PORT CHALMERS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13673, 16 August 1906, Page 8

PORT CHALMERS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. The fifty-fourth annual mooting of tho Povt Chalmers Presbyterian Church was held last ovuning in "tho Sunday School Ilall. The minister, the Rev. K. C. Tennant, presided, and there was a fair attendance of members of the congregation. After devotional exercises and the singing of a hymn tho Chairman submitted the Kirk Session report for the yetir terminating June 30, 190G, from which the following extracts are made: —

The attendance at public worship has bcou well maintained, and the Lord's Supper lia-s been dispensed quarterly, with an attendance cf 3ir. the highest for years. In purging tho roll 12 names have been struck nfi'. There have b?ei) ntkled seven mc-tnbers bv profession of iaith, one by certificate, while two have received their certificates, none having died, leaving a present total of 21: 1 . members—a gam oi six. Your sessiou has held 1-t meetings, and given an earnest ove-sight to all matters pertaining to the spiritual interests of tlie congregation. The ordinance of baptism lias been administered to 1G ch'dren during the year. The Deacons' Court, having been, lcdnccfl by removals fo vciy few rfk-clivo members, tlie sension decided that it ought to be increnwd, and appointed an election, which resulted ill five new members being ordained—viz.: Messrs ■T. Ilov.-itt, Wm. Harrod, G. R. Biudinct, Andrew Chisbolm, jun„ and David Hutton, "/ho have all b?p»i very active in fheir duties. The choir le.yier. Mr Howden, being linahlt* to 001.linns in that capacity from pressure of business the session asked Jf.r ,T. Clc£horn to assume that office, to *-hich lie most kindly accedcd; and tbe choir is fo be contra I u ited on having obtained tbe help of one so competent and so truly devoted to his work. Tli?. Fes'ion desires to put on record its appreciation of the long and valuable service rendered by Mt liowden to tho congregation as the leader of its ptaise. i'be other departments of work—Sabbath School. Bible Clashes, Sabbath Morning Class, Y.P.S.C.E., P.W.M.U. ard tho choir are doing excellent work. The Pabb.ith Morning Class is still carried on by Mr Win, ficid. one of our senior e'ders, whose zeal in the Master's service is not impaired by his advanced age of So years. Though handicapped by the natural infirmities of age, be is seldom absent from his post in the old church at 10 o'clock on Sabbath morning.

The report was adopted, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mill, to write to Mr Reid thanking him for his zealous services in connection with all church work.

The Deacons' Court report (Mr John Tait. clerk of session) stated, inter alia, as follows: —

'Die Deacons' Court has much pleasure in again submitting a satisfactory balance sheet of the affairs o! the congregation, and desires j to express thankfu nesa at the heart? and generous manner in which those comprising onr congregation have obeyed tho call routing to financial matters of the church, A ciedit balance of nearly £30 is on hand with which to start the new financial year. One debenture of £50 has been paid off during the year, thus leaving us with a church debt of ifiso. The expenses connected with the upkeep of the church properties during the year include expenditure on repairs to and painting of the manse, for which wo drew GO from the Presbyterian Church Properly Jionrd. A cupper boiler has been built in the shed at the rear of the church, and has proved to be of great convenience at our social meetings. Furniture and upkeep to the extent o[ £59 has been, voted by the court for the initial year's work in connection with the Young Men's Biblo Class rooms. The usual contributions to the Council of Churches. Benevolent Institution, Chap'.aincy Fund, Assembly expenses, Patient and Prisoners' Aid Society, have been made, while it will be observed that our contributions to missions have been well sustained. Bursary: Mr J. J. Eade still continues in receipt of our bursary, thus partly enabling him to qualify for bis life's work as a medical missionary, for which be has been successful in passing his first professional examination. Sustenlation Fund: Tliis fund has during the year been fairly well supported, To the ladies who Ira re assisted us in the past in co'lecting this fund our thanks arc due. During the tile health of our minister necessitated a complete relaxation from ministerial work, and three months' leave of absence was granted to him, the pulpit being supplied by Mr J. Hill and Mr Hector Maclean, students, during his absence. Mr Tcnneut returned to us greatly benefited bv the rost, and opportunity was taken at the animal business meeting of last year to welcomo our minister back to his charge. A fatowell social was tendered to Mi?s_ Jane Mawson, who proceeded to CM'in in November to assist in the Canton Vil.age mi--'on work. We have much pleasure in noting that Mr A. Swanston, our senior deacon, in spite oi bis 80 years and a walk of five miles, still continues to lie with us at morning worship, especially making it a matter of conscience to be there on his " day at the door." It will be noticcd (hat the names' of the Rev. Wm. Mawsou, M.A.. of the Canton Village mission, and Mr D." M'Donald, of the Regions Bevond missions, who is stationed in the vicinity of tho Congo River, Africa, are still retained as being office-bearers of our church. Our thanks are duo to the members of the choir under \ho leadership of Mr Cleghoni. Miss Johnston still presides at the or; ■mi with great acceptance. The church debt, as already mentioned, now stands at £650. the interest pavable last year being £35. It is the sincere' wish of this court to wipe this debt nfi. and it is confidently expected that the coming anniversary season will sec a large portion of the burden lifted. V, ith this object in view it was decided to go to our congregation and ask it to contribute a certain proportion of its incomo to reduce this debt. Collecting boxes for this purpose have been distributed to a large number oi earnest helpers, and by their aid no doubt our efforts will be greatly rewarded. Bible Classes: It is exceedingly gratifying to note the progress oi the various organisations. Senior and junior classes for young ladies as well as for young men no* exist. It is specially worthy of note that the Young Men's Class is by its action endeavouring to add tho word "institute'' to its title.

Tho report, together with the balance sheet, was adopted after slight desultory discussion.

The Sunday School report contained the following: —

Wo have 149 scholars on the roll at our main school, 95 at Sawyer's Bay. and 10 at Deborah Bay—tho average attendance Wing, at the main school 125, at Sawyer's Bay CO, aud at Deborah Bay 8: the total average attendance is 193. Wo have a total of 30 on the staff of teachors. comprising 20 ladies and four gentlemen. The main school is superintended by Mr John Tait while Sawyer's Bay is capably ma-nss-.-l by Messrs A. Davidson, sen., - Mid A. Ckbholiß, sits.

Tho charge of Deborah Bay lias now devolved upon ' Miss Maclean, who, like her predecessor. Miss A. Porteous, strives to earn- on good work. Our thanks are due to t'lie organic. Miss Nelson, lor the interest taken in the school work. As showing: the interest taken l).v the scholars and teachcrj in their work, we mention the v*riou-i examinations held during the year. That conducted In- ins Sunday School Union awakened no littie interest, as 10 ot our scholars entered, and acquitted themselves creditably, while at our own Assembly examination each of our entrants secured sane mark of distinc. '■lou. The children's contributions towards missions amounted to the creditable sura of il7 17s Old. This is the total from the three school.- 1 . Junior Bible classes, to act as connecting links between the school and Senior Bib'e Classes, have new been established— Mi:s Marion Skinner leading the girls', and Mv Bandinet the youtns' class.—The report w;<- approved and adopted, together with the sta'en.er.t of account?. Young People's Society of Christian En-deavour.--The society colli inucs to prosper, !io mer'.bershin standing at 4."> active meml«rs swl associates. Dnrinj the year £14 0s Hii was subscribed and distributed among various minions. The church has been kept supp:H with flowers for the Sunday service.-. ar.tl the sicl: have been visit.'<l by »:c-;ni)ers. Hocks u.'id magazines have been celiecied and made up into parcels lev the benefit of sailors, an;' some forwarded to the depots 'fur castaways on outlying islands. Ti;e. Sunday night service at Deborah Buy is stili conducted by members of the society. T!i<- office-bearers are as follows:— President, Kev, K. C. Tenueat; acting president, Mr W. ,l.Kobson; vice-presidents, Messrs A. C. Cliisbolir. aid E. Wignall; treasurer, Mr I); Button: corresponding secretary, Mr Adam Chishoiin; recording secretary. Mr 11. Angus; delegates to union, Messrs Mutton and Wignail.—Adopted.

Presbyterian Women'-; Missionary Union.— The P.W.M.U. meetings are held monthly, at which inlewuing letters from our missionaries arc read, and by these letters members are kept in touch with those who are at work in the foreign fields. The membership ii til. The meetings have not been so well attended a« desired. 11l December we had to part with Mrs Porteous, who had been president of this branch since its forillation. A social afternoon was held in the school hall lo say good-bye, and all the mom'eerb regretted her resignation and removal iron l , the district. Mrs Johnstone was unanimously voted president, aim wc feel sure sure we have in her a worthy successor to Mr* Porteous. The funds oolledwl during the year have been divided amongst the different missions in connection v.-itb our church. A branch. o? the Maori Mission Birthday League has been formed, secretary Mrs HewiM.--Aclnpteu.

Young Women's Bible Clf.ss—lt is now just a little over a, year since our Young Women's Class was starlod on co-operative lines. Our membership is irereasing steadily. To start we had 18 members on the roll, but now we have a roll number of 38. Bnt belter tlifn this, the spiritual life of our members is becoming deeper, and the interest taken in the work is much greater. Our collections during the past year have been very good, the total amount being £a Is Gd. Of (his £!> 2s is to'be devoted to mission work. Our ofiloers fir the new year are as follows: — Leader. Miss Me.ne'aus; deputy leader. Miss A. Jacobson: secretary. Miss J. Beagley; treasurer, Miss A. Miller; agent for the Chronicle, Miss 11. i*u\'=on; leader of the Oirls' Class. Miss M. Skinner; secretary, Miss A. M'Don&'d — Adopted.

Young Men's Bible Class.—During the year the has tried to forward Chrisi's kinsidoiii ill many way?.- An orchestra, under Mr V'. IT. Home, is of great assistance in keeping our meetings bright and cheerful. On Thursday evening 01 each week during the winl-w a social club meets in ths rooms, when debates, imnromntu speaking, etc., are participated in by the members, to our mutual improvement. One m«ht .of each month the meting is open to all young ielloivF. Tile ambulance corps in connection with the local Volunteers is composed entirely of B.C. members, and v:e also try to forward the interest of true sport in many ways. "With regard to work out c ide til" f, l" cc , our greatest effort has l»en. amongst the young boys of Port. Every Saturday night our rooms arc open to boys ir'aor IG. On an average nlxrnt 30 boys fake adYitnlase of the opportunity of being present. We have undertaken a monlb'y service at Sawyer's Bay, and also assist at Deborah Bay. At present the members, in cmjunct'on v.-ith tho V/W.B.C. and others, are workim; h?r;l for a sale of work, to i>a held at the end of September. of the proceeds are to be given to Home Mission work. Executive: Leader, A. K. Chidbolm: liepuiv. H M'Ltihi: pecretarv and treasurer, T. Anderson: a.nd W. Currie, W. Sinclair, A. W. Obisho'm. W. ■\ l .'i',t»en. A. Xl'Tjean, and D. Hutton.— Mooted.

Prior 1o the close of tho mooting wpvp nifld-r* for tno minisovviocs on (V'ober 1.4 n-n'l Iho enminv of tbo T?«nv Dr and tbe Rev. W. Hewil-on., Tho collection how will be opened on October 17.