CHALMERS CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14275, 16 August 1910, Page 3

CHALMERS CHURCH.

'ANNUAL MEETING. 'l'lie following ia the gist of the reports and balance-sheet to be presented at the annual meeting of Chalmers Presbyterian Church this evening:— The Pastor, the Kcv. A. Mncauhiy Caldwell extends Jtis warmest apprecia"tiou ior all the kindly interest manifested towards himself, and ior the encouragement and help shown in his wunc. The attendance at. and the interest m, the services of the church had been most stimulating and helpful. 'J he Session in their eighth annual report refer to the. long and trying vacancy, and express thankftilnss 'thai at last they have got a settled minister v.'ho, during the few months he has been with them has endeared himself to tie congregation, and bv bis marked ability i„ t l, e vu } pitt alH f ] ljs arduous labours amongst the people, has shown mat he is just the man thev had been waiting ior. They report that'the morning services continue to be well attended, the short address to the children being a special feature which ovidentlv interests, and should benefit then; I hey teel it is regrettable that more of the young oi the congregation are not present in the morning "to hear these addresses, the older people all express their appreciation of them. The evening services were usuallv so crowded that it was often difficult to lind seating accommodation for the numbers intending. During the vear a number oi highly esteemed members of ihe church passed away, among them, being two active members of the -Messrs George Knowlos and Alex. Siii-c-lair, while one of the Deacons Mr Pomildson. had also gone to his rest Owing to the death of two of the elders and to the increase in the congregation, it was decided to add six more'members to their number, and the following were elected, and inducted:—Messrs T. Charteris, G. T. Dawson. B. Evans. A. .Eraser, J Hutchison, and A. Irvine. When the call was tendered to the Rev. A. Maeaulay Caldwell the communion roll was oT-l, and since, then 11)8 had joined, 28 by profession, and 8(1 bv certilicate. The disjunctions had been hy death G. by removal 32. thus leaving at the end of the year 38-1 in full coin" niunion. Tho.ro- wevr 19 baptisms and l-i marriages during the year. Appreciation is recorded of the services of Pcv. MrMacd.ouald, of Temtika. who acted as -Moderator during the vacancy and of Pev. .Mr Buchanan"? who conducted Ihe services at Claremont and Washdyke. and attended to the pastoral work of the Church. Mr. Buchanan having resigned some little time ago. the regular services at Claremont and Y\ashdyke have been discontinued., but Mr. Caldwell had volunteered to take an occasional service at Yfashdvke. pending arrangements being made/ which are now under consideration b>' the Timaru Presbytery, to settle a minister to work these outlying districts. Jhe Deacons' Court has offered to pay a portion of the salarv of such a. minister, but the support promised for this object by the neople in these districts iS so trilling that it is feared tno scheme will fall through in which ease the Session deem it inadvisable to burden ilr. Caldwell with the extra strain of the "Wnshdyko services, and will require again to consider the matter. The Session recorded their gratitude to the f nnei-iiuendents of the Bible Classes and Sunday Schools, to the teachers, and to all who are unselfishly workin<" in the other church organisations. Mr Irvin Moore continued to discharge his duties as organist with marked'abiiitv and success During the year a, handsome brass tablet had been placed in the vestibule ol the church as n memorial to their late revered minister, Pev Robert dackson. ThiSi together with Lhe new Sabbath, school class rooms and completed hall, would help to keen green the memory of one who did so | much hit- Cindmers Church. The I Session are deeply grateful to Mr John ; .WoKae. treasurer, Mr C G Mur"in clerk of the Deacons' Court, and tol/r i David Shaw, who represented the i ciiuicu at the meetings of the PreshvI terv.

J he Deacons' Court reported that the general account commenced with a debit balance ol £122 Ss 2d. The collections amounted to £IO2O 10s Sd 3 an average ot £l9 ,12s Gd per Sunday, as compared with an average of £l7 9s last year. ..Iter paying all current expenses, there i.-' a debit Imianec. of £lB2 6s 3d £ll2 Us v.-.is paid in interest or. debentures | and bank account, being £l o 18s Sd less than last year. Ono £2O debenture Ilad been pan! off; £2G 3s was paid for interest, rate:;, and insurance, on the Manso property. To perpetuate the memory of the late respected minister, -Uar Koberu .Jackson, the young people resolved t„ collect funds for the'eoniplotiort oi the f ,urc!i Hall and Sun lay School. Mr. Turnbull prepared plans and a contract was let to Mr T Prim'',: to complete tlie ] 1: dl at a cost of .ffo'l Os. towards this amount £336. 7s Gd has been collected, and to date £o3o 'v^ l °'f ,J '" ?11 } l ' U ' ID: '-. Other receipts \\ i b J f "fr 8 IOT reduction of church «eft £34 7s 3d, Ladies' Guild bazaar and sales of work £•>] I 1-v - .ec.ial and social £ly o* 3d Col cHanis lor- lli|ss:<>!iai-v purposes .(•-.- edin The Court peitA m Harper Street for „. Maii=e Vt a cost or £1101), of wldcOr £2OOVs been paid. Tiiey were unable to procure suitable property nearer t lio <•! rch I<|S botn ratiioi- Jieavy—improving V( , n _ fundi in piano h,re. The total revenue from all sources was £1863 8s J>oL 10 Q g , rOSS debt >w«- stands at to,b_ 6s del, as against £2042 Ss o c i ] ( ?s fc y°'"'-_ Tll . e assets over liabilities are Report?, from the Bible Classes and schools give evidence of a. satisfactorv year.-lhe inam Sabbath school Superintendent, Mr A. Davie, was owin/r fo ill-health, compelled to resign Air Black acted as superintendent ruV*oiv° time, but on his removal from Thnaru' the work has been taken no by Mr Mckenzie, who has proved \, capable and unergeti,, mipcrintemlont. The roll number was 1!) U. an<l the aver-m-e attendance 133. The Washdvke and ' TighheW schools, with roll number* of

44 and 43 were both in a creditable condition. The Young Men's Bible Class, under the leadership of Mr Dalglish, and the Young AY omen's Class, under Mrs. Caldwell, were both doing good work, but it is felt that under such able leaders, a very much larger number of the young people should attend. —At the annual meeting of the Ladies' Guild, it was unanimously agreed to disband. The, thanks of the congregation, says the Session report, are due to these ladies for their splendid work in. the past, avjd they have no doubt that ladies will continue in some other direction their efforts for good on behalf of the Church. —Mention is also made of the year's work of this church's branch of the "Women's Missionary "Union.