MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 55

MAORI HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual congregational meeting of the Maori Hill Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday. 6th inst., when there Was a large gathering of members and adherents. The minister (the Rev. H. H. Barton) occupied the chair. After devotional exercises, the reports of the Session, Deacons' Court, and the various organisations of the church were adopted. The report showed that 22 names had been added to the membership during the year, and the roll number now stood at 264. Gratitude to God was expressed for the return of peace and the safe homecoming of so many young men from active service. The evangelistic mission conducted by the Rev. J. M. Simpson, 8.A., of Gore, had been fruitful in upbuilding and ingathering. The increasing attendance at public worship had necessitated the holding of the services in the Coronation Hall. The Sunday schools at Maori Hill and Wakari totalled 203 and 38 scholars respectively; and in the six Bible classes there were 92 young people. The Men s League, established in July, 1918, was flourishing, and had done good service in promoting the study of questions related to the welfare of the people, as well as m fostering practical service in the Kingdom of God. All the ordinary organisations of the congregation appeared to be in a flourishing condition. About 100 children belonged to the Young Worshippers' League. The report on the finances of the congregation showed that they were in a healthy condition. The Treasurer (Mr P. S. Bett), in moving the adoption of the balance sheet, pointed out that there had been an increase in the ordinary collections (£343 0s 8d compared with £302 17s 2d), and in the Suatentation Fund; while the contributions to missions and other extra congregational objects had been more than maintained. The total amount raised for all purposes was £1044 7s Bd, including £lsl 7s 9d for tlie new church building fund. The question of church union was then discussed. The Rev. A. M. Finlayson moved, and Mr •A. G. Butchers, M.A., seconded, the following motion —" That this congregation approves of the movement for the union of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches providing a satisfactory basis can be found, and requests the General Assembly to approach the other chu«chea with the view of ascertaining whether such a basis of union can be formulated and agreed upon; and would further urge that with a view to such ultimate union,, co-operation be sought with these churches without delay along all available lines." Both speakers, while urging' the desirability of union, stressed the point that the present motion did not commit the church to anything further than the opening up of negotiations with the sister ohurches, and that the proposal in the final clause would be of great present practical value, even should an incorporating union be long delayed. On # a vote being taken, 50 voted for the motion and 3 against, while some refrained from voting. A matter of the deepest interest to the congregation was the report of the Building Committee. The convener (Mr Walter Wright) exhibited and explained the plans of the new church as designed by Mr D. G. Mowat, and moved that the plan in its general outline be adopted, and the committee instructed to go ahead with the work as soon as the Deacons' Court was satisfied as to the finance. The proposed building—which is in the Gothic style of (architecture —provides accommodation for 500 people on the ground floor, and is designed to i admit of transepts being added to accommodate a further 150. It is to be built in brick with facings of Oamaru 6tone. Mr P. L. Clark seconded the motion. He said it was a necessity if the church was to go forward, that a building capable of accommodating the congregation should be erected. The site already secured at the head of Driver's road was a magnificent one. It had cost a large sum, and it was fitting that there should be erected on it a churoh worthy of the site, and worthy of the great cause for which it was used. The cost would be considerable. He was authorised to say that one gentleman had that evening guaranteed for himBelf and others a sum of £IOOO over and above what was already in hand (£230), and it was hoped that as a result of the efforts of the ladies, who were holding a sale of work in October, the generosity of tho rank and file of the congregation, and the grant from the Synod, a total of £3OOO would be available. Mr W. L. Craig strongly supported the proposal, and dwelt upon the prospective growth of the John M'Glashan College and of tho district generally. The matter was keenly discussed by a number of those present, including the Rev. A- Don, who, while warmly supporting the forward movement, urged an alteration of the plans. The resolution moved by. Mr Wright was finally agreed to, with the addition of a motion by Miss W. A. Valentine, that the _ committee take_ into consideration the desirability of erecting a spire instead of the tower, as proposed. It was resolved by a large majority to adopt the " envelope system" for the collection of the ordinary congregational offerings, including the Sunday collections and the Sustentation Fund.