KNOX CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17084, 16 August 1917, Page 3

KNOX CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the congregation of Knox Church was held last night, and was attended by a large number, the spacious hall being well filled. The Rev. R. Evan Davics presided. J- Bowie, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, eaid thu clause of the report which appealed to him most was as follows: " The Stuart Hall mission continues to meet a very obvious need, and during tho past yea* has been well attended, though it is noticed with regret that several old friends are now unable to get out to the services. As an instance of the need of a Presbyterian old people's home, three of tho members have been received mto tho Benevolent Asylum." The speaker gave some telling illustrations of the need ol a homo for aged people such as it was contemplated to build at North-Bast Valley. He had nothing to eay against the Benevolent Institution, but it was by no means an ideal home for _ aged peoiplo, especially oouples who had lived for many decades together. He considered that there was nothing more pathetic than to seo old couples separated. He had recently seen a couple 80 years of age parted in this way, and could not but characterise it as cruel. He was pleased to know that in the home which was to be established by the Presbyterian Churoh in North-East Valley provision was to be made for couples having a room of their own. In addition, there was t° .be a well-planned cottage hospital, and adjoining the hospital there would be sun rooms. Altogether, the Presbyterian Old People's Home would be as much a home as it was possible to make it.' Dr Riley, in seconding the motion, eaid that Knox Church was in a gqpd financial position. He was not quite sure, however, whether a good financial position was the best thing for a church. Individually there was nothing like a mortgage to make a man. work, and he believed - that could be applied to a church as well. He congratulated Mr Davics on taking such a prominent part in the social service side of the work. There were two of tho church's activities in which he had taken special interest during tho year. Tho first was tho aged and infirm ministers' fund. He was' pleased to know that it h&d been decided, to increase the .allowance to their aged ministers. Ihe second movement was the proposed establishment of an Old People's tiome. Tho Presbyterian Church waa fortunate in having such axi excellent x site presented to it by Mr John Koss. He did not think that Mr Ross had made a gift which would be more appreciated than the one referred to.

Tho Rev. Mr Davies referred with prido to tho cottago hospital which it was proposed to establish in connection with tile home. When he told them that Drs Bowie and Riley were responsible for the planning of it it would readily be understood that the building when erected woidd be one to be proud of. He paid a tribute to Professor Dickie for the valuable assistance rendered by him during the year in the matter of pulpit supply, but what he valued most of all was the professor's iriendship.

Professor Dickie said it had been a great pleasure to him to be associated with Knox Church. He oould mention at least a dozen elders and deacons of the church who had done much more for the organisation than he had done. It had always been a pleasure to" him to assist Mr Davies. The officebearers and workers of the church had reason to congratulate themselves on the great amount of work that had been done during the year, especially considering tha nature of the times. Ho did not agree with Dr Riley when ho said that a debt v i a church was a good feature. If that were so all that any congregation would require to do would bo to go to the banks for the necessary accommodation, and they would have abundance of blessing.—(Laughter and applause.) At the same time he questioned if it was wise to bo so anxious about the contents of the collection plate. Ho thought that spiritual power frequently diminished as riches increased. The Rev. E. A. Axelsen referred to the effort which was being made to get subscriptions for the Presbyterian Old People's Home. Last week ho had sent out 16,C00 appeals, and in addition he was sending out a large number of promissory notes, and also collection cards for . Sunday schools. He thought that what was being done would be an object-lesson to the whole country that the Presbyterian Church was in deadly earnest in this matter of the erection of an old people's home. When he was in Invercargill recently in connection with the proposal to erect a. children's home there lie was offered a site of five acres of excellent land adjacent to the town, and he thought that it would not bo long before the home would be established. The Rev. Mr Dav/es thanked the speakers for their kindly reference to his efforts, inis was _tho fourth annual meeting of the con "-rogation which was held under the cloud of this great wax, and he hoped that the next meeting would bo held under happier auspices in this respect. At the same time he did not hope for peace unless it was an honourable and lasting one. He was aire that one and all were determined to hold out to the bitter end, no matter how bitter that might be. He concluded by thanking Mr C. G. Wilcox, student-assistant, for the excellent work done by him during the year, also the office-bearers. He also introduced the Rev. Mr Evans, the ministerelect of St. Stephen's Church, whom he wns_ delighted to have in an adjoining parish. The motion for the adoptxsn of the report and balanoe shout was carried by acclamation. The Rev. H. Williams led dovotional exercises. the choir contributed part songs. M' 33 Barry a piano solo, and Mr J. M. Alexander a vocal solo. Light refreshments were handed round bv tho laches of tLs congregation.