ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6891, 1 February 1894, Page 3

ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the congregation was held in the Church last evening. The Rev. Mr Ryburn presided. The reports of Church work during the past year Avere read, and considered to be most satisfactory. The Kirk Session report stated :— "The Session, in presenting their report for the year 1893, do so with thankfulness to the Lord for his goodness to us as a congregation. During the year the regular services have continued to be well attended, and there is much cause for gratitude to God in the harmonious spirit Avhich pervades the general work. About the middle of May special evangelistic services were held in the Church with very good results. Several were "added to the Church." On July sth Presbyterial visitation was conducted by the Presbytery's Commissioner, the Rev. R. Fraser, of Havelock. The following is the deliverance of the Presbytery on his report : — "On the repert of the Commissioner of Presbytery appointed to conduct the Presby tei iai visitation of the charge of Gisborne, the Presbytery agreed to express ib warmest satisfaction with the way in which the work of the Gisborne charge has been carried on during thelast threeyears by the minister and office-bearers, and to convey to the congregation generally its hearty congratulations on the success which had attended them. It further agreed to record its thanksgiving to God for the spiritual results which had attended the ministrations of the sanctuary and the Sabbath School, and commended thc Minister, office-bearers, and Sabbath School teachers to the beneficent care and loving kindness of the Father of Mercies. Its prayer is that peace and prosperity may attend them in all their relationships and in all their efforts." While Mr Fraser Avas in Poverty Bay, Mr W. R. Malcolm was ordained at the Matawhero Presbyterian Church on July 2nd, and Hducted to the pastoral charge of Ormond and thc other country districts. Thus now the whole of the country districts, with the exception of Matawhero, are separated from Gisborne and working as a distinct charge. Tologa Bay has been visited five times in the course of the year by our Minister, and services conducted there on Sunday afternoons with most encouraging results. During the year 24 names were added to the Communion roll, which now contains 132 names. The Bible class has been carried on continuously with an average attendance of 25, and the Christian Band has altered its constitution, and become akin to a Society of Christian Endeavor." The committee of management stated in their report that the manse and fence had been repaired at a cost of £86 without increasing the debt, which now stood at £270. The Sunday School report showed the average attendance to have been ,150 scholars and 11 teachers. The various reports were adopted, and a new committee, consisting of Messrs J. R. Johnston, Bushnell, McKee, Mitchell, Primrose, and A. L. Muir, was elected. Messrs H. McKay and Wallace were appointed uditors.