MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18624, 4 August 1922, Page 8

MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual congregational meeting of the Maori Hill Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday, the Rev. H. H. Barton presiding.

The annual report shows the membership roll to bo 337. The Deacons’ Court was increased to 29 by the addition of three elders and two deacons. Mr John Scott, session clerk, retired during the year, but he still retains his place as an elder. Mr P. S. Otnaiid was elected session clerk. Mr AV. L. Craig, owing to removal to Wellington, has since the end of the church year resigned as clerk of Deacons’ Court, and Mr F. Jackson has taken up his post. The Rev. H. H. Barton, who has'been called by the church to the special work of secretary to the Foreign Mission Committee, will sever his connection at the end of August. The attendance at the Sabbath school at Maori Hill is now 240, with 19 of a staff. AVakari School, which has 21 on the roll, has suffered somewhat owing to removals. The Bible classes also show a healthy position, there being two young women’s (43 members) and three young men's (49 members) classes, as well as classes at WaJcari (five members). The choir has 31 members, under the conductorship of Mr fi. J. Scott. Miss A. George is organist. The Ladies’ Guild last year raised £l3O for the new church. The chief point of interest in the church’s history his been the opening of the handsome new church, which was officially dedicated by the Presbytery on March 9, and opened for worship on Sunday, March 12. The finances of the church have been well supported during the year, and the general fund showed a surplus of £67 14s 9d, which, with t]no balance from the previous year, gives a credit of £7O 17s 9d.. The total contributions from the congregation from all sources was £2139 5s lid, and members also subscribed £llOO as loan money towards the new church fund, which will lessen the interest charge. Included in the finance raised is an amount of £174 9s 5d towards the salary of the missionary (Miss Henderson) in India. The report and balance sheet, were unanimously adopted. Several organisation reports were also submitted. A special feature of the evening was the recognition of the valued services rendered to the church by Mr AValter Wright, particularly as convener of'the Works Committee in the erection of the now church. An enlargement of the recent group photo of the office-bearers, handsomely framed and engrossed, was'handed to Mr Wright. Reference was also made to the recent departure of Mr AV. L. Craig, who has been promoted to the Government Machinery Department at AVellington, and in recognition of Mr Craig’s services as clerk of the Deacons’ Court fpr a number of years he was, prior to leaving, given a book of classic pictures, and is also to have an enlarged framed photo of office-bearers. ’Die appreciation of Mr Craig’s work amongst the Bible classes was also evidenced by the gift of a fountain pen from the young men.