FIRST CHURCH CONGREGATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1319, 10 March 1877, Page 7

FIRST CHURCH CONGREGATION.

The annual meeting of the congregation of the Fiist Church was held on the Ist. The Rev. Lindsay Mackie was in the chair, and the church was pretty well filled. The proceedings of the evening, including speeches and the reading of the different reports, were agreeably diversified by the choir, which rendered various selections of sacred music in excellent style. Tha Chairman, after a few introductory remarks, proceeded to say that he had to con gratulate the congregation upon the satisfactory state of its affairs during the past 12 months. All his relations with them, whether in the session, the Deacons' Courc, or with Sabbath-school teachers or private families, been of the most peaceful, harmonious, and encouraging nature. They had no extraordinary changes, but yet he believed that they had been passing through a most important period in the history of their Church, and that during the last twelve months God had been silently, unseen, and efficaciously working in their midst, and. that His blessing had attended the administration of the Word and ordinances among them. Though they had no manifest revival, yet he believed that since their last annual meeting a greater interest had been taken in spiritual things. Twelve months ago, a conference of Ministers in and about Dunedin was held for the purprse of seeing what could^be done in the way of Church extension for the district which he had named. One of the objects in view \ras to start a fifth charge in Dunedin, but things were not considered sufficiently matured to carry out that proposal. He then said that he did not think that it would be advisable to establish a fifth charge in the City, inasmuch as he thought that as trade and commerce would increase, the tendency Would be to drive the population to the suburbs of the City. Church extension should therefore follow the population. At the time of which he was. speaking, a plan was adopted whereby- the. spiritual oversight of the suburbs was assigned to Dunedin, and to the First Church was allotted that of Kensington and Forbury Flat. Their session, with the sanction of the Deacons' Court, sent home to Edinburgh for a Missionary to labour in connection with their Church, but they had not been successful in" obtaining one. This led them to have recourse to some other arrangement. A gentleman named Mr Mickelson came forward, and indicated his desire to undertake missionary work in the New Hebrides, and it was decided that he should undergo a course of training in Dunedin to fit him for the work to which he proposed to devote himself. It occurred to him that Mr Mickelson was the very sort of man thsy; required, and it was agreed to secure hia servicss as missionary in connection with the Church, allowing him sufficient time to prosecute his studies for the New Hebrides Mission. They also had among them a young man named Mr Scorgie, who had a great desire to study for the Ministry, and who, notwithstanding his having to work haid during the day, had made more than creditable progress in the way of study during the past twelve months. It was agreed that he should assist Mr Mickelson on missionary work in the South Dunedin districts ' above mentioned, and they intended shortly to establish a Sabbath School in that locality. He concludeded by referring to the great progress which had been made by the Russell street Sabbath School, and said that they were under a debt of gratitude to their elder for* his efforts in connection with the Russell street schocl. He then called upon Mr Mickelson to read the following session's report. The office-bearers have again the plcasiny duty to meet with the members and adherents of the congregation, and have now to fubmit a brief statement of congregational affairs for the past year. Since our last annual meeting there has not occurred any event calling for very special notice. But we have good reason to thank the Almighty — the wise disposer of all events— for the peace, prosperioy, and harmony prevai'ing among ua. The Session has during the year held 17 meetings, and the Deacons' Court 12, and we are happy ,to state that the utmost cordiality exists among the members of Session and Deacons* Court, and everything pertaining to the interests of the congregation received due consideration and attention— all being actuated by a sincere desire for the well. being of the people under our pastor's charge. Deith has during the past year entered the dwellings of not a few of us, and the old and young have been removed from our sight. The usual changes have taken place in the membership—l 3 hwe been deleted by death au<l removal, while 52 have been added by certificate and otherwise— and there are at present 577 names on the roll. In the month of May last the Session resolved to obtain from Home a person adapted to nil the post of Congregational Missionary. The efforts used failed to secure for us a suitable man. However, a gentleman well known by many »s a devoted Christian, viz., Mr Oscar Mickelson, having expressed to the Synod his desire to study and qualify himself for foreign mission work ; has been engaged for a time to act in the capacity indicated. . - Our minister has been engaged for some considerable time past in pastoral visitation, and has now nearly overtaken all the families connected with the congregation, and we would here bespeak for him your kind consideration on account of the many other duties devolving upon him. Mr Maukie has resumed the Bible class on Tuesday evenings for young men and women, and we would urge upon all such to avail themselves of this opportunity of acquiriog an acquaintance with Bible truth. The attendance during last (session was, on the whole, satisfactory, and it will be a source of gratification and encouragement to the minister if those for whom th's class is more immediately intended will now enroll themselves for the present session. We will merely here state that the Ladies' Association, Young Men's Christian Association, and Sabbath Schools continue each on their course of usefulness, the latter being still under the superintendence of Mr Moore and Mr Coustoa respectively. But these will

severally be brought under -your notice by those who follow. We would, however, make honourable mention of a quiet and unassuming bat interesting work: conducted by two Of our elders, viz , Mr Morris and Mr Mackay, beinor a, class for young people jwho are beyond the age of those attending the Sabbath ' School. They meet at the same hour as the otber classes on Sabbath afternoon, and we have reason to beliere tbat the kindliness and goodwill of the teachers is reciprocated by the taught. The seats in the church are well taken up, and we may be looking forward to the contingent necessity of having a gallery erected, which in itself may be an improvement to the church. Financial matters will be reported on by the Treat- ' surer to the Deacons' Court. Mr Mickelson, having been introduced to the meeting by the Chairman, delivered a short speech appropriate to the occasion. The Chairman, alluding to the report which had been read, said that he had been alongside of more sickness and death-beds during the past twelve months than he ever had before. They had among them many mourning families. FINANCE. From the statement of receipts and expenditure read by Mr A. C. Begg, we learn that the total amount of the ordinary collections for the pajit twelve months was LIOB3 18s lOd j in addition to which there were the following special subscriptions :— Sundries, L 241 3s 8d ; Sabbath School collections. L 39 Is; Sustentation fund, L 505 17s; Subscriptions paid for church. L 365 3s. The statement of expenditure shewed an indebtedness to the Union Bank of JLlOOl l4s Id, but that of the previous year was L1020 13s 9d. On the motion of Dr Thomson, the Session's report and balance-sheet were adopted. OTHER 'REPORTS. Mr Benjamin Mollison read an exhaustive report in reference to the Sustentatiou Fund. It stated that the number of subscribers for the past year was 215. During the ensuing year he trusted that there would not only be an increase in the number of subscribers, but also in the amount contributed. The Chairman paid a fcigh compliment to Mr Mollison for the efficient services which he had rendered in connection with this fund, and expressed regret that they were to lose theml i the future, as Mr Mollison was about to f oun a home for himself elsewhere. Messrs Moore and Couston read the reports of the First Church and- Russell street Sabbath Schools, from which it appeared that both" these institutions were in a high state of organization, and were doing good work. Mr Lawson read the report of the First Church Ladies' Missionary Benevolent Association, which stated that during the past year the Association had been most unremitting in carrying out the objects which it had iv view, and ita efforts had been crowned with a large measure of success. YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION. . - ,The question of the Young Men' 3 Association was dealt wilh in an able manner by Mr Tait. He stated that it was intended to have, a coupe, of lectures in connection with the *. > Association during the ensuing session, which would commence about April next. ADDRESS BY. MR RYLEY. , The Rev. Mr Ryley, .who waa presert on the occasion, then addressed the .meeting.' 'It afforded him great pleasure to be present that evening. He had* listened with the deepest interest' to the 'reports .which had' been, read, J> and he also admired the able speeches by which they had been, supported.. The congregation. . f lwd reason to congratulate itself upon the very . efficient agencies which, it possessed. Having reciprocated the' kindly feeUngs^-cxpraaaed^toj-wards himself by the Chairman,' he concludecT — by wishing them all God speed. ' > ' ' /"/.Tie meeting then terminated. _ ,4' ■, SUSTENTATION FUND OF THE > : PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. On Wednesday .evening- last there was, held in the First Church a conference of ministers, elders, deacons, andothermembersof the Presbyterian Churches in and around Dunedin, to take into consideration' the present condition and prospects of the Sustentation Fund — Key. L:' ' Mackie, convener of the Sustentation Fund Committee, in the chair. The conference was ' hearty and encouraging, and the following reso- i lutions were carried unanimously : — 1. This Conference expresses its regret that . the equal dividend hasreached only L 21 5; ita conviction that this stipend is inadequatejbo the - support of a minister's family in the social position which he occupies ; its persuasion that the Church is perfectly able to raise the equal dividend to L 250, and that only very few of the congregations would be unable, with proper efforts, to contribute to the fund L2OO per annum. 2. In order to attain the desired end of annual minimum of stipend for each minister 1 of L 250, the Conference suggests: (1.) There must be a more general recognition of the duty of all to support the ministry, according to the law of Scripture and the ordmiuice of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also of the more special claims of the ministry on those whom God has more abundantly prospered, (2.) While all the congregations must increase their liberality, it is specially incumbent on many of the non-self • sustaining churches to endeavour to rise to the level of L2OO per annum. (3.) The fund would be greatly increased by a more thorough organization than now exists in many congregations for receiving the subscriptions and donations of the members. 3. The Conference expresses its conviction that if the urgency of the case were submitted to the churches, together with the fact that an average increase of L 35 from each congregation would secure the desired result, there would be elicited a hearty response and increased, liberality. 4. The Conference suggests that the Susfcentatiqn Fund Committee should arrange without delay for visiting as many of the congregations . as it can overtake, and that, as it is impossible to overtake the whole Church, Presbyteries should be recommended to call the attention of ' the congregations under their care to this mat- ' ter, and urge upon them increased liberality according to their convictions of their ability. - 5. The members of this Conference pledge . themselves personally to do their utmost to secure a better support of the ministry, and to carry out the epirifc and aim of tho above resolutions.