KNOX CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25300, 10 August 1943, Page 4

KNOX CHURCH

ANNUAL REPORT The following extracts are taken from the annual reports to be submitted to the annual meeting of the congregation of Knox Church to-morrow evening:— The report of the Kirk Session states: Last year we congratulated Mr Herron upon his appointment as vice-chancellor of the University of Otago. This year we reedrd with deep appreciation that the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand b as conferred upon Mr Herron its greatest honour by unanimously electing him moderator-designate of the assembly for the year 1943-4. We, his own congregation, most sincerely congratulate him. We know that he will lead the church with dignity and Wisdom during his year in this high office, a year which may well synchronise with a crisis in the life of all Christian churches. Additions to church membership during the year have been 101—63 by certificate and 38 by profession of faith. Disjunctions have been 100—66 by certificate and 34 by death and removal from the roll. The present membership is 1045, apart from the supplementary roll. Attendance at communion were: September, 617; December, 515; March, 657; June, 561;—average, 587. Nurse Torrance is now retired, after a period of 23 years of service, the value of which has been of incalculable good. Nurse Lorna Aberley was set aside for this work at a service conducted by the moderator of presbytery, and is proving herself a worthy successor to Nurse Torrance.

Sister Catherine reports: The year that is past has been one of varied opportunity and experience. Much sick visiting has been necessary during the past year, both in hospitals and in homes. In general district visiting Miss Gwen Meyer and Miss Mavis McNeise, students of Training Institute, ate rendering valuable service. The decline of standards in home and family life, the materialistic outlook of our time, so little if at all altered by the events of our day, and the peculiar difficulties that belong especially to youth work in a “ down-town ” church confront us as we work. Nurse Aberley reports: Much of the work has been among the aged and helpless, many of whom are obliged to spend the autumn of their lives in loneliness and pain. It is a privilege and pleasure to be able to bring to these old folk a little comfort and such physical help as Is necessary. The Deacons’ Court reports that there was a surplus for the year of £45 7s 6d, the receipts, excluding special funas, totalling £3228 3s 3d, and the expenditure £3182 15s 9d. Envelope offerings for “Ourselves” totalled £1287 0s 9d, a decrease of £2 7s, and plate offerings totalled £652 19s Id, an increase of £75 10s 3d. The anniversary thankoffering amounted to £174 10s lid, being £6 Is Id more than last year. The total amount received for assembly enterprises and all benevolent purposes was £1822 11s 2d. This included assembly enterprises £1297 13s sd, Maintenance of the Ministry Fund £236 0s 2d, P.S.S.A. £64 14s 2d, home missionaries' Christmas boxes £57 Bs, scholarship, India (per P.W.M.U.) £4O, soldiers’ parcels £36 15s, Patients and Prisoners’ Aid £9 8s Id, and emergent schemes £22 7s Id. These amounts included contributions from the Sunday school, P.W.M.U., Busy Bees, Bible classes, Young Women’s Society, Ladies’ Association, Maori Mission Birthday League, and other organisations.