PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 7

PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONS

ANNUAL MEETING OF LADIES’ MOVEMENT. The annual meeting of the Dunedin and Dunsian Presbyterian Vi omen's Missionary I Union was held in t.,:e Sunday School Hail of St. Andrews Church ou 1 m-sdav afternoon. Tiie Kev. E. Adams (Moderator of tho Dunedin Presbytery) presided, and had associated with him on tne platiorni three missionaries—Miss A. James, Nurse i’rcn- i tiee, and Mrs G. M'Ncur, all from Canton, j —who were heartily welcomed to the gathering. the annual report was read by Mrs R. S. Allan. It stated that they were glad to report increased attendances at the Presbyterian Association monthly meetings. To Sister Christabel they were indebted tor forming two out of tho three new branches y-Seacliff and Caversham, —while that at Spofti.s Creek was the outcome of Mrs M'Niwu's visit. They thanked Mrs M'Neur for the deputation work she had done for them, which they appreciated highly. The report traversed the activities of the various . branches, stating- that two or three rejoiced in larger attendances, but others regretted that owing to removals their memoerslii]) was smaller than last year. Mrs Evans, secretary of tho Scattered Members’ League, reported that there were now 38 members and 20 correspondents in this Presbyterian Association, ai.id that donations amounting to Ll 16s hud been forwarded- by members for the beneficiary fund. Firs He wit-on reported that the ’.South Isiand Oriental depot had, had its most successful year; £loo had been sent to the I‘oreign Mission Committee. £IBO to the Sing,e W omen Missionaries’ Beneficiary bund, and £2O to the Training Institute Committee. Mrs Death, box sacretarv, reported that the value of th© boxes sent to the mission fields was £7O; anil Miss Brown, M.M.R.L. .secretary, that £122 2s Id had been contributed this year. The sum of £2po Is (xl was contributed to the beneficiary fund, and they trusted members would not rest until it: had been put on a satisfactory footing. Contributions sent in by tiie 30 branches totalled £lllß 12s sd. The Tapauui Girls’ Auxiliary report, which was presented by Mrs Swan, reported a very successful year as far as raising money for missions was concerned. After the garden fete they were pk-a.se-i to find that they bad £l6 to donate to missions. The report described how the girls earned £1 every year for missions by scrubbing out the church after the annual church social. They had been gathering clothes for the Maoris, and hoped to hare a good sum to send for Kong Gluten School shortly. Sister Christabel. general secretary of the busy bee movement, reported that since February five new hives had been formed in Dunedin R A. —at Waikouaiti, Seacliff, Warrington, Merton, and Mosgiel. Two others were about to be formed, and two had lapsed for want of leaders. Five new hives had been formed in the Dunstan P.A. —at Oturcliua, Ida Valley, Deck's, Spottis Creek, ] and Kokonga,—ar:<l two others were- hoped ! for. There were 25 busy bee hives and one junior mission band at work, and their combined efforts had resulted in the following donations: —To home mission a.n-d local c-liuri h funds. £5 6s; P.S.S.A. Home, £2; Christmas gifts, £1 10s; magazines for country Sunday schools, 6s; Chinese Famine Fund, £1 ss; for starving children in Europe, 19s 6d; Maori missions, £26 Ills 2d; foreign missions, £IOB lis 4d; —total, £146 9s. Parcels sent to various home and foreign fields numbered 32, and were valued al £057 9s. j Reports from 100 hives scattered througn- ! out New Zealand showed that 100 parcels, 1 valued at £6O, had been despatched and j £1039 9s 4d raised, which had been allocated | as follows: —Home missions, £43 18s 10d; ! orphanages, £l4O Is 3d; Maori missions, I £260 13s 4d; foreign missions, £317 17s 7d ; | missions (fund not stated). £lll Is 5d ; local church funds, £165 lbs lid. The following office-bearers were elected : President, Mrs Hewitson; vice-presidents, Mrs J. M. Stewart and Mrs Bowie; treasurer. Mrs G. Spence; secretary, Airs R. S. Allan. Tho Rev. Hector Mac!-an addressed the j meeting shortly, and congratulated the- P.A. I on the success of its year’s work. Both .n j New Zealand and in the foreign field its beneficial influence had been felt. He comj niimentetd the -dilors of the Harvest Field ! on the excellent resume of the mission work i of the Church which its pag-s contained. Speaking of the work of the PAV.M.U. j within the congregation, he held that Ts j id-al should be to make* every member an j intelligent .-ur'porter of missions at home 1 and abroad. Jhe danger it had to face was I th,- -citing up of an organi--ition within the j Church and boooining eel:-contained. The cud of th© PAV.M.U. would be attain rl 1 when th -re was no louver _ a need of a ! PAV.M.U., because every chinch member j was contributing his or lie:- share n> the missionary effort of the Church as a whole. Afternoon tea was enjoyed before the ladies dispersed.