PRESBYTERIAN SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 49

PRESBYTERIAN SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tho Presbyterian Social. Service Association was held in the Burns Hall on tho 19th inst., tho Rev. A. Cameron presiding. Prior to _ the business of the meeting being dealt with, the boys and girls from tho Glendining and Grant s Braes Homes sang a number of songs, and recited very well, indeed, and at intervals songs were rendered by Misses White and Miller. . The President said that some people got an impression that the work of the association was confined to children; but that was a mistake. Tho association had a much larger sphere of labour than tho care ox children, though that was a very important work, and had been tho most clamant, and had engaged the larger part of their attention. Quite three-fourths of Mr Axelsen s time was given in looking after young people and in trying to prevent young fads and young girls from going astray. They would see from the report the Urge number of young people who had been placed under Mr Axelson’s care, and with the exception of two cases, all who had come so near to embarking upon an evil course, and had appeared before the Juvenile Court, were doing well. The association w'as doing work for the community of the value of which the community had not the slightest conception. They were preventing the community from being saddled with quite a number who might become criminals, and who, through the ministry of the association, were stopped in a downward career and placed undei’ conditions which enabled them to recover themselves and become useful and valuable citizens. If he remembered aright, Mr Axolsen had said that every one of the lads who could go to the front had gone, or was preparing to go. That indicated in a very striking manner the influence the association had upon the community in a very important direction. He hoped _ that friends would not think of the association as one that merely cared for the children. Nearly all the bequests they had received had been given for tho benefit of orphanages: but there were other directions quite as important and quite as entitled to help, and friends would do well to consider the wide aspect. One direction, which he would not mention publicly, in which the association could work was extremely urgent and important, _ but the association could not engage in it at present. They would see from the statement of accounts that they had suffered to some extent. Towards the end of the year they had been assisted very generously by congregations, and through that, and the help of Bible classes and Sunday schools, they had come out at the end of the year not so badly after all. They hoped in the future to provide Mr Axelsen with a better house down in Clyde street. The present house could be made extremely comfortable for children, but it was not desirable that Mr and Mrs Axelsen and their children should be continually in the turmoil of the crowd dpwn there. They had a section alongside tho house, and they hoped to be able to build a house for Mr Axelsen on that. Ho desired to express the appreciation of the association of the splendid services rendered by all their agents. The whole community should prize very highly what they were doing. The Rev. A. E. Axelsen then presented the annual rexxorts, and said that the agents were an exceedingly happy family, and worked together very harmoniously. A large number of young lads came under their care from the Juvenile Court, and the number had been unusually large for tho first half of the year. Ho thought the general “upset” in the community had had something to do with that. Later on things seemed to improve, and during the last few months matters had been normal in regard to juveniles coming before the court. Out of these young people they had only two who had turned out unsatisfactorily, and they were mentally defective. He must draw attention to the large number of their lads who were at the front. His difficulty had been that practically every boy approaching 17 or 18 had been pressing to the utmost to get away with the reinforcements, so that they might go to tho front. There was not a single one of the 315 under care who had attained the age to go who was not already away. To show the spirit of the lads away, he had received a letter from one of them. He had been made a corporal, and had written that the association was to uso his money on behalf of the boys, _ because they were in greater need than himself. Needless' to say, when that youth returned he would find his money safe and sound. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clarkl moved the adoption of the report, and said that such a step seemed to be passing a vote confirming their belief in the sincerely good and fenuino work the association was doing, t was and delightful to think that the association was carrying on such a magnificent work in our midst. It was a matter for regret that after wo had been in this new land of ours a few years, charmed and delighted with it, there came the evils and degradations of older lands. That, however, was the natural result of tho growth of cities, and the compression of population in comparatively small areas. The association was trying to give a homo to those who had none, and ho believed that the one word that had the greatest influence upon a human being was that word “home.” That Mr Axelsen had been able to send 41 boys to tho front was a record that he might well be proud of. and one could only wish that the association would flourish and extend its sphere of usefulness. Mr F. G. Camming, in seconding tho motion, referred to the debt tho community owed Mr Axelsen. The motion was carried. Mr P. L. Clark (treasurer) presented the statement of accounts, and said that the revenue and expenditure did not balance, which was partly owing to the greatly increased cost of living. Tho churches had contributed more this year than they had clone for some years past, but one would like to soo tho churches in Otago and Southland giving a little more than they were giving. Children were taken from all parts. There was an ever-open door, and no case was refused, although children were not always taken into tho homes. No destitute child was ever sent away. They had had to spend a little money on the Glcndining Home, on fencing, and in providing a water supply, tho last-mentioned costing nearly £IOO. They were about £ISOO in debt. They had a good deal of property of all sorts, but they owed the sum ho had mentioned, and hoped to wipe it out before long, as the charge for interest was a heavy

drag' upon them. He moved! the adoption of tho balance sheet. The Rev. J. U. Spence seconded the motion, and referred to work at the Hospital. The motion was carried. Tho Rev. R. E. Davies moved that a voto of thanks be accorded to all those in town and country who had helped forward the work of tho association by their gifts of money and produce, also to the Bible classes, young people's societies, Sunday schools, and congregations who had so willingly assisted in Various ways, and to those who had contributed to the programme. Tho motion was carried, and tho benediction being pronounced, the meeting terminated.