MATAURA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 25342, 22 July 1935, Page 12

MATAURA NEWS

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. (From Our Correspondent.) There was a moderate attendance of the congregation of the Mataura Presbyterian Church for the annual business meeting which was held in the church on Thursday evening. The Minister of the parish, the Rev. D. McNeur, occupied the chair and had associated with him the Rev. T. C. Campbell, of Waikaka.

Proceedings opened with the singing of hymn 247 and prayer by the Rev T. C. Campbell. Addressing the gathering, the moderator welcomed the members and adherents and stated that reports bearing on the year’s work would be put before them and he trusted that they would be encouraged by these documents to further advance the work of the Kingdom of God in this place. The report of the session was presented by the session clerk (Mr W. Piercy) and was as follows: The Sunday services have been maintained throughout the year at Mataura and Tuturau, but owing to the Charlton members withdrawing from the Brydone charge and joining the Mataura congregation, the care of Ferndale was for some time handed over to the Home Missionary (Brydone). Our minister continues faithfully to preach the gospel of the grace of God and the love of God as revealed to us through Jesus Christ our Saviour; he is also very mindful in visiting the sick, the aged and those in trouble. In this he is ably assisted by Mrs McNeur. The quarterly meetings of the session were held throughout the year and special meetings when required. The session regrets having to record the death of two old and highly respected members in the late Mrs T. Milne and the late Mr David Collie, both of Tuturau. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was dispensed at the usual quarterly periods to good congregations. We commenced the year with a roll number of 236, and there has been added to it by profession seven, and by certificate seven, while we have lost by death two and by disjunction and purging of the roll 25, leaving our roll number Mataura 188 and Tuturau 35, a total of 223. Baptisms for the year were three public and 12 private. The bi-weekly meeting for prayer and Bible study conducted by the minister at Mataura and Tuturau continue to be a source of blessing and inspiration. At a special meeting the Moderater reported the offer of a baptismal font from Mr Baineaves in memory of his late wife, and for this the session on behalf of the congregation returns thanks. To the superintendents and teachers of Sabbath schools and Bible class leaders for their self-sacrificing efforts in giving of their best service for the young, to the secretary of the Young Worshippers League, Mr L. E. Currie, and to the ladies of the P.W.M.U. the session returns thanks. The senior and junioi - choirs continue to lead the service of praise with much acceptance and the session records appreciation of choirmaster, organist and members. In conclusion the session thanks our Heavenly Father that he has endowed us with ability and strength to carry on the work of His church. Additional reports were presented by Messrs F. N. R. Downard (treasurer), D. M. Lockhart (Deacon’s Court), Mrs D. McNeur (P.W.M.U.), Mrs G. Mortimer (Tuturau), Miss M, C. Dickie (choir), Mataura Sunday School (Mr W. Y. Dickie), Tuturau Sunday School

(Mr W. Muir), senior Bible Class (Mr W. Robertson), junior girls’ class (Miss M. Hocking), junior young men’s class (Mr W. Folster). The election of deacons resulted as follows: Messrs D. M. McDonald, R. F. lvan Muir, A. Gourlay. Throughout the evening acceptable musical items were rendered by the choir under Mr A. J. Jones (conductor), Mr R. Baker presiding at the organ. The speaker for the evening was the Rev. Campbell who gave an inspiring address on the church—its principles, its missions, its destiny.