PRESSBYTERIAN OFFICEBEAKERS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13856, 20 March 1907, Page 2

PRESSBYTERIAN OFFICEBEAKERS ASSOCIATION.

The fourth! annual meeting of-tho Duncdin awl Suburban Office-bearers' Association was hold' last night in the Stuart Hall. Tho only business was tho election of officers for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen were chosen to fill the respetive positions:-President, Jlv Duncan AVright; vicc-preeidente, Messrs Geo. Kcid and Tlios. Begg; secretary, Mr W. Barclay; treasurer, Mr A. Watson; executive— Messrs W. Martin, W. Hondenson (Mornington), R. Chisholm, T. Bcath, A. B. Mcrccv,.R. Fleming, W. Henderson (Caver, sham), P. Thomson, W. Ealston, and P. (i. Stewart. • : ■ At the conclusion of this business a very successful social . gathering took place in tho Lall, a very largo number of officebearers and friends being present. The proceedings having boon opened by tho. singing of the doxology, the President (Mr D. Wright) addressed those present. He thanked them for tho honour they had conferred on him by placing him in tho chair, and 'expressed fho hope that when his term of office expired liis fellow ofiicoboarers would not bo disappointed. in. thoir choice. JFrom every standpoint ho considered, it could be fairly asserted' .that the age in which they lived was a, liard, critical, and exacting one, so far as Christian institutions were concerned. Some Christian workers, had; gravo fears as io whother they wore not in danger of being overweighted with new institutions and new methods—not to speak of nelw theology—to the real detriment of old, ''well-founded organisations. Others'wero clearly-of the' opinion' that the most clamant'need of 1907 was not new methods but a deeper personal religion and inoro. divine power to carry on tho work which wns in their hands'. Tho association under whoso auspices they were assembled aimed at, promoting :i elosci , acquaintance ind fellowship amongst all office-bearers, elders, and deacons in and around Dimodin; to aid them in tho efficient discharge of their duties and to confer chiefly on matters affecting the welfare of the Presbytir'iun churches, j Mnch regret had beeii expressed that they had not lwcn able satisfactorily to put the lay preachers' association on n, proper. working basis. Surely there were within their ranks men with sufficient power and intelligence to assist in the weekly service and to, carry on outsido work and' services in occasional •straits. The speaker then briefly traced the history of Prcsbyterianism, referring to tho achioveincnts ot tho Presbyterian Cliuroh in educational, philanthropical, , and social movements, concluding by expressing the wish that there 'should exist between all true pastors, preachers, teachers, and officehearer.? tho truest brotherhood, dignity, magnanimous felloAvship, ajid cheerful cooperation. The presidential address was followed by an address by the Rev. H. B. Gray (NorthEast V alley), and musical items wero rendered during tho evening by Miss Barron, Mr' Fyfc, and Mr Sutherland. The partaking of refreshmente added to the enjoyment of tho gathering, which.was concluded by a. vote of thanks to tho speakers and singers, to tho Ladies' Committee,, theKnox Church Deacons' Committee (for the use of the hall), and to Messrs Scoullar and CWaliolm for the uso of furniture kindly 6uppliod by them.