ROSLYN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22058, 14 September 1933, Page 14

ROSLYN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING The thirty-second annual congregational meeting of the Roslyn Presbyterian Church was held last night. Dr J. Gumming presided over a large attendance. The annual reports referred to the departure of the Rev, E. J. Tipler to Auckland and to the steps taken to obtain a new pastor in the Rev. H. A. Mitchell, of Clutha Valley. During the year the work of the church had proceeded smoothly and satisfactorily. In face of difficult times it was gratifying that the finances should have kept up so well, and they might be permitted to congratulate themselves that they had come through a bad year and a vacancy so satisfactorily. The choir, it was reported, had lost the services of Mr J. Paterson as choirmaster, and Mr H. P. Desmoulins had been appointed in his stead. The singing of the choir had been of a very high standard, and the interest and enthusiasm of the members had not abated. Reports of the Young Women’s Club, Bible classes, and Sunday school were also presented. The reports of the Kirk Session and the Deacons’ Court were adopted. The financial statement w'as ‘ also adopted. A vote of thanks was accorded to all who had contributed to the work of the church in the past year. WELCOME TO NEW MINISTER.

A very large number of members of the church met in the hall at the close of the annual meeting to welcome the Rev, Mr Mitchell to the pastorship of the congregation. The chair was occupied by Dr Gumming, and the platform was "nicely decorated with flowers for the occasion, A welcome was also given to Mrs Mitchell, to at the commencement of the proceedings a pretty bouquet was presented by Miss Eileen Richards, on behalf of the congregation. Seats on the platform were occupied by Mrs A. C. Begg and Mrs W. Gray Dixon, and among the visitors were Mrs Kirkwood, Mrs Nicolson, and Mrs Skinner (daughters of the late Rev. James Chisholm, first minister of the church). The chairman, in a few words of welcome, spoke of the briefness of the vacancy and of the satisfactory settlement that had been reached.

Mr J. M'Narey, on behalf of the Session Court, welcomed Mr and Mrs Mitchell. He said it gave him pleasure to welcome their new pastor for three reasons—that the strain of the settlement was over without a break in the congregation, that the pulpit was now filled with a man of enthusiasm and energy, and that—speaking in a personal vein—he should himself have been a teacher in St. Paul’s Sunday School at Invercargill when Mr Mitchell was one of his scholars. He trusted that God’s richest blessing would be with Mr and Mrs Mitchell in the new work they had taken in hand.

Mrs Byar, vice-president of the Eoslyn branch of. the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union, conveyed a hearty welcome from the union to Mrs Mitchell. In no branch of the church’s work would Mrs Mitchell be more welcome than in the P.W.M.U., and at an early date she would be duly installed as president of the branch.

The Dunedin Presbytery extended a welcome to its youngest member through its moderator, the Rev. R. J. Ryburn. Mrs Mitchell was included in the speaker’s welcome. In a congregation of the size and importance of Roslyn, he said, a speedy settlement of the vacancy might not have been easily reached, and it was a matter of congratulation that the vacancy had been filled within a comparatively short space of time. From what he had heard of Mr Mitchell the congregation was to be congratulated on its choice.

Mr A. Chisman, on behalf of the Deacons’ Court, added some words of welcome to Mr Mitchell and his wife, and Mr M. Johnson assured the minister of the love and loyalty of the youth of the church.

At this stage the chairman read the following telegram from the Rev. Mr Tipler, now stationed at Mount Eden: “ Heartiest good wishes to minister and congregation on to-day’s happy settlement.” The meeting expressed its pleasure at the reception of the telegram by a round of applause. , Mr J, Sutherland Ross extended a welcome from the congregation to the Rev. Mr Mitchell and Mrs Mitchell. He was exceedingly glad to know they had a shepherd with them once again. During the vacancy they had been in good hands, but he was sure they were all pleased that once more they were a flock with a leader. He assured Mr and Mrs Mitchell that they would always possess the affection and the best wishes of the congregation as a whole. Greetings to the new minister and his wife were expressed by Principal Dickie, who spoke for the general clerical public of Dunedin. He was sure that Mr Mitchell would prove a worthy successor to the excellent ministers of the church in times gone by. The chairman said the time had come for the change-over from interim moderator to the permanent minister of the congregation. Dr Gumming then vacated the chair, which was taken by the Rev. Mr Mitchell amid hearty applause. Mr Mitchell thanked the and all other members of the church for the warm welcome given to Mrs Mitchell and himself. He also thanked Dr Gumming, the acting moderator of the charge, and Mr Miller for his words at the induction. Generally to all who had extended kindness to them they returned thanks, and it was their hope to give practical expression to their feelings in the days to come. They had come to the district with great expectations; they were looking forward to many years of service, and above all they hoped to bo personal friends with the members of the congregation. He asked for the cooperation of every member of the church. He was not looking to the quantity of the work they might do, or to the number on the roll, but to the quality of the work and to the influence of the church on the community generally.

Mr A. C. Alcock, on behalf of the congregation, thanked Dr Gumming for hie guidance during the vacancy, and presented him with a substantial wallet as a mark of the appreciation of the people. Dr Gumming expressed thanks for the gift. During the pvening vocal solos were contributed by Mrs A. Chisholm, Miss Ronald and Miss A. Hill. At the close of the socinj, refreshments were handed round, the supper arrangements being carried out by Mr Gladstone Hutton. Votes of thanks were accorded to the vocalists, the speakers and others.