ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18952, 28 August 1923, Page 4

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is a summary of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church annual report : Session Report.—The Diamond Jubilee celebrations were curried through in a fitting manner from March 10-12, and wero enjoyed by all who were privileged to take part in them. Sister Christabel is still on leave in Melbourne, and her leave of absence has been extended to the end of 1923. The work of deaconess has been carried on by Sister Annie, who has brought help and comfort into many needy lives and homes. During the year, Mr Newlands, after two years of good service at the Kensington branch churcb, was compelled to send in his resignation, which was received with regret. Mr It. G. rU ilowall was appointed in his 'place, and owing to over-work, and consequent ill-health, he, also, had to resign. At the present time the whole situation at Kensington is under review. Good work is ■still being done amongst the children of the Sunday schools and the young people of the Bible classes. The Busy Bees and the Boys’ Club, are, year by year, becoming more 'and more important factors in youth work, while the Young Worshippers'. League is doing much to inculcate regular and lasting habits of church attendance. The session would lay stress on the fact that more workers are urgently needed for the Sunday schools and Bible classes. The session gladly placed the Bible school at the disposal of the Otago Council of Sunday School Unions for the carrying on of the work of the newly-formed School of Religious Education. • The midweek prayer meeting has been dropped this winter. The Kirk Session hopes that means may be devised whereby, in. some form oi other, it may be reinstated next year. An organisation which from year to year carries on a quiet but extremely useful existence is the Sisterhood of St. Andrew. The choir continues to do good work under the capable leadership of the honorary conductor, Air J. rr. Nimmo. A pleasing feature this year, is the_ number of young people, who form the chief portion of the morning choir. The average attendance for the whole parish at the communion of the Lord’s Supper was SOO. Thirty-four new church members were admitted, and there were 35 disjunctions, six by death, and 29 by certificate, which is a net decrease in membership of one. The membership of the roll now stands at 487. Owing to the fact that lie was leaving New Zealand for an extended holiday in the Old Land, the session clerk (Mr W. MTlutchcson) was granted leave of absence, and Mr W. Briton was appointed to act in his stead. Mr Walter Gow again repro eented the session on Assembly, Synod, and Presbytery, and Mr W. M'Hutcheson, and later, Mr Farqnharson, on Presbytery. Deacons’ Court Report.—The close of this financial year is distinctive from any preceding ones in that it shows a credit balance of £95 Is 3d. This is due to the generous response to the appeal for £IOOO for debt extinction and church renovation. The total amount in cash and promises was £B6l 4s, of which no less than £827 4s was paid in cash. This enabled the court to pay off the balance of the mortgage on the manse, the overdraft at the bank, and sundry accounts for the new windows and necessary repairs. The new windows now set in position greatly improve the light and appearance of the church. The complete scheme of renovating the interior of the church will he deferred in the meantime until further funds are available for this purpose. The question of increasing the accommodation of the Bible school has been very carefully considered by the court in conjunction with the Sunday School Cabinet. The most suitable method of doing so has not so far been evolved. At the last annual meeting of the congregation, the question of pew rente was referred to the court. After very careful consideration of the whole subject, it has been decided to discontinue collecting pew rents, so that in future all sittings will be free. As intimated in last year’s report in reference to the missionaries in the Foreign Field Fund, a further amount had to be raised on account of the increased amount we are now paying for salaries. Our contribution to the Suatentation Fund shows two payments this year. We wero aid-giving to the last sustentation year to the extent of £125, and for the current year we' have contributed an interim payment of £SO. This was done in order to make our payments coincide with those of the Sustentation Fund Committee. The Homo Mission Fund this year is again devoted to the mission work at Kensington. St. Andrew’s Choir.—ln all voluntary organisations, the membership is fluctuating continually, and the personnel is never the same for two consecutive years. Our present list of members varies considerably from that of the previous year, and it is with regret that we have to report the loss of quite a number of members. It will be seen that we have suffered numerically, particularly in the male voices. The attendance of members, both at the weekly practices and at the services on Sunday, has been very satisfactory.

Sisterhood of St. Agdrew. The Sisterhood has met every week during tho year with tho exception of the months of January, February, and March. The attendance has been good, and under the' popular leadership of Mrs Maclean a large amount of sewing has been done, one Wednesday in each month having been devoted to orphanage mending. Last year’s work was brought to a conclusion by a Social afternoon on October 25, which was much enjoyed by all those present. The St. Andrew’s branch of the P.W.M.U. has 60 members, with 39 ’’Harvest Field” subscribers. After having lapsed for a considerable period, the Go-Forward Society and Girls’ Auxiliary was reformed during tho year, and although the membership was small, active work was done. Good work was also done by the Busy Bees. Missionaries—St. Andrew’s Church is represented in the Canton Villages Mission by Miss James, Miss Hancock, and Dr E. W. Kirk. We learn from the Rev. H. H Barton, who has just leturned from China, that the little band of New Zealand missionaries is held in tho highest esteem, both by the members of other mission societies and by the Chinese themselves. We render our deep gratitude to God for the preservation of the lives of all the mission band in the Canton Villages during ths recent turmoil and fighting in South China. We have pleasure in reporting that we have once again met with a wonderful response from the congregation and from tho various church, organisations of St. Andrew's. As a result, we have raised the sum for which we are annually responsible. Bible School.—‘The school possesses 10 male and 34 female teachers. The average number of scholars on tho roll is 220. Ordinary collections amounted to £6O 3s lid, the only special collection being the “Break of Day” Christmas present, which totalled £4. Tho funds have been allocated to the various mission fields.

Kensington Branch Church.—Taking all things into consideration, the finances of the branch are satisfactory. Although only jE 40 has been forwarded to St. Andrew’s Deacons’ Court for pulpit supply, the church has been painted and repairs have been effected out of the ordinary revenue. Tlio report also reviews the work of the Mission. services, Deaconesses, \oung Women’s and Young Men’s Senior and Junior Bible Classes, and the lioung Worshippers’ League.