WEST TAIERI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 21

WEST TAIERI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The sixty-first anniversary social of the West- laieri Presbyterian Church was held in the chut i-h on Wednesday evening last. Ihe Rev. J. Fordyce presided, and after the opening hymn and prayer said he was 1 pleased to find tile congregation strong and happy at vile close of another successful year’s work. lhe gills of the auxiliary deserved great credit for their noble work for missions, 'lhe P.V\ .ALT’, had made an additional effort by holding a bring and-buy sale at the manse. The young women's and young men s Bible classes were still going well. The Ladies’ Guild had just concluded a very successful sale of work. On die whole the several organisations were in good heart, and the steady, good attendance at all services was a sound test of healthy interest and support. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. Air A. Grant said that, financially, they were not just- as happy as they were la.-o year. The balance sheet showed a debit of £2l. i his, however, was not due to a decrease in the congregation's givings. The collections at Alaungatua iiad increased by £B, and West Taieri was virtually the same as last year. Only Oufram showed a decrease of £7. 'the Sustentation Fund hail gone up £4, o that financially things had advanced. The debit was due to increased expenditure. He hoped that, after discussion the congregation would adopt the envelope system, which had proved beneficial to other churches, and pu i our finances on a better footing. The three retiring members cf the Committee of Management Messrs A. APDonald. G. Bathgate, and A. Bathgate were re-elected, together with the following new members: —Alessrs E. Shuffel, 11. R. Petrie, and J. Al Bryde. A discussion of the envelope system of giving resulted in the subsequent adoption of it by the. congregation, on the motion of Air A. Grant, seconded by Mr Jas. Miller. The Rev. D. M’L’o-sh, in an address, pressed the need for patience as a virtue in individual and congregational life. The choir was again in evidence, rendering several much-appreciated items, which were fittingly interspersed through the programme. Solos, heartily applauded, were sung by Miss Twhigg, Aiks Southgate, Mr A. Chisholm, and Air R. Marshall. The recitations of Aliss Patrick and Miss Williams also added to the pleasure of the evening. Mr Jas. Miller, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr APL’osh for his address and to the choir for their hearty singing, said that, looking back over 45 years of the choir’s history, he thought there was no time when the singing was better than that night. The indies of tho congregation again gladdened tiie hearts cf all present by the supper which they provided. The evening was brought to a close by the singing ot the doxology and the pronouncing of the benediction.