THE PRESBYTERIAN OFFICEBEARERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 8

THE PRESBYTERIAN OFFICEBEARERS' ASSOCIATION.

The following is the third annual report of the Duncdin and Suburban Presbyterian Office-bearers'.Association, to be presented at the meeting to be held in Knox Church Schoolroom on Tuesday next, a'. 7.15 p.m.: —

The third year's work of the association, whilc.it has not been marked by any distinct forwo.Td movement, has been productive of some good work quietly done. During the year six general and four executive meetings have been held and fairly well attended. Gnat interest is manifested in all questions brought forward for consideration, the general rulebeing that all present take part in ilhe discussions. Addresses have been delivered during the year by the. Rev. A. W. Ivinmont, M.A., on " The Spiritual Life of the Office-bearer"; Mr Duncan Wright "The Working Man and The Church"; Rev. J. Chisholm "Should Ilhe Tenure of the Pastorate be Limited"; Kev. W. Scorgie " What is Prcbyleriaiiisin''; and the Rev. W. He-witson, 8.A., " Some Glimpses of Mission Fields and Mission Workers"; and the association's best thanks a.e due to these friends for their kindly interest and assistance. Your executive recognises that jn asociation such as this justifies its existence mainly by the signs of "sometiling attempted, something done," and placing that test on the year's work it is gratifying to report- that some practical results are apparent. Last year the possibility of good results from action taken by this association in connection with the Sustent-ation Fund and lay preachers were confidently anticipated. It is a -pleasure now to report that the Rev. R. Wood, late of Masterton, has been appointed organising agent for the Sustentation Fund, and the association's entire confidence in him and best wishes for abundant success in the work are herein expressed. The names of 13 gentlemen have been submitted to and accepted by the Presbytery as fully accredited lay preachers, and it is anticipated that an amended scheme of preparation and examination of candidates, to be submitted by the Lay Preachers' Committee at an early date to Presbytery will, if adopted, result in tSiis department of the churches' work becoming popular with the Christian workers in our congregations, and that at no 'distant date a large roll of lay preachers will be available for work at the smaller centres and in the outskirts of l-he various parishes. The question of the tenure of the pastorate is also receiving considerable attention, it being reccgruMd hy members that this is essentially an officebearers' question. The address by the Kev. J. Chisholm aroused considerable interest, a special meeting of the association having been held on the 16th inst. to discuss matters connected with the movement, and it is hoped that n suggestion by your executive to hold a conference during Synod will be acted upon, and thus have the advantages and disadvantages of a change o[ tenure placed before all interested for their consideration. At the annual meeting held on March 21 the following officers were elected:—President, Mr William Henderson; vice-presidents—Mr R. Chisholm and Mr (i. Reid; secretary, Mr W. Pryor (re-elected); treasurer, Mr F. Arthur (re-elected); members of the executiveMessrs Duncan Wright, Alex. Watson, Colin Tavlor, Thomas Beg?, Peter Thomson, D. Beath. A. B. Mercer, R. Fleming, P. G. Stewart, and A. C. Begj. During the year three members (Messrs R. Chisholm, A. C. Be«g, and W. Taylor), who have always taken a hearty interest in the work of the association, left the colony for extended trips to the Homeland and other countries. The best wishes of members went with them in their wanderings, and a- cordial .welcome- was extended them on their return. It is with deep regret your executive has to record the death of Mr It. Bagrie, of Mornington Church, one of the most regular attendants at the ings of the association. Mr Bagrie's geniaJ presence and assistance are much missed, Midi opj symp»tby, gc«- lis idfav. and,]

family in llieir sad bereavement. A new departure has been made this year in deciding thnt the annual meeting is to make the shape of a social evening to which all Presbyterian office-bearers and their lady friends are cordially invited. It is hoped thus to arouse more interest in the aims ot the association and cause a larger number of office-bearers to become members and assist in the work that is being done. That there is need for the association is bevond doubt. Much good can be done bv office-bearers meeting together and discussing the affairs of the great Church to which we belong. Your executive feels justified in saying there is much reason to take courage and go forward, and trusts that the •ood work already done may be followed by more %eal and earnestness for the furtherance of the kingdom of the Master whom we serve.