TRINITY CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13665, 6 August 1908, Page 2

TRINITY CHURCH.

MEETING OF MEMBERS. The annual meeting of Trinity Church was lield last evening, the Rev. Tiros. Stinson, 8.A., being m'the chair, there was a. good attendant*:. The report of .Session stated: —: "Another period in our Church life has passed, our report this time: covering one vear and eight months, the end oi the financial year being changed from olst October to 30th Jmie. Wo seek as usual to notice something of the .progress of our congregation. We would ■ first of ail ixpress our deep gratitude to Uod for ail the goodness and mercy that have followed us at all tunes, ihe communion nas beta dispensed 7 times, with; an average attendance of 176. Early last year we thought it well to revise the communion roll. A number of members Jiaving left l he district without asking for certificates it was decided that though still'entitled to certificates they should not be counted jus active members, and' in this way io nanus were removed from the roll. Since then several others have left in the same way, but their names, as yet, remain on the" roll. The additions to the roil have been by examination 12, by certificate 19, total 31. There have been : 10 disjunctions and 4 deaths. The roll: number how stands at 301. There haw-been 20 baptisms. Messrs Blair.'-and,-Irwin, two of am senior members of session, found it necessary, on account of age and failing strength to resign office, and their resignations were accepted with regret. The decided to adopt the system of the election of: elders for a, period of 3 years, the- first • election on this plan took place this year, _. when Messrs Rockel, Cunningham,- Martin, and Chisholm, were elected.. Since that election another of our oldest and most zealous members, Mr Huiton, lias sent in his resignation, feeling no longer able for the duties of the office, and this also was accepted with much regret. ...The anniversary services in October were conducted by the Rev.-H. B. Gray, of Dunedin. The church services morning and evening were instructive and helpful, as was' also the children's services in the afternoon. Good congregations were present) at - all these. Instead of the usual conversazione, a lecture on Crockett and- his works was given by Mr Gray, and was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience. The' attendance at' public worship-, has been fairly well'maintained, although we think there is room for inrproveinerit; at:tbei morning service. The different organisations of-the Church report for themselves, ..but we wish to notice the loss sustained by the Bible Classes in Mr Valentine having left. us after a long and successful leadership,-.and. tvo would express. our warm 'appreciation of' Miss Garrshbre's actionin/assuming the leadership of the Young Women's Class. To all the workers of the congregation we offer our heartiest thanks, and close .with the prayer that in the year we have begun they and we may be more faithful - and successful than ever we have been in the past." ' .: v ' ' " The report of the Deacons' Court stated " The balanre sheet as printed shows the receipts and expenditure, for 20 'months, ending 30th June, 1908. An interim balance sheet for eight months was presented at bust annual meeting showing a debit of £ll2 2s 2d. This .-year' the debit is £l3O 18s 2d, but since the close of."jjhe year moneys then due have been received amounting to £lB lis Od, so that it can be said that ■ the financial position remains practically -the same as for last. year. The total income' from all sources for the 20 months has been £1641 0s 4d, but the 'expenditure exceeded that amount by. about £7O. A noteworthy feature in the balance sheet is that no less than £B9 16s 2d has been 'specially subscribed to mission work and remitted to the general treasurer in Wei-, lington for disbuiseinent among-the various mission schem-ts of the Church. lluring the year a. home missionary has been maintained at Cullmannlown . his salary being raised chiefly , through special subscriptions, but the support from local residents ha-.s not come up to expectations,' and i- has reluctantly boen decided to recommend the discontinuance of the support ■of the resident missionary, though .the services will still be maintained./ ■ The'.Court.'-acknowledges' with thanks the receipt of special donations of £6 from Messrs -John' Mill' and Co., and £6 from the choir. In conclusion it must be pointed put that though our financial position is sound, the Dea cons' Court wishes • to impress , upon the congregation the necessity for more liberal and regular giving, because the gradual reduction of the debt'on the Church must be steadily kept in view:." In. the references were hio-de'to the caiTj'ing .on of the .services at Fairview, Salisbury, and G'.eniti: • The Sabbath ~.School at" Trinity had a- roll' of 66, the South school 80, and Gullmanntown 94.-- .Thirty-eight scholars sat for the Assembly : examination; 2 "obtaining first class marks, 22 second .dare and 14.third class. .-'Details:., werei also given .of the : work of the P.W.M.U.,; the choir (membership '32, special mention being made of the loss of ills. C. E. K-prr, whose absence "was keenly, felt), of the- Young Women's and Young Men's Bible Classes, and the Christian.Endeavour.,Society. \The reports were takeny as read and were severally adopted.. -In the .ensuing discussion several ;pei;sons spoke,- v and. the | general tone of their, remarks was one of satisfaction with the w;brk■'.-, bt ; the_ : church,' .with regrets- for the;attendances. '. ' Mr R. 'Cuthbert, withy the Ses-' sioh report)' said there had been nothing sensational since last" report,, but : some good quiet work had been done: : Mr. Sthieon had been faiihfuliu.his ministry,; and had attained a high sUndard in itlre. 'pulpit,' and almost every \uight ..-in the week lie was doing some work for jllie church.. " Mr Cuthberl, referred' to -the, fact that three elders hadV.; retired, ..afterserving for over. 20 years ;. flity Were, retiring with the best 'wishes of ."thevcongregation. He thought there could; beiy an'-; 1 improvement in the attendances at; ...public ] worship. :,,...:; Mr MoNab. and Rev. T, dorsed the remarks concerning the- retir-■ ing elders, and "the latter agreed "*. that tlieattendances alb' public worship and weeknight prayer meetings might be'better. . Mr McXab, -dealing with finances, explained the present position and said that, to come out on the right side'next year, it would be necessary for the congregation to subscribe £ls weekly. •• This would meet requirements 'and"-, wipe ■ off the overdraft. . '.','■' Mr Stinson'drew a;ttentios to the fact that the elders recommended the discontinuance of the maintainingof a home mis-' ■sionary at' Cullmantown> and Mr Rockel after explaining how Mr' Cuttle, and later Mr Chisholm had been • appointed, to this sub-charge,' stated that the expenses weregreater than the receipts, and! he regret-ted-the results were not what had Deeif anticipated, and 1 though it was right - in the first place.that' the experiment shouldhe tried the congregation were not justified in spending: so much'money upon it.. .Mr Chisholm had received « call to Southland, and'in future the services, would ba maintained by laymen. Mr P. .'Miller, "regretted . thaifc .the attendance of pupils was smaller, at the main .Sabbath' school than at either the-south or Cullmanntown schools; also that the number- of scholars who sat ...'at.'the'--As - sembly's examinations, was only 38, a drop ofeleven over last year. In connection with the rolls . of -:the schools Mr Stinson said it was die experience of most town schools to lose pupils to the suburban ones, around- which..there were bigger resident populations. '.'.■■'', " RefereiiL'es were made by Mr Stinson, Mrs McCahon, and Messrs J.'..Miller, E. Cuthhert, R. H. Rockel, and D.. Donald-' son, to the good work' of the Mission

Union, the choir, Bible aud Christian; Endeavbur Classes. -'. ~ A discussion was provoked by Mr wi--Gabon who proposed that in future the evening services should commence at p.m. instead of 6.30 p.in. H« believed that by making the change there would be better attendencts. - Mr Keruohan secouded tins, and thought it wise to trv the experiment. He humorously suggested that the congregation could be out of church just as early as those of other churches. • Mr -T. D. Young thought the idea, a, good one as far as summer was concerned, while Mr Cuthbert advised caution, and! asked if Mr McCahon would withdraw his motion. To this Mr McCahon said he did not wish the meeting to decide the matter, but to make a recommendation to the Session. The motion was put- and rejected, on the voices. Votes of thanks to all 1h» church aud school workeis, to the, donors of contributions, to Mr D. Stuart, for his services as auditor, to Jtiie minister and to Mrs Stinson brought the business of the meeting to a close, and alter partaking of refreshments provided by, the ladies, Hie congregation dispersed.