PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12163, 13 June 1925, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGE

SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION THE ANNUAL MEETING At the annual meeting of the Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Servioe Association, held in St. John’s Sunday School, there was a large attendance. The Rev. Dr Gibb presided. Over 100 children, inmates of the orphanage, added to the interest of the meeting by rendering musical items and recitations. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman remarked that there had been no serious sickness in the orphanage during the year. He spoke in high terms of the manner in which the home had been conducted by Mr and Mrs T. P. Mills. Allusion was also made to Mr Mills’s fine work as probation officer, and as visitor to the prisons. Although the finances of the orphanage were in a satisfactory condition, an appeal was made for more financial assistance in view of the projected additions to be carried out at the Boys’ Home at Berhamnore. He also explained that it was for health reasons that Mrs Mills, the matron, would shortly take a holiday, and would soon have to relinquish her duties as matron. That would necessitate the appointment of a man and his wife to take charge of the Boys’ Home. Dr Gibb heartily thanked all who had in any way assisted the orphanage during the past year. The superintendent. Mr T. P. Mills, mentioned with gratification the fact that the inmates of the home had escaped the infantile paralysis epidemic. It was also a matter for congratulation that, so far as could he ascertained, the conduct of the young people who had passed through the home and were now taking part in the ordinary life of the community had continued to he satisfactory and exemplary. He made an appeal, especially to non-church-going Presbyterians, to assist the movement, which’ had done, and was now doing, much practical good in the community. Dr Van der Las, of Seattle, America, who is acting temporarily as minister of St. Andrew’s Church, delivered an address, which quite held the attention of the children. He was known in Seattle, he said, as "The Children’s Preacher.” and he would rather have that said of him than anything else. Every Sunday morning for ten months in the year fie talked to the children of his _ congregation. He considered that his greatest work. Last evening he spoke to the orphanage children, telling tKem two anecdotes or stories, the lesson being, "Fear God and never tell a lie.”