friday evening, the Eev. H. B. Gray, A., minister of the church, presiding. There was a fair attendance of members of the congregation. The session report, read by Mr. John Beid "(session clerk), stated that 21 members'had .joined the church during the past 12 months. Disjunction certificates had been granted to four,. and death had removed three. The total membership was now 191. The attendance at the morning services had been well maintained, but the average in the evening had been disappointing. The usual Wednesday prayer meeting had been held, about 20 people attending. Mr. D. Macpherson had carried on the Friday evening meeting in Russellstrcct, Parncll, and the session wished ,to thank him for this and other work done by him for the congregation. After over. 40 years of faithful service as teacher and superintendent of the Russell-street school, Captain Le : Boy had felt compelled to withdraw. It was impossible to-over-emphasise the fidelity and earnestness with which Captain Le Boy had laboured in this connection; Mr. W. Dawson, a member of the church, . had kindly .agreed', to ...take his ■ place in the meantime. The Ladies' Guild, to which the congregation were- much 'indebted, resumed its meetings as usual, in the beginning of May. These had been well attended, and the work was being vigorously carried en. A letter haefbeen received and considered by the session and managers' court from Mr. W. Culpan, in which he asked to be relieved of his work as organist in September next. Mr. Culpan had been upwards of 35 years in that position. During that time he had laboured with self-sacrifice and energy for the benefit of the choir and congregation. The Young Men's Society was formed a little over a year ago, and was proving a source of interest and benefit to many of .the young men in the congregation. On Wednesday evenings a gymnasium was conducted under a skilled instructor. Arrangements were being made for a Monday evening literary and debating society. The Young Women's Bible Class had only been in existence for a few weeks, but already, it was filling a real want in the life and work of the church. Financially and numerically, the position of the church was well maintained, and the fresh institutions started among the young during the year indicated a vitality that was full of hope for the future of the church.

The board of managers, in their report, expressed themselves thankful for the monetary support so cheerfully provided by the congregation. The weekly scat rents were almost the same in amount as for the previous year, and, during the present 12 months the sum of £236 Is Od was added to the hall building fund by means of a successful sale of ladies' work. A portion of the school ground, which was not being used, had been leased for building purposes at, a rental which would pay nearly one-third of the present interest on the hall debt.

The report of the Ladies' Guild stated that the guild had flourished well during the year. In October last their session closed with a bazaar, realising £236, which was paid to the hall fund, together with £280 they had in hand, making a total of £515. They resumed work in May, with a 'membership of 53, and were working with their usual energy, ■At present they had in hand .'-10.

In moving the adoption of tho reports, the chairman .referred to the splendid work done by Captain Le Boy, who had recently retired after upwards of 40 years' faithful service, as teacher and superintendent of the Russell-street school. Another old and valued church worker, ho said, was also about to retire from an office he had held for upwards of 36 years. This was the. organist, Mr. Wm. Culpan, whose intended retire-' raent would be heard of with general regret, and by none more' than himself. ' The chairman and Messrs. Davey, J. Eeid, G. J. Garland, and Croinbio, having touched on Mr. Culpan's many high., personal qualifications, and the able manner in which he had performed his duties as organist, the following resolution was moved by the r,ev. Mr. Gray, and unanimously adopted:—"As a congregation, we place on record our appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. William Culpan as organist of the church for over 36 years. We recognise that these services have been rendered with ungrudging generosity, that the unfailing kindliness of Mr. Culpsfn's manner has done much,' to promote goodwill among the members of the choir, and tho church generally; that in vory many ways he has proved himself a valuable helper in the practical work of the church. As a congregation wo have reason to be grateful that one so respected by all classes of the community should for so many years have given his services to the church." On the motion of, Mr, Crombic, seconded by Mr. Oliphant, it was decided that the resolution should be embodied in an address to be presented to Mr. Culpan, in order that he might have something to remind him of his long connection with the church as its organist. *. The reports were then adopted. The managers for the ensuing year were elected as under:—Messrs. J. Broadfoot, W. Crombie TT M. Doull, W. Gorrie, W. 11. O. Johnston, W A McGregor, P. Oliphant, J. Sharp, W. \r Pa,,' more, W. B. Tait, and J. Todd. I Totes of thanks to the various officer,* concluded i the business. ! ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, UOTOEUA. The annual meeting of the parishioners, of St Luke's Anglican Church, ltotorua, took nlace in the Parish Hall, on Wednesday evening (write" our correspondent), the Rev. C. A. T;sdall vicar presiding. The attendance of parishioners was very satisfactory. Tho balance-sheet for the past year showed the receipts to have £466 14s ad and the expenditure £156 5s 2d. The churchwardens' and the vicar's reports ■*„, mi] aDd proved of, and the adopted. Mr. B. S. Penney was elected v,*. AI - a ward Hnfl Mr 1. C. Hawkins the people's warden. The following wore elected ve^rymen:-Messrs. Wiggs, D. Lundun, P. Thorn,, V. Webber, Hammond, G A. impson, and T. T/onaldson. Messrs. J. W. Webber and C. Pawsan were elected auditors. The vicar made an earnest appeal for help in the way of lay readers and Sunday-school teachers. At the close of the business part of the meeting several instrumental and vocal items were rendered, the contributors being the Misses Lundon (3), Miss Malfroy, and the choir of St. Luke's Church,