GORE PRESBYTERIANS

Southland Times, Issue 20201, 11 June 1927, Page 4

GORE PRESBYTERIANS

PLANS FOR NEW CHURCH. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING. There was a good attendance at the meeting held at the Presbyterian Church on Thursday evening, when matters regarding the proposed building scheme were brought to a head. The Rev. F. M. Beattie presided, and drew the attention of the congregation to the fact that it was now time that the very large flock of worshippers, particularly the young people, were provided with a fitting place in which to worship. He expressed the opinion that appropriate environment was a great factor in the spiritual sincerity of church life. At the present time much inconvenience was encountered because of the scattered state of the younger congregation, and it was felt that the time was ripe in which to remedy this inconvenience. Mr Shanks stated that at a combined meeting of the Building and Finance Committee held on March 8 last it was decided to recommend the Building Committee to proceed with the erection of a Sunday school and Bible class buildings only in the meantime. This resolution was conveyed to the Building Committee and adopted at a meeting held the same evening. The amended plan as shown that night was submitted to a joint meeting of the Finance and Building Committee on May 30, when it was resolved that its adoption be recommended by the Building Committee. This resolution was communicated to the Building Committee the same evening when the following resolution was adopted by that body: ‘“That the amended plans be adopted, and that the Session be asked to call a special meeting of the congregation on June 9 to consider the matter.” The Finance Committee met on June 5, when the following re- ■ solution was carried: “That the committee i recommends the Building Committee to ask ■ for the congregation's authority to borrow up to £3OOO from the Southland Building Society for a term of 14 years provided satisfactory arrangements can be made with the society.” It was also moved that the congregation be asked to make a special effort to raise £lOOO on this year’s gift Sunday. Both resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Building Committee. In submitting the resolution arrived at by the Building Committee, Mr W. B. Johnston stated that it had been decided to carry

out the scheme by instalments, as a scheme to include all buildings would cost in the vicinity of £lO,OOO to £12,000. He stated that the hall would in the meantime meet the requirements of a church. The second important factor was that the hall would relieve them of the heavy rents at present incurred. He therefore had pleasure in moving the following motion: “That the congregation hereby approves and adopts the plans submitted by the Building Committee and prepared by Messrs Coombes and White for a church hall, class rooms and other buildings on the Ardwick street site, and authorises the committee to proceed with the erection of such buildings accordinglv.” The motion was seconded by Mr Cameron and carried. Mr Gee moved: “That the congregation adopts and approves of the Building Committee’s recommendations for raising the necessary finance for the erection of the building mentioned in the previous resolution, and authorises the committee to take the necessary steps to borrow up to a maximum amount of £3OOO on mortgage of any of the church properties.” Mr Nicholson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. F. M. Beattie expressed satisfaction that the resolutions had been carried with such unanimity and the meeting was then closed with the Benediction.