FIRST CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23896, 25 August 1939, Page 7

FIRST CHURCH

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING A YEAR OF VIGOROUS GROWTH The completion of another successful year of activity was marked by the annual congregational meeting of First Church last night. The Rev. W. Allen Stevely presided over a large attendance of members of the congregation. After a brief devotional service, Mr Stevely extended a welcome to those present. He said that the activities of the church during the past year had been both manifold and earnest. Expressing his thanks to the officebearers, he referred particularly to the devoted service of the session clerk (Mr W. H. Adams), the clerk of the Deacons’ Court (Mr A. L. Salmond) and the treasurer (Mr Crosby JMorris). Mr \dams had been sessicn clerk for 40 years, and Mr Morris treasurer for 31 years. Mr Stevely also mentioned the work of Mr J. A. Robertson as roll clerk. Adoption of Report Moving the adoption of the annual report, Mr E. J. Smith said that there were signs of vigorous growth in First Church and signs that it was living up to its responsibilities. There were two items in the annual reports that had caught his attention. One was a reference in the Sunday school’s report. “No picnic was held this year, the scholars agreeing to give the proceeds of the special collection to the Chinese Children’s Relief Fund.” Surely, this revealed a great spirit? One other item that interested him was in the Busy Bees’ report. This movement began about 25 years ago with a group of five girls, and during that time the sum of £17,558 had been raised by the Busy Bees of New Zealand. Mr Smith referred briefly to the work of the choir and other church organisations, and to the untiring and devoted services of Sister Elinor, who had completed 21 years as a deaconess. He asked members of the congregation never to forget the gallant work being done in China by the church’s missionary (Miss Eileen Reid). Mr Smith concluded by paying a tribute to Mr and Mrs Stevely for their devoted service during the past year. Seconding the motion. Mr F. Foote referred to the Centennial Thanksgiving Fund, which, he said, now stood at £200,000. He appealed to members of First Church to do everything in their power to assist in raising the third £IOO,OOO. This latter amount was far more important, he said, than the wiping off of church debts, and he appealed to members to give as generously as possible at the thanksgiving service in October , , . The report was adopted. Deacons Re-elected The following deacons were elected: Messrs A. P. Bremner, J. V. Hanna, Angus Halligan, I. Macfarlane, J. Farquharson, A. H. McLeod, T. Thomson and G. Salmond. General A brief address on her work was given by the deaconess, Sister Elinor, who mentioned that the Social StecurJty scheme had not made her work any easier. , , A vote of thanks to the church’s organisations and office-bearers was moved by Mr James Wallace, after which Mr Stevely pronounced the benediction. During the evening songs were contributed by Mrs F. Longworth and Mr A. Walmsley, and Miss D. Barron and Mrs J. Macfarlane sang appreciated duets. The acompaniments were played by Dr V. E. Galway.