NORTH-EAST VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 7

NORTH-EAST VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Tllo a'lnual report of the session and tho Deacons' Court of tho North-East Valley Presbyterian Chnreli presented to tho meeting , of members sets forth the position of tho church. Tho S233ion says, inter aha: Tho year has teen one of stealy work in the various departments of tho Church's activity. The attendance at the regular services of the church lias keen, more fluctuating than during lust- year, owing very largely to the less favourable weather. Tlio evening attendance generally has been good, hut the number of vacant seats in tho morning is discouraging. 'Ihe only special evangelistic; effort iuad°e dining the year was a 10 days' children's lritsion conducted by Jlv. \Y. H. Stanes, ot, India. Many children were influenced for good. A large number of these art meeting with Mr Gray'on Sabbath morning at 10.3U° Mr Geo. ])'. Booth, D.A., having been appointed rector of Port Chalmers High School, resigned hi? various offices in the church! His withdrawal is a great loss to the church, ss both ho and Mts Booth were among its test workers. At the end of last year tho memtership was 315. During the year 51 fcavo been received.'into the fellowship of tho church, while 17 have left owing to removal iiom the district, and one has died; so that ■tho total membership is now 348. The Lord's Supper has been dispensed tour times in the course of the year, with an average attendance of 205. The post-communion socials liavo been continued, and are still appreciated. Baptism ha 3 been administered to 14 The player meeting continues to receivo tho support of many in the congregation. About 50 persons are in the habit of attending, and many of them have* felt that this quiet season for prayer and meditation has been holpjul to their life. At tho request of tho teachers, tho session unanimously appointed ALr D, S. Beatli to the supcriutcndentsbip of the Sabbath school in place of Mr Booth. There he and 19 teachers are Tendering efficient service. The number ot scholars on the roll is 201, with an avera«e attendance of 150. More male teachers arc required for this important work. Tho work of the societies attached to the church is favourably commented on. The session is anxious .tlint special meetings of an evangclisiic linhire should bo hold before the summer conies, and that during the year every effort should be made to deepen the spiritual life of tho church, and al?o to bring the hesitating to definite decision for Christ. In this effort we are sure we will lave the sympathy and co-operation ot tho niembeii of the church. The session most heartily and- gratefully shares in the widespread foiling of satisfaction which prevails in correction with the work of our minister, the llcv. Mr Gray. His discourses morning and evening have the true evangelical ' strerjjih that tonics of deep-rooted convic- ' lion;.. His undoubted ability as a prcaehcr together with the kindly nature of tho mtui. lias endeared him to the whole congregation. Wo trust", that the good feeling which oxisls between minister and people may inspire us j to greater and more satfiessive work in the iuture J he Deacons' Court report s.iys, inter Crlii!: --Tlic congregation is to be congratulated upon the fact that, taking the recoipia all through, tile very satisfactory advance made last year has been well maintained. Tho Sustentation Fund has increased from £88 6s to £105 t)3. This is a record in the history of the church, the previous highest year | being 1896. when the amount contributed was ' £101 13s Gd. Seat rents also show an increase, being ,£7fi Gs, as against £'70 4s Inst veer. Ordinary collections show a slight falling . off, being £20 behind last year; but this is | cjslv to ba ibft fiist yeai of ft •

now pastorate visitors come in largo numbers,' and contribute to this fund and no other. Wc feel, therefore, (hat tlie greatly improved condition of tho two previously mentioned funds, together with tlio splendid rcsponso mado to tho call for tho reduction of tho debt on the Sabbath School Hall, shows that our position financially is a most hopeful one, and we have great cause for thankfulness to God in this matter. We are pleased also to see that there has been an improvement in tho contributions towards "missions, and trust that the renewed interest ill this work will continue. Notwithstanding our increased revenue, the credit balance at the end of the year was small. This is account-cd (or partly by tho fact that the court took upon itself tlio burden of paying the interest 011 the debt, eo m to leave the hall fund unhampered,' by the necessity which arose (or the purchase of an organ for the Sabbath school, and by a well-earned increase 111 the salaries paid to our organist and to the church officer. Tlio c.iirt also during the year purchased a large quantity of crockery for tho use of tho church, which, though running into 6ome expense, will soon recoup itself in saving the continued hiring of same. It will bo seen, however, that most of these extra items ol expenditure non-recurrent, audi the court trusts that during the present year it may be ablo to wipo off tho amount of £C 8 borrowed hom the hall fund in connection with tlio church and manse improvements. Tho sum of £200, being one-half of the debt 011 the hall, has been paid off, of which £51 was tho result of an entertainment by the l?ev. « r j-' 1 "' '' l 0 being mainly raised by the dircct contributions of our own members.