Presbyterian Church, Otautau.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 349, 16 January 1912, Page 4

Presbyterian Church, Otautau.

Tbe annual congregational meeting, to tern ceiva the reports of the past year's work, waa held on the evening of December 6tb, but there waa not a large attendance. Mr John Lindsay, Elder, read tho session report as follows : — The session, with thankfullness to God, submits this report of church work for tho year ending 30th September 1911. The attendances at the two services m the church have been well maintained. Many changes of residents have taken place during the year, and we are glad so many new comers belong to our church. There were 20 new members added, and the number on fche communion roll is now 150. There have been 19 children baptised, and 3 marriages celebrated. We recorded a decreiso m marriages m our last year's report, when there were 6. We record a further decrease this year with only 3. The Sabbath Schdol, the nursery of the church, continues to attract the children and to interest fche parents. The Sabbath School .is to be congratulated on the success of the children who sat for (he written examination under the General Assembly's scheme. Every pupil who sat m that examination (28) was successful ia gain- , ing a prize. May thejsabbath school fceacheis continue their self denyiug labours m obodieuce to Our Saviour's command. ''Feed my Lambs." During tho year Mr James Fullarton, who may be considered the Father of the Sabbath School m Wallace, retired from tho active work of teaching. Qur grateful thanks are due to Mr Fullarton for his splendid work m this connection m our church, and we express the hope that he may richly enjoy many years of health land happiness m the ovening of life. The choir, conducted by Mr E. C. Glen, continues to add beauty to our worship by the rendering of the regular hymns, and by the selected pieces. The prayer meeting during the winter was well attended. Many found encouragement and help through assembling during fche week for prayer. The Young Men'B Bible Class did not resume work during the past year, but the Young Women's Bible Olass continues fco Carry on its work vigorously and with profit-JThe speoial sermons delivered during the winter by the Pastcfr were well attended. Kew J. W. Shaw*^ Knox Church, Invercargill, conducted an evangelistic mission during tho winter, and, as the result, several signed the Decision Cards. A 'similar mission was conducted by Mr J. T. Stephens, Evangelist, m Scott's Gap, wifch evident signs of blessing. During fche past year, as a churoh, we have had our share of sorrow, which wa trust links the earthly church to the Heavenly Church with a sfcroug bond. 'May the Great Head of bhe Church, Christ Himself, use our church as a means of preparing people for divine service m this life and for glory hereafter. Mr Fullarton, treasurer, gave the financial statement, which showed a considerable increase m ordinary revenue. Three items had reached a higher point than m any previous year, namely, the ordinary collections, the contributions to Foreign Missions, and the income m the annual social. The treasurer also mentioned that a debt of £50 had been cleared off. The total receipts were £*JB6 13s 6d, leaving a debit balance of only 15s 2d.

Mx- Fisher, secreta'y, gave m the following report of the Church Committee of Managers : — The committee is pleased to report a successful year's work m the congregation. The various church organisation! have been maintaiued at their full btrongth, and, m most instances an improvement can be noted. The balance sheet reveals that financially the church accounts are iv a very sound position, and the congregation is to b 3 congratulated uoon the payment of the long outstanding indebtedness to its minister, the whole amount having been liquidated during the year. Lest we should come to the conclusion that because wo have no debt, and because the income meets the expenditure, we are doing aU we should, and there is no need for greater liberality, it is well to . remember that our church is beginning to show signs of age, and may waut considerable "repair, further, that m a few years at most we will, as a congregation, have to face a more permanent building than we occupy. The committee is indebted to the various helpers who have continued to collect our Sustentation Fund. In this connection, it might be well to mention that this Church is one of the very few adhering to the collection of tho Susteutation Fund half-yearly m place of quarterly, and the committee will, probably during the" coming year adopt tho nowor method as more satisfactory. Tho" committee has had uuder consideration dui*ing the year the purchase of a further piece of ground for a church Tsite, as it was becoming apparent, with the growth of the congregation, that by.and-by development would have to take place, and we did nob have the ground for expansion., Since tlie churoh year closed, we decided to buy the two sections on the corner of Queen and Chester stree f s, opposite our present church, as a new church site, and the transaction is now closed.. The committee is indebted to the ladies of the congregation for carrying through successfully dur annual soiree. The harvest festival, too, continues as a source of liberality to members of th© church, and is recommended to all as a means of showing their gratitude to God for many blessings Two esteemed members of committee retired during the year owing to removal from our district — Messrs A- McNeil and A. H. Officer.- The kiudly help and wise council of these brothers is held m grateful memory by the committee*, The hand of death also removed a well-known figure from our midst, Mr Robert Campbell, who from this churoh's inception, had been a member of committee, • aud a liberal supporter of its finances. Hi^-A high Christiau character was a bulwark of strength to our congregation, and a minute of appreciation of his many labours has teen recoi'ded m our records. The new year is commenced with gratitude to the G-od of all good for past help and blessings, and with prayer for his continued guidance. Tho four vacancies m the church committee were filled m by tho election of Messrs Adam Glen, Alfred Gould, Wm: Lindsay and Kwen Matheson, senr., tho names being arranged alphabetically. It is a matter of profound thanksgiving to God that after 20 years, labours of the present pastor, the past year has been more successful than any previous, year.