FIRST CHURCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 23

FIRST CHURCH

SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. In preparing this report the Rev. G. H. Balfour, in his pastoral letter, in referring to he epoch-making times the Church and the world are passing through, emphasises that the Church must necessarily experience changes, and also must experiment und3r the new conditions. It must, however, guard against lowering its ideals or catering for popularity at the expense of its essential spirituality. The Church must follow Christ, and come down to meet any man and every man, but with the one object of -ifting him. After referring to the good work done by Sister Elinor and the Rev. R. S. Watson (assistant minister), the session refers appreciatively'to the valuable services rendered by Mr Jesso Timson, for 31 years ctfganist, and regretfully to his resignatibn. 'Mr Victor E. who is highly spoken of, has been appointed as Mr Timson's successor. First Church missionary (Dr John Kirk) forwards a characteristic and suggestive letter, and the congregation is anticipating with great interest a visit from him in 1920. The roll of honour shows the largo total of 223 names, of whom no fewer than 47 have made the supreme sacrifice. The session records its high appreciation of Mr Balfour's pulpit ministrations. The communion roll now at 954. The Ladies' Association has worked for the Red Cross, the Otago "Women's Patriotic Association, Glendining Home, Ross Home, and the Shaftesbury Society, and has also done a little Dorcas work. Five hundred and nine articles were' completed. With the assistance of a men's committee and the Young Women's Club, the association took charge of the Red Cross Shop on August 23, and as a result of the effort, augmented in other ways, was enabled to hand over the large sum of £l9B 13s to the Red Cross Committee. A men's and a women's mission study circle has me); for the study of some mission field. The Men's League, with 60 members, has been active, and is taking special interest in the returned soldiers. A young men's club has been formed. The Do icons' _ Court reports the launching of an offering fund, one of the foremost objects of which is the placing of & large stained glass window in the church in honour of 'members of the congregation who have fallen in the war. The total income for the year was £4003, towards which the weekly church collections contributed £1212 Os 9d. The sum of £551 9s 4d was raised for foreign missions, and £402 5s 9d for the Sustentation Fund (an increase of £62 6s 6d). The result of the year's working account shows a surplus of £63 19s 4d