CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19014, 9 November 1923, Page 8

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

MORAY PLACE CONGREGATIONALISTS. The annual meeting of the Moray Place Congregational Chinch was held in (be Jubilee Hall last night. The minister (the Rev. W. Saunders) was in the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. ANNUAL REPORT. _ ■ The lion, secretary (Mr T. S. Searlo) read the annual report, which was adopted, the report staled that the attendance at Sunday services had been maintained during (lie year. A new diaconato had been elected. The important part played by the envelope system in the church finance was generally understood. While the .Sunday school was comparatively small, il was in a most efficient condition. The teaching was of a high order; the general tone was excellent; teachers and officers were devoted ; the scholars showed every sign of interest; and the results were entirely satisfactory. It was generally agreed that the choir had regained that efficiency which marked its best days. f lhe interest of the church in the Ross Home for the Aged and in the Glendining -and Nesbit Orphanages had shown itself in increased financial support being given to them. The contribution this year, collected at the request of tile deacons by Mr C. K. Smith, was £47 6s 9d. An additional Congregational representative had been appointed to the General Comrhittee at the request of the Presbyterian Church. As the treasurer’s statement would show, fairly large sums of money had been spent, during the year on buildings and the organ. Soon the question of renovating the church and the schools within and without must- be faced, especially the church, the inner walls of which were in much need of attention. CHURCH FINANCES. The hon. treasurer (Mr- Peter Barr) presented his report, which was also adopted. It showed a slight, improvement in the financial position during the year, the opening debit of ■2s lOd on the general account having been converted into a credit balance of £ls 12s 6d. 1 he ordinary income was equal to £l3 4s 7d per week, while the ordinary expenditure equalled £l4 19s -nor week, and, but for the sale of work, there would have been a deficiency of £6B 13s id, or about c4s per week. A reference to the report for 1915 showed practically the same position viz., an excess of ordinary expenditure oxer income of £BS 11s. Once again, however, the ladies had, by means of the sale of work, not. only made no this deficiency but had enabled the church to spend £33 on repairs to the organ, and close the year with a. credit balance. It was worth noting that, the receipts on Sundays showed remarkably little fluctuation year by year. The collections for the past four years had been : For 1920, £567; for 1921, £577; for 1922, £567; and for £1923, £579. It was much to be desired that the income should be increased by, say, 55s a week, so that the proceeds of special efforts shoud be set tree for special expenditure such as renovation of the buildimrs, which were now old and in frequent need of attention. At the same time it was fair to say that the church had done well in this connection, aa during the past four years no less than £o£s had been spent on renovations, memorial window, and maintenance of the property. It should be added that the church accounts did not include moneys raised by the Sunday school and other organisations, and that as special collectors had been appointed for the London Missionary Society, whose receipts went direct to the treasurer of the auxiliary, no soooial collection bad been made for the. society by the church. Subscriptions and collections received by the London Missionary Society treasurer fr«n Moray Place during the year had amounted to £B9 10s lid. MR STATHAM’S ADDRESS, The Hon. C. E. Statham congratulated the church on the completion of 61 years of active service in the city. With regard to the choir, ho said he regarded it. like all Congregational Church choirs, as having set a very high standard, and a .standard to wnich he hoped it would always live up. He paid a tribute to the work of Sunday school teachers, which, he said, was one of the most important factors in the life of the church. Referring to a statement m the annual report concerning the broadmindedness of sister churches, he said that it was quite right to regard all Christian Churches as one groat church. The war had done a great deal to make people think and talk about religion, and ho behoved that at the present day there was a deeper religious feeling in the hearts of the people than there was 10 years ago. \ cry rarely a man stood up nowadays and said; There is no God.” Christianity was part’of the law of England, and when New Zealand adopted England’s law she adopted Christianity. One thing that had impressed him in Parliament was that the day was always begun with prayer. It was an acknowledgment of God. If all were true Christians people could do away with all man-made laws; what was needed was more love for follow-men.' Service to fellow-men was the kovnote of religion, but people were inclined to overlook it. If the employer would only study the interests of his employee, and it tho employee would do his best for his employer, there would be- no more labour trouble. Tho churches, he continued, could do more, than any other body to prevent war and he believed that, if the churches unitedly suonorted the League of Nations there would be no more war. • He concluded by wishing the church the best of success iii the future. A vote of thanks to Mr Statham was passed, on the motion of Mr C. E. Archibald. seconded by Mr R. F. Foster. At intervals during the evening musical items were given by members of tho church.