Geraldine Presbyterian Church.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3536, 18 January 1900, Page 3

Geraldine Presbyterian Church.

The annual meeting of the congregation of the Geraldine Presbyterian Church took ; place on Tuesday night, when there was a large attendance—in fact, the largest ever , seen at an annual meeting of the church. The Rev. A. B. Todd presided, and after : devotional exercises the various reports were read. The Rev. A. B. Todd read the session , report as follows: — '. The Session gives thanks to God for bringing us to the close of another year, ■ crowned w:th loving kindness and tender I mercies. As a congregation we have much to be thankful for, and great reason to ' recognise the good hand of God upon us. Let us lift np our Ebenezer aud say: ' " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." It is ' pleasing to record that, so far as the attendance upon public worship shows, the interest in divine things is well maintained. ■ In some of the country districts this is of a ; gratifying nature. Mr Colin Mackenzie [ still renders devoted service as of yore, un- ■ wearied in his faithfulness, and the congregation gladly acknowledges its deep indebtedness to him during many years. The Session has met nine times, and the Communion was dispensed five times. The attendance of communicants was respectively 82, 95, 68, 73, and 02, giving an average of 76. This is a slight increase on ' the number for last year, but still not so high as the Session would like to see. It does not indicate on the part of many the feeling expressed in the lines — " I have been there, and still would go, •"Pis liko a little heaven below." Is the spiritual life in a healthy state when [ the soul does not long to meoet its Saviour and Lord, and does not take advantage of every opportunity to do so ? Christ's seven sayings upon the Cross are being studied on these sacramental occasions. For the convenience of members at a distance, the Communion was dispensed also at Scotsburn and Rangitata, and the services were well attended. The Session is pleased to note an addition to the communion roll of twenty-one names, eleven by examination and ten by certificate. Twelve have been removed, one by the hand of death. It is a matter for thankfulness that several have ■ joined the Church for the first time, some ; of them young- people just entering upon life. The Session is hopeful that thenaccession will prove a source of strength to ! the congregation as well as to themselves, and earnestly commends their example to others who are still undecided, perhaps ; just upon the border line. The net gain of members for the year is nine, and there are ] now 147 names on the roll. Death removed from amongst us our most highly esteemed | > elder and friend, Mr Thomas Morrison, " a ] good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and '• of faith." The Session, in the namj of the congregation, assured his widow and re- 1 lations of their deep sympathy with them, '• and also testified to the groat loss to the congregation of such a Christ-like spirit, manifested alike in health and in suffering. Twelve children were baptised during the year, five funerals attended, five marriages celebrated. The work of the Sabbath Schools has been carried on quietly j and faithfully by a band of earnest teachers. > Mr Colin Mackenzie, "in labours abundant," ' reports as to the main school in Geraldine. ' The school at Rangitata meets fortnightly ' and has an attendance of 45 with an average of 35; and at Fairfield seven scholars gather ' for instruction on Sabbath mornings. Thus the good work of sewing the seed of divine truth in young hearts goes on. If watered by the prayers of teachers and parents, may we not, expect an abundant harvest ? As the result of the annual service of song nineteen books were added to tho library, which now contains 279 volumes. The choir has had varying fortunes during the year. The number of female voices keeps up well and has increased somewhat, but there is still great lack of male singers. Any who have the gift of song can find here a sphere in which to consecrate their talent to the service of God. A change of choirmaster was rendered necessary by the departure of Mr Willoughby. He is much missed in the congregation, not only in the offices he filled as Sabbath School teacher and. choirmaster, but also because of his readiness to help in anything that tended '• unto the furtherance of tho gospel." The Session offered the position of choirmaster to Mr Montgomery, who accepted it and is discharging his duties with ability and energy. In the outdistricts the same bodies act as honorary organists as have helped in past years, and to them the warm thanks of the congregation are hereby given. One feature of the work of last year Teas the services held during the week once a month at Woodbury, Orari, and Gapes' Valley. The services have been well attended on the whole, and are appreciated by somo who cannot easily join with us in our worship in Geraldine. In order to carry on these services with regularity it was found necessary to make use of Wednesday evenings in the moonlight weeks. The prayer meeting which is held in Geraldine on that evening is consequently occasional in its nature now. The attendance had dwindled considerably, and these interruptions have not put any check upon this, but rather increased it. The Bible Class met during the winter months, and considerable interest was taken in the work by the members, who numbered twenty-one. The subject of study ■was the life of David, and a portion of Scripture was committed to memory. The children comprising the Band of Hop 9 were as enthusiastic as ever. In the middle of their session they were rewarded with a tea, which was provided by a few friends ; and they themselves contributed a capital entertainment at tho close. Some of the most faithful and useful members left us for new homes, aud were greatly missed. Recently Dr and Mrs Bowie, of Ambrym, New Hebrides, paid us a visit, and addressed several meetings. It is to be hoped that the increased interest in missions manifested during their stay will be maintained. The ladies of the congregation furnished a box of useful articles, which was forwarded to Mr Watt, at Tanna. The annual parish gathering in September was one of the largest and most successful ever held, and the anniversary services conducted by Rev. Mr Gibb, of First Church, J)unedin, was in keeping therewith. At the meeting of Assembly held in Wellington in February, Mr McCaskey and your minister were present, and felt stimulated thereby. The Session feels that in looking back upon the past we have great reason to thank God, and in looking forward to the future to take courage. Serve we our God in faith, No work for Him is vain ; Blessed and holy is the toil, ■ And infinite the gain. A. Bruce To-pD, Moderator. J. J. McCaskey, Clerk. Mr Colin Mackenzie read the Sabbath School report. The report showed that the health of the children attending school during the year had been good. The number of children attending the school during the year or part of it was 76, and the average 60, a slight decrease on previous years. The teaching staff consisted of six ladies and three gentlemen, with secretary, treasurer, and librarian, and all bad been most assiduous in the prosecution of their labour of love. Regret was expressed that more efforts had not beea put forth by the children to qualify for the general assembly's examination by which tho work done could be judged. Nineteen new volumes had been added to the library, and the children had contributed £2 9s Gd to the Day Spring Mission Fund. The annual picnic was held at Te Moana, and was most successful, among those present being Dr and Mrs Bowie, two of the Church's missionaries at the New Hebrides. The report concluded with a request for the prayers of the congregation,

Mr K. Mackenzie, secretary, read the mrnager's report thus : The managers have to report having met six times during the year. Of these meetings Messrs R. Y. Ferguson and K. Mackenzie wore present at six; Rev. A. B. Todd, R. Skinner, D. Shaw, and A. Mackenzie at four ; J. J. McCaskey, A. Irvine, W. Beattie, D. McLeod, A. Archibald, J. W. MscMaedonld, aud W. Hewson at three; W. Ashby, J.Campbell, J. Shaw.and A. Maclean at two; N. Campbell at 1. The managers have a very healthy report to lay before you this year, showing that members and adherents have the welfare of the church at heart, and are responding to her call with a cheerfulness and Christian spirit, which is very praiseworthy. The total receipts from all sources were .£4S7 lis 4d, and the total expenditure £371 10s sd, leaving a credit balance on the year's working of .£ll2 14s lid. Of this amount £9O was raised by special subscription, and £22 10s from the annual gathering, which was a great ' success, being considerably over any other year. From the Sabbath School and Bible Class the Davspring fund collection was £4 Is Id. The collection on behalf of the Sabbath School was considerably less, being .'. I6s 6d against .£6 last year. The amount collected by the ladies for missions was £23 Is, against ,£25 3s 9d last year, but with Dr Howie's special services the total amount was brought up to .£25 17s 6d, the Foreign Missions being benefitted by these services to the amount of .£2 10s Cd. Our dobt, as you will see, is now reduced to £IS9 6s lid as against ,£302 Is lOd last year. For this substantial reduction in the debt the congregation is indebted chiefly to Mr Ferguson, for ever since he accepted the treasurership his one aim has been to pay off the debt, and it must be very gratifying to him to find the congregation backing him up so substantially. In December a special meeting was held to consider the advisability of purchasing a half acre of land adjoining the church. The want of room for horses and traps on Sabbaths was felt very much. Mr Shaw kindly offered to purchase the land at a cost of .£IOO for the church, on condition that the managers payed him in 12 months, Mr Shaw charging no interest. The managers very gladly accepted Mr Shaw's offer/and the land has been purchased. This year your managers intend making the purchase of this property the special call on you. Already £3O has been promised, and they consider they should have no difficulty in raising the other £7O, as the land was urgently needed and members will see something in return for their money. The managers desire to thank Mr Ferguson and Mr A. Mackenzie for their canvass of the congregation on behalf of the debt extinction, Mr Todd for his careful and painstaking work amongst us during the year, all the ladies who assisted at (he parish gathering, also lady collectors and all collectors for the stipend fund through the district. Kenneth Mackenzie, Secretary. Mr 11. Y. Ferguson, treasurer, read tho balance-sheet. The chairman in making a few remarks on the various reports, highly praised Mr Colin Mackenzie for the great services lie had always rendered the church by taking services at different places and taking charge of the Sabbath school. He would have been pleased to have seen better attendances at cDmmunioTi, and they badly wanted young men for the choir. They had greatlymissed the services of Mr Willoughby, but they had secured an able successor as choir master in Mr J. R. Montgomery. The secretary and treasurer never had a better year, the very healthy state of the finances was chiefly due to the hard work of Mr Ferguson. Mr McCaskey, auditor, spoke highly of the way in which the secretary and treasurer kept their books, and thonght the treasurer was deserving of the thanks of the congregation for the energy he had displayed in reducing the church debt. Mr R. Skinner moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, and said that tho Church was very much indebted to Mr D. Shaw fur -advancing £IOO to purchase a section adjoining the Church property. He thought the managers should make a point of investigation where tha deeds of Church property are, so that they might bo used as security for overdraft instead of a bond. Mr A. McLean seconded the adoption of the reports and balance-sheet. The retiring managers, Messrs Ashby, W. Beattie, and A. Mackenzie, were reelected, and Mr A. J. Mack ay was appointed manager in place of U r Schmedes, who has left the district. Mr Todd proposed the usual votes of thanks to office bearers, secretary, treasurer, Sabbath School superintendent and teachers, choir master and choir, organists, collectors, and all church workers. Mr R. Y. Ferguson thanked the speakers for the praise they had given him, and trusted that the debt would be entirely wiped out ne.v; year. It could be done if the subscriptions were doubled. In purchasing the section next the church, they now had security to offer for their overdraft instead of the bond, which was a very desirable thing. The deeds of the rest of the Church property were in charge qf the New Zealand Presbyterian Church authorities, who would not hand them over for the purpose mentioned. On the motion of Mr Colia Mackenzie, a vote of thanks was passed to the rev. chairman, after which the ladjes passed round refreshments and a pleasant evening was spent.