ST. PAUL’S CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 23675, 25 November 1938, Page 12

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING The annual congregational meeting of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, postponed from August, was held in the Sunday school hall last evening. The minister of the church, the Rev. C. J. Tocker, presided over a good attendance of members and adherents. The various reports showed that a work of widespread scope was being carried on with great vigour and success. Outstanding features were the fact that the reorganization of the envelope system and the generous giving of the people had resulted in the congregation being in the position of meeting all its commitments for the year and having a small credit balance. The total income for the year from all sources amounted to £1533 19/4, including more than £2OO contributed to the various missions of the Presbyterian (Church. A legacy of £5O from the estate of Mrs Jane Shepherd had been partly used to remodel the platform and stage equipment of the Sunday school hall. During the year a lady member of the church had generously given her motor-car for the use of the minister and this had proved a great help in his work. Other gifts were the installation of earphones for the use of those hard of hearing by Mr Robert Officer. They had proved a great success and a real boon to those whose hearing was affected. A marble baptismal font, given by Mr John Fraser and imported from Italy, had come to hand and was dedicated earlier in the year. This gift completed the new church furnishings promised at the time of the church renovations two years ago; they greatly improved the interior of the church. The special centenary thanksgiving fund was meeting with remarkable success and at present, although the returns were far from complete, the amount contributed within St. Paul’s, stood at very nearly £2OOO. An election of deacons was held and Messrs J. T. Carswell, William Hamilton, J. N. Armour, T. Mathews, A. L. Dalgarno and D. M. Malloch, whose term of office had expired, were reelected and Mr R. Baker was elected to fill a vacancy. Messrs W. T. Baker and J. S. Baxter spoke appreciatively of the work of the minister and his fellow workers, and a vote of thanks to them was carried by acclamation. * The Rev. J. A. Thomson, of First Church, who was present by invitation, spoke encouragingly of the work being done and to be done in what he described as these difficult and challenging times.

After the meeting items were contributed by Miss J. Waddell, Mrs W. Aitchison, Mr C. Penman and Mr H. P. Weston.