ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145903, 9 August 1917, Page 4

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

| ANNUAL MEETING. I The animal nicotinic of the, congregation of St. Andrew’s Church, New Plymouth, was hold in the church on AA’cdnesday night, the Rev. Ernest Culliford j (of iCltham, Moderator of the Charge) ' presiding. The meeting opened with a ! hymn, a lesson was read, and prayers were offered. REPORT OF SESSION. Air. N. K. MncDinrmid read the report of the session for the year ended June 30. The attendance at the ordinary services had heen good, especially in the ease of the morning services. The church's roll of honour had lengthened, and the prayers of all had been increasingly earnest that God would sustain the men at the front and the anxious and sorrowing ones at home. On August ■hi, 1916, a call from Cambridge congregation having come to the Rev. T. U. itoseveare, the congregation of the church met and after expressing hearty and cordial approval of his work, decided to place no obstacle in the way of his translation. On August a congregational social was held 10 bid farewell to Air. and -Mrs, Roscvoare, and on August i!S the congregation met and appointed a .selection committee to make recommendations with a view to lilljng the vacancy. At this meeting the stipend to he offered the incoming minister was fixed at. £275 for the hist year, with a manse, the stipend rising to £3OO thereafter if circumstances permitted. A’nrious steps; were taken, in the wisdom of the congregation, to fill the vacancy in the pastorate. These did not eventuate until June 6, when a call was extended to the Rev. Oscar Blundell, of Tc Aroha. The call was very largely signed. It was sustained by the Taranaki Presbytery at its meeting in June, and accepted by Mr. Blundell; the date of induction, at his desire, being fixed for August 10, at 3 p.m. The membership roll contains 1-10 names, as against 144 last year. During the year nine were received by profession of faitli and six by certificate, while 12 names have been transferred to other districts, two removed by death, and five removed from other causes. AVe regretfully record the death of our .senior elder, Air. John Handy, who now belongs to the Church Triumphant. The session have placed on record their sympathy and their appreciation of the faithful life of their departed friend. AA'o have also to record the death of Captain Robert F. C. Scott, a, member of onr congregation, who made the supreme sacrifice at the front fighting for his King and country, and in the cause of righteousness. His name has been placed upon onr Roll of Honour, and to his relatives and friends the Session extend their sincere sympathy on the early death of so promising a young man. Among those who left the district during the year was onr auditor, Mr. P. Al. Cameron, in whose place Air. Norman Balharry has boon appointed. The choir suffered loss by the resignation of its organist, Aliss A. 11. Smith, on her marriage to Mr. Percy l-rodric. The duties of organist are being carried out by three meipbovs of the choir, to whom the thanks of the congregation arc due. On the appointment of Mr. C. E. Perkins to the Home Aiission charge of AVaitara, Air. Alexander Cathro wap appointed superintendent of the Sabbath School. Air. N. K. AlacDiarmid was appointed to represent the Session in Presbytery for a further 12 months. The Sacrament of thg Lord’s Supper was observed twice during the year —on August 21). 1010. and April Id, i 017; the attendance being 119 and do on the respective occasions. As the services of the Interim Moderator, the Rev. Ern. cst Culliford, are drawing to a close, the thanks of the congregation arc due. to him for his oversight of the charge during tho long vacancy. Thanks are also cine, to the preachers in supply of the pulpit, who have done their work and carried out their duties to the appreciation of tho congregation. REPORT OP MANAGERS. Air. AA r . Simcock read the following report;—Your committee met fourteen times during the year. The balancesheet shows that we started tho year with a credit balance of £lB 2s Id, and closed with a. debit balance of £-16 Us 9d. Tho managers consider this satisfactory, as the debt on the Manse has been reduced by £SO, and tho church lias been repaired and painted at a cost of £SO 6s Bd. Sabbath collections amounted to £259 9s 6d. Reference to the last published balance-sheet shows that these have fallen off £3O 11s lOcl for tho year. There are 15S sittings in the church, of which 144 arc let, leaving 14 which may he re-let; tho revenue received was £B4 10s, a decrease of £-2 2s 6d on last year’s revenue; outstanding amounts for three quarters and over are £ll 12s 6(1, of which amount £1 15s is doubtful. Rents received from church properties amounted to £42 10s, a decrease of £4 13s 6d for tho year. The envelope system roll numbers 40; there has been a slight falling-off during the year, through - members leaving the district and other causes. The managers strongly commend the system to all the members of the church, because it is a Christianlike way to contribute to the upkeep of tho church and tho furthering of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Very hearty thanks are due to tho Ladies’ Guild for a donation of £SO for reduction of the debt on the Alanso. You will 'bo called upon to elect four new committeemen to fill the places of Alessrs. D. Penman and H. M’Murray. who resigned, and J. S. Leitch and AV. Simcock, who retire by rotation. SABBATH SCHOOL .REPORT. The Sunday School report (Miss AV. Rea, secretary) was as follows:—The year has closed with an increasing attendance., new pnpils being enrolled almost every Sabbath. The average attendance for the year was 88. AVe have lost the sendees of several teachers during the year, and although wc have tho help of others who have come forward, yet our number is not made up and the Sunday School work is suffering. Alore helpers are urgently needed. Our receipts for the year were £42 8s 4jd and expenditure £35 11s Id, leaving a credit balance of £6 17s 3{d. During the year wc subscribed £4 2s 6d to patriotic funds and £3 7s to the , church painting fund. A picnic was held during tho summer and was much appreciated by the scholars. Tho Sunday School was fortunate in having tho Rev. Palgravo Davy (mi.ssioner to the. “'Children’s Special Service Aiission”) for the anniversary services this year. Those who arc working in the Sabbath School have confidence that the coining ( year will (D.y.O he a successful one.

LADIES’ GUILD REPORT. This report (Mrs. Ewing, secretary) was as follows:—Wo have to record another fairly successful year. Our meetings have boon held weekly, and 32 have been attended in the year, with a break from December 20, 1016, until March 28, 1017. During this time several Red Cross teas have been held at the homes of our members and have been a means of raising a good sum of Dioncy for patriotic purposes. During August about 80 garments were •sent in for the Two Garment Society for Belgians. Tho guild members held a farewell afternoon to Airs. Rnseve.tre, our late president, at the residence of Airs. Sinclair, and a pleasant time was spent. A. gift evening was held on November 2 ; about 40 attended, bringing suitable gifts for our sale of work, and £2 2s Gd in money was also donated. The sale of work was held on November 9 for one afternoon and evening only. It realised £3.3 19s Id. which is considered fairly .good, as tho attendance was not as good as we would have liked. A pared of garments left over was sent to rhe Waitara f'liureh. Tho sum of £3O was paid over to the Board of Managers towards reducing the debt on the Manse ; £3 was sent to missions, and £3 to the Wellington Orphanage. Our members have been sewing for patriotic purposes from March 28 until June 30, and all funds have been given to the same purpose. A concert to supplement this fund was held on May 17 and realised £7 Lis 6tl. We have a large parcel of clothing in hand ready to. send to the Patriotic Committee. Our tea money from July o to November 22, 1013, amounted to £S I3s, 2d. Subscriptions £1 Ss and donations £G 7s wore received during the year. GENERAL. Mr. H. Cocker, in rending the report of the Senior Young Men’s Bible Class, mentioned that members of the ntiicr Bible classes of tho province had been invited to a. rally to bo held at New Plymouth on Labour Day, and the congregation would ho asked to accommodate the visitors during their stay. Mr. N. Balharry was appointed auditor for the ensuing year. Mr. MacDinnuid and Miss Taunt were re-elected reresentatives on the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Selection Committee was til an lied for its work during rhe year. On tho motion of Mrs. Bruce and Mrs. Evans, the choir were thanked fei their services. A hearty vote of thanks to Die Ladies’ Guild was proposed by Mr. Mao Diarmid. seconded by Dir. Cathro, and carried. The Moderator moved that the officers of ail organisations connected wirn the church he accorded the eoiigregaliou’s warm thanks.—Seconded by Miss Flight and canned. Mr. Ogle moved that at future annual meetings supper should he provided by the managers.—Seconded by, Mrs. M’Whirtor and carried. Tho' mooting .closed with the p.onounccment of tho Benediction.