PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONVERSAZIONE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 876, 29 August 1879, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONVERSAZIONE.

The conversazione in connection with the St. Andrews' Presbyterian Church, in MacFarlane's Hall, was well attended, and a very agreeable evening was spent by those present. The entertainment was of a diversified nature, and consisted of first a tea which was dispensed by the ladies of the congregation ; then readings, recitations, and music, followed by a congregational meeting, at which the annual report was submitted, and business connected with the Church discussed. The .meeting was presided by A. Graham, Esq., and the platform occupied by the Revs. J. McAra and W. L. Salter, and Messrs Teat, Warren, and'Hurrey,office bearers of St. Andrews/ Church. The programme consisted of an overture (" Guy Mannering") by the MacFarlane femily ; recitation, "Thy labor is not vain" by the Rev. W. L. Salter ; musical fantasia, by the Misses Morgan; reading, "On Scandal" by Mr. Siddons ; " We glory in the Lord" and " What shall the harvest be" by the Choir ; instrumental duet, by Mr. and Miss Teat ; recitation, " Willie Vere," by Mrs. Brookes ; song, " The Arabs farewell to his steed," by Mr. W. Ratcliffe ; and recitation by Mr. Qnigley. Mr. P. MacFarlane gave a very instructive explanation of the science of phrenology. At the close of the Conversazione, the congregation meeting was held. Rev. J. McAra occupied the chair, and was supported by the office-bearers. The meeting having been opened with prayer, the chairman called upon Mr. J. R. Hurrey to read the report of the officebearers for the period which had elapsed since the last annual meeting. Owing to the vacancy, the report had to cover a period of 18 months. We are sorry we cannot give this interesting report in full, all we can do is to make a few extracts. From the report and balance sheet we find that at the close of the financial year in December last, the amonnt received from all sources, including Bank overdraft of £249 155. 5d. s was the very respectable sum of £942 ls. 4d., and the disbursements for the same period was £930 4s. Id., leaving a balance of £11 17s. 3d. to be carried forward to the next year. A supplementary balance-sheet for the period from January Ist to August 25th, 1879, was read. From which we find that the receipts, including Bank overdraft, now reduced to £199, amounted to £511 15s. 2d., and the expenditure to £50? ls 4d, leaving a balance of £5 Is. 2d._in hand. The Bank overdraft of £200 has been, and is, a matt2r of anxiety to the officebearers, and the report appealed to the. congregation to devise means to reduce it as soon as possible. The oUice-bearers have been considering the advisability of introducing a third source of revenue, viz. : quarterly subscriptions, or what, in many Presbyterian Churches, is known by the designation of the Susteutation Fund. If such a scheme were successfully wrought, seat rents could then, to some extent, be applied to the reduction of the debt on the Church property. As soon as the soheme has been matured by the office-bearers,, the members and adherents will be invited to give it a fair trial. There are 114 sittings let in Church ; the number of communicants on the roll is 36 ; and the Rev. Mr. McAra conducts a Bible Class for young men and women, on Tuesday evening, which numbers 26. The report tenders the best thanks of the congregation to Miss Morgan for past, and Miss Teat for present services as harmonists, and appeals earnestly to the young of the congregation who can sing, to come forward and help the choir in leading efficiently the Service of Praise. The Sabbath School is in a fairly prosperous condition. The number of scholars on the roll is 120, with an average attendance of 85. The Sabbath School is uuder the able superintendence of Mr. .W. Teat, assisted by a band of six male and three female teachers. The library contains 200 volumes of useful and instructive works, which are well read and appreciated. A number of periodicals are distributed monthly gratuitously to the children. In concluding the report, the officebearers express their thankfulness for the energy and unity which all through has characterised the congregation, and certainly when we read the balancesheets and remember that we have been passing through a period of great depression in monetary circles, wo have to congratulate the office-bearers in being in a position to present a report, on the whole, so favourable. After the leports and balance-sheets had been read, it was moved by Mr. A. Graham, and seconded by Mr. M. Hall, that the same be adopted. Tho meeting then proceeded to elect three gentlemen to act with -the office-bearers as a committe of management, when the following were duly elected : — Messrs. James Rosie, William Adair, and Malcolm McLeod. The chairman thereafter closed the meeting with the benediction.