FIRST CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22053, 8 September 1933, Page 7

FIRST CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of First Church congregation was hold in Burns Hall last night. The Rev. Allan Stevely presided, and there was a large attendance of members.

After the opening hymn, Mr Stevely read a portion of Scripture, and led in prayer. In the course of a short address. Mr Stevely said: " 1 wish to express hearty appreciation of your encouragement and help during another year. Your loyalty and kindness have been remarkable, and Mis Stevely and I feel it a great privilege to serve you in the Lord. I should like to mention the devoted sorscrvice of our session clerk, Mr W. H. Adams, of the clerk of the Deacon's Court, Mr J. Wallace, and of our treasurer. Mr Crosby Morris, and the willing co-opera-tion of all office-bearers and other workers. We celebrate the eighty-fifth birthday of our congregation, and we wish one another many happy returns of Christian fellowship and service. We unite in the prayer that, this friendship and service may be enriched and blessed as the days go by. Eighty-five years is a length of days. Compared with the span of human life, it exceeds the four score years. As we employ language, we say 85 years old. Why not 85 years young? Life seems to be a conflict between youth and years. The years can destroy youth, yet on the other hand they can develop and strengthen it. There is a world of difference between. getting old and growing old. It is the difference between getting and growing. We should grow old without getting old. How can this be achieved? It has been said that there are three things we should avoid, and three things we should cherish if we would grow old without getting old. One of the things to be avoided is the habit, of complaining. This does not exclude all constructive criticism and suggestion. What has helped First Church to grow old without getting old is that it has ever been slow to complain, and swift to appreciate and encourage. That has been the spirit of its fellowship and service, and in true Christian harmony there has been the greatest constraint to do one's best, and to write on the banner — ' Excelsior! '

■ " The second thing we are counselled to avoid is the habit of comparison. The most paralysing form of this habit is always to be thinking that other days were better than our own. In Balylonia a clay tablet was discovered in an ancient library older than Abraham, which declared that the young people of that generation were far behind the young people of the generation that was past. That idea has persisted through the centuries. During its history this congregation has sought real sympathy with the problems of youth; and the number of young people associated with the life and work of the church is witness to this cordial relationship, as it also reminds us that they are enthusiastic followers of those into whose labours they have entered "The third thing to be avoided is selfcentredness. To bo always thinking of self not only produces selffishness; it banishes the sunshine and music of life. La Rochefoucauld has said,' The strongest passions allow us some rest, but selfishness keeps us perpetually in motion.' Jesus said, 'lf any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' Life without a cross is the heaviest cross of all. What has helped to keep the heart of this congregation young is that from the inception there has been a desire to shoulder the obligation to others. During the year just closed there has been increased contribution to missionary work, although, at the same time, a liberal response to the church renovation fund was made. This is worthy of the best traditions of First Church.

" There are three things to be cherished that we may grow old without getting old. One is the spirit of hopefulness. The golden age is ahead. We should expect great things from God, from others, from ourselves, and, expecting great things, attempt great things. The world has always needed hope. It requires hope today. It is twice blessed, blessing him who takes and him who gives. 'We are saved by hope,' and amongst the things we are saved from is this—we are saved from getting old. There is no horizon to the hopeful heart.

" Moreover, we should cultivate tne sense of wonder and of mystery of things. Sir Thomas Browne declared that ' his life had been a miracle of 30 years, which to relate were not history but a piece of poetry.' To see some new splendour in every spring, to hear some new grandeur in the song of birds, to perceive some new wonder in the commonest mercy is to possess the child-like spirit, is to pass unvanquished through the cares and burdens of life, is to grow old without getting old. " The third thing is, we snould keep in touch with our time by stnving to serve one another in love. We should be a living part of the world, like Him Who went about doing good, putting ourselves about to do it with kindness and generous consideration for others. Dwelling in fellowship with Him Who has the dew of His youth, our motto becomes 'service before self,' and there is nothing like this to keep the heart young with eternal youth. So doing we shall 'flourish in the courts of our God. We shall bring forth fruit in old age,' we shall grow old without getting old. May this be increasingly true of our congregational life and work. As wo grow older, may our spiritual enthusiasm be as the morning. May the Most High bless our united endeavour! " (Applause.) Mr A. Milne, moving the adoption of the annual report, said that First Church had served them faithfully and well for the past 85 years. Their church had contributed in no small measure to the spiritual and material well-being of the city. During the past year First Church had accomplished much. Their church was a big said the speaker, and he enumerated the various committees which carried out the work of the church. He paid a tribute to the high qualities of their minister, the Rev. Mr Stevely, his remarks meeting w r ith the full approval of those present, and remarked that much of the success which had been achieved by Mr Stevely had been due to Mrs Stevely. The speaker referred to the good work being done by Sister Elinor, and said they should thank her for what she was doing.— (Applause.) Thanks were also due to Mr and Mrs Cunningham and to their executive officers. — (Applause.) The roll of the church was at present 867. There had been an increase in the membership during the past three years of 240. (Applause.) Their treasurer had for the first time during the past five years been able to show a credit balance, this amounting to some £SO, —(Applause.) The speaker referred to the value of the special services held in the church. He considered they rendered a decided service to the community. Reference was also made to the excellent work being done by the women's organisations, the choir, and amongst the young. Mr Allan Bremner seconded the motion. He said that the distinguishing characteristic of the report was the bright note it struck. He paid a special tribute to the services rendered to the church by Mr W. H, Adams, Mr James Wallace, and Mr Crosby Morris. The motion was then put and carried. Sister Elinor gave a short history of the work she was doing, and thanked Mr and Mi'g .Stevely, the office-bearers of the church, and the congregation for the assistance they had given her. Referring to her work among the poor, she said that when help was rendered it was given in the quietest way possible, and the church did not always get the credit for what it did. They were not, however, looking for credit, but were seeking to help those in need in such a way that their spirit of independence was not; injured and so thai; their spirit of self-reliance was increased, not decreased. Material and spiritual help must go hand in hand. The thing that had impressed itself upon her during the present year was that there

was a great need for friendship. Kindness and sympathy not only with those who were in special need, but in regard to young people and also in regard to the work among the aged.— (Applause.) During the evening songa were contributed by Mr George Salmond and Miss E. Burnard. On the motion of Mr Crosby Morris, a vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, the vocalists, and the others who had assisted in the meeting, and supper was then served.