FIRST CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 82

FIRST CHURCH.

SIXTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT,

The annual report of tho Session and Deacons’ Court of First Church of Otago lias been published. The following- are the chief items contained under tho various

headings;— The Rev. G. H. Balfour, in the course of his pastoral letter, says: “ This time last year we wore speaking of supporting a representative in the foreign field. Now wo can o’aim Di John Kirk as our own missionary.

Some of tho main items in the general report are as follow:—With Mr Balfour as minister and Mr Robinson as assistant. First Church congregation should bo an increasing power for good in this community. Mr Balfour continues to minister to largo and appreciative congregations. Tho attendance at Russell Street is increasing, and more interest is taken in the services there under Mr Robinson’s thoughtful and sympathetic ministry. Sister Mabel has become a necessity in tho work of tho congregation. Reports of her faithful and sympathetic ministry reach us from all quarters, and many are tlio sick rooms that have been brightened by her presence. At the beginning of tho year the kirk session had a total membership of 32, including tho Moderator. This number has been reduced to 3D by tho resignation of Mr A. Armstrong and bv the passing hence of our old and esteemed friend Mr Tomlinson. One hundred and twenty-one members have been added to Iho roll during tho year —46 by examination and 75 by certificate. There were 77 disjunctions, 67 by certificate, etc., and 10 by death. The number on the roll is now 907, which is the largest in the annals of the congregation.

Through Miss Allan (the secretary of the Maori Mission Birthday League) the sum of £l2 4s 6<l lias been gathered, for foreign missions £76 6s 6<l, for home missions £7O 7s; making a total of £l5B 18s. The aim of the Maori Birthday League is that every member of the congregation should contribute something to our work among the Maoris. The membership of the league at present is 240, and the amount collected during the year was £l2 4s 6d. The Central Sunday School began the year with 140 scholars. Seven girls were transferred to the Girls’ Bible Class, while 31 scholars had loft, and 25 had joined, leaving the roll number as 124, being six less than last year.

The year has been one full of interest for the Central Christian Endeavour Society.

The Treasurer reports that the financial result of the year shows that the congregation is in a healthy condition. In the ordinary working account the income has exceeded the expenditure by £27 16s 3d. notwithstanding that salaries have increased by £lB4 3s 4d. At Russell street the Sunday evening collections amount to £62 9s 6d —an increase of £8 14s sd. Owing to Burns 1 lall having been regularly let for only a email portion of the year, the income from tliis source has decreased by £360 17s 9d. The effort made this year to reduce the debt of the congregation has been very

•successful, the bazaar bringing in a net profit of £537 7s 9<l, and, with other receipts, enabling £750 to bn paid off. The net liability has boon reduced during the vear from £3141 10s 7d to £2390 8s 3d. Turning to the special funds accounts, the result is one on which the congregation can be heartily congratulated, the total amount subscribed for outside objects being £lOsl 9s sd, as against £B5l 6s 8d last year. The sustentation fund shows a slight increase.