A SATISFACTORY YEAR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3796, 17 August 1936, Page 5

A SATISFACTORY YEAR

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ANNUAL MEETING OF CONGREGATION. Satisfactory reports for the year ended 30th June, 1936, were subniitted to the annual meeting of the congregation of St. Andrew’s Church on Wednesday evening last. Rev. A. C. Whitelaw presided. The year under review commenced with the last month of Rev. E. G. Jansen’s ministry, followed by the supply of Rev. Wm. Butterworth till Mr Whitelaw’s return in November. Much appreciation was expressed of their services.

The session report given by the session clerk, Mr A. L. Storey, recorded the number of communicant members to be 210, with 12 new members admitted during the year. The country sendees had been specially well attended. The quarterly Youth evangelistic services in the centre had been a most encouraging feature.

Until Christmas the Choir benefited by the leadership of Mr James, of Hamilton, but to general regret he had to relinquish that position. Mr R. Jackman had stepped into the breach with great acceptance. The Choir was now in urgent need of new members. Mr W. Ross, secretary of the board of managers, mentioned that very successful harvest festivals had been held at Te Awamutu and Mangapiko, resulting in many gifts of fruit and produce for the Auckland orphanages. The quarterly retiring collections were given for special local needs, for the Waikato Hospital chaplaincy, and the orphanage Christmas cheer. Mr Whitelaw (the report continued) gave an interesting moving picture lecture in June to a large and appreciative audience to benefit the mission funds. A working bee was held early in the year to replace a portion of the live fence between the hall and the manse with a wire fence, and various improvements and repairs were made to the church, the manse, and the grounds. The hall piano had been replaced by a better instrument.

“ The managers are once again grateful to the congregation,” the report proceeds, “ for their generous response to the annual thank-offering on 24th November last, when £247 18s 4d was contributed. This is slightly better than last year, and very gratifying to the board of managers. The revenue of the church would be considerably helped by an increase in the number of envelope subscribers. New subscribers are particularly desired in order to replace some who have left the district. The board was pleased that satisfactory arrangements had been made by ratepayers and users with the Otorohanga County Council for the metalling of the road giving access to Te Kawa church. The treasurer, Mr H. Mandeno, presented a most satisfactory statement of accounts and balance-sheet. While the total Sunday givings were slightly down, this was offset by the increased thank-offering. The total A-nm mnnpvs used 1H

revenue apart from moneys useu in self-support by the different organisations was £B2O 17s sd. The congregation sent £lOO (its full share) to the missionary work at home and abroad of the Presbyterian Church ot New Zealand. . The Women’s Missionary Union again presented an excellent report. With a membership of 48, an average attendance of members and friends of 50, and peak attendances of 58 and 62, had been recorded. For the meetings held since the new ycai they were fortunate in having special speakers—-Mrs Robertson (Rotorua), Rev. Angus McKenzie (Maori Mission, Taumarunui), Mr H. S. Manson (Youth organising secretary), Rev. W. Morton Ryburn (India), and Mr and Mrs A. Scarrow (Ngongotaha). Three large cases and six parcels of clothing were sent to Maori and Home Mission stations. By collections, mission boxes, and the garden party in November £5l 6s 6d was raised altogether for missions. The Maori Mission Birthday League had 104 names on the roll, and 10,578 stamps were handed in by the stamp secretary. . The secretary of the Presbyterian Women’s Mission Union thanked the various secretaries for their splendid work, specially mentioning the untiring effort of the secretary (Mrs McArthur). The children’s interest in missions had been fostered by the Busy Bees, numbering 24, and their practical afternoons, under the leadership of Miss Mandeno. Four missionary evenings were enjoyed by the senior Bible Class girls and a contribution was sent to the Taupo Christmas Cheer fund. The junior Girls’ Missionary Club had met regularly and contributed towards the China Treasure Chest. The Bible Classes had had a steady year with a total membership of about 100, a number of members having left the district. The country class attendances had been particularly good. The Y.M. winter camp was held at Pokuru in ‘July. Class members had taken the leadership whenever required. The value to the Sunday School teachers and Bible Classes of the visit to Te Awamutu of the Youth secretaries, Sister Elizabeth Allan and Mr Manson, was commented on in several reports. The classes had, as the district committee for the Wlaikato for the past two years, shouldered the responsibility with great credit, special thanks being due to Miss Marjorie Ross and Mr Frank Mason, the secretaries. The Sunday School showed a slight increase, and appreciation was expressed of Mr and Mrs J. A. McGechie (the superintendents) and the

teaching staff. A new venture in Youth work had been the missionary and soaial evenings for Bible Class members organised by Mt and Mrs A. Stewart, of Te Kawa. Good practical work had been done and much interest raised. Mr Whitelaw, in concluding the year’s report, expressed his gratitude to all the office-bearers and members for their loyalty and devotion to the church. He hoped to see increased attendance at the Sunday services, and a more general effort to share

the work of Christ in the comma r.ity.

Two retiring managers, Messrs O. S. West and Trevor Clark, were reelected.

Special votes of thanks were accorded the honorary auditor (Mr S. C. Price) and the honorary organists (Mrs F. Gibson and Miss Mandeno). The meeting was closed with the singing of the Doxology, and supper was served by the ladies.