OTAUTAU CHURCHES

Southland Times, Issue 19966, 4 September 1926, Page 9

OTAUTAU CHURCHES

PRESBYTERIANS MEET. (From Our Correspondent.) The annual congregational meeting of the Otautau Presbyterian Church, held in the church last week, was well attended, the Rev. J. B. Bickerstaff presiding. A resolution of sympathy with Mr John Fisher and relatives in the death of their father was passed.

A recommendation to the Deacon’s Court was carried: “That the Deacon’s Court take into consideration the advisability of adopting as far as possible the envelope system.”

The balance sheet submitted disclosed a healthy financial position. Several items of extraordinary expenditure, which would be non-recurring, had necessitated borrowing a small amount temporarily from the building fund, and had also created an overdraft at the bank. It was anticipated, however, that the “Bring and Buy Fair,” which is being held on September 10 would wipe out the overdraft and also pay back the sum to the building fund. The Session report showed that about 24 new members had been added to the Church roll. The minister had officiated at nine weddings, 15 baptisms and four funerals.

The report of the Deacon’s Court was read, recording an increase in contributions to the sustentation fund and general collections. In 1924 the total of these two items was £372 8/2, while in the present balance sheet they amounted to £402 2/4. The Harvest Festival this year was accompanied by a special thank offering, and with the joint effort £7B 11/11 was added to the funds. A “Bring and Buy Fair” was inaugurated by the Busy Bees in 1925, resulting in £55 14/10 being paid over to the funds of the Sunday School. Various items of expenditure included the installation of electric light in the Church, repairs to manse, and transport charges on the minister’s furniture and pulpit supply. There was an overdraft of £77 2/-, and they were indebted to the New Church Building Fund for the sum of £l6O, which had been borrowed to purchase a motor car, but it was confidently expected these two items would be paid off by a special effort. The report of the Women’s Evangelistic Union, P.W.M.U., Junior and Senior Bible Classes all showed that a very successful year had been experienced, and that the Rev. and Mrs J. B. Bickerstaff were doing their utmost to push forward the work of the Church. The balance sheet and reports were adopted. METHODIST CHURCH. For several weeks past the Rev. M. Avrton has been dealing with special sub-

jects on Sunday evenings, which have been of an informative character, and interest has been well maintained. Some of the addresses which have been dealt with include: “The historical background of Methodism,” “The meaning and message of Methodism for to-day,” “Some points of contact with Judaism,” “Some points of contact with the Roman Catholic Church,” “Some points of contact with Anglicanism,” and “Some points of contact with Presbyterianism.” The final of the series of these addresses is to be given on Sunday evening, sth inst., when the preacher will deal with “The Future of Christianity,” an optimistic outlook.

The following resolutions were carried at the close of last Sunday evening’s service: (1) “We regret that the Government in the proposed Licensing Bill now before the House of Representatives has not included a two-issue ballot paper as requested by the New Zealand Alliance. The inclusion of three issues, we feel sure, fails to secure the intelligent will of the people.” (2) “We wish also to affirm an unchanging preference for triennial elections, and that the licensing issue shall be placed before the electors as often as the elections come round, viz., every three years, until Prohibition is carried.”