WAIKOIKOI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 39

WAIKOIKOI.

December 18. — The annual soiree in connection -with the Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday, 14th inst. The weather was good, but owing to the farmers being very busy ihe attendance was only fair. Tea was partaken of in the hall, and when all had fared sumptuously the hall was cleared and all -went to the church, when the addresses, etc., were given. The Rev. Adam Begg, M.A., who presided, read the following report : — " Another year of steady work has passed away. The seed has been sown, and, although we cannot speak of any great revival having taken place, we believe that lives have been helped" and souls drawn nearer to God. The attendance at the Sabbath services' has been perhaps less than usual, owing to sickness and other causes. There are a number, who ate only occasional worshippers, whor we should like to see coming regularly. Religion is only a blessing when it becomes a habit of life. A spasmodic interest in it wdll do very little good. Dxirirjg the year three have been added to the membership of the church by certificate, and two have been disjoined. We had expected' io welcome some j'oung communicants', but none came forward. The membership at September 30 was 64. T"wo children have been baptised during the year. I have had no marriages to celebrate. There have been foui funerals. There has been a great deal of'suckness during the year. Never since the district was settled have there been .so many deaths. Four of car oldest members have been called to ' the rest that remaineth ' — Mr Robt. Barr, Mr and Mrs John Gray, and Mrs R Simmers. Two more of our cornmimicantr have gone to their rest (Mts Couperthwaite, sen., and Mr Mitchell ; while the sad death of Mts Alex. M'lntyr© in the midst of ber days is still fresh in our minds. May the God of all comfort be writh those who ore niournicff and h«lp them to stay

' their minds on Him. What does God wish to teach vs by all these deaths? Does he not seek to bring before us the tirgency of spiritual things, to awake us from apathy to activity in His service? Hear Him saying to each one of us, 'Be ye also ready ; for at such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.' The fortnightly meetings of the Bible Class have been, on the whole, batter attended than in the previous year. We should like to see, however, more of the young men taking an interest in this meeting. We have been taking up the Sunday schoo' lessons as our subject. What we have said regarding attendance at the Bible Class is said also regarding the C.E. Society. The meetings of the society are very helpful. We think it is time, however, that some more names were being added to the roll of membership. There are 21 children in attendance at the Sabbath school — 13 boys and 8 girls. The average attendance is about 18. None of the children entered for the Assembly's annual examination. Our choir is small, but faithful, and the value of its services (including those of tho organist) is very great. We tender our thanks to the mission collectors and all who have in any way sought to help on the work of the church. We ask for the co-operation and help of all in the coming year. Let us all do what we can to increase the number of those who are taking an interest in spiritual things, and tc enlarge their interest. And let us seek God's guidance and help, that greater things may be accomplished in His name." The balance sheet for the year ending September 30 was also read, and on the motion of Mr J. Beattie, seconded by Mr James M'Call, the report and balance sheet were adopted as read. During the evening addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr Craigie, of Pukerau, and Mi Craig, divinity student, at present at Kelso. Both addresses, which contained a mixture of the humorous and the serious, were attentively listened to and heartily applauded. The choir sang several hymns very sweetly, and considering that the members had little practice together, owing to bad weather and sickness, they acquitted themselves well. Solos were sung by the Rev. Messrs Begg and Craigie. Mr J. Beattie being called upon to propose a vote of thanks to all who had helped to make the soiree a success, which it undoubtedly was, did so by thanking each separately, and at the conclusion of his remarks the speakers, the choir, and the ladies who had ministered to our bodily wants received a hearty round of applause. The singing of " God be with j you till we meet again." followed by the I benediction, brought a very pleasant gathering i to a close.

School Social. — A social in aid of the school funds will b<~ held in the hall on Friday. 30th insfc. As the object is a good one, and part of the money is to be devoted to -prizes for the school children, it is to be hoped that the attendance will be a record one. In what better way can we see the old year out than by rolling up to this social, and thus showing we have not forgotten our own school days, or our delight when receiving a prize for excellence of work done during the year?