CHALMERS CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15742, 28 August 1915, Page 6

CHALMERS CHURCH.

.ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of parish oners of Chalmers Church was held on Thursday night. The Rev. E. Harries, church pastor, presided, and there was a good attendance. The annual reports and financial statements were all printed and bound in a neat pamphlet of about five and twenty pages, which gave the members of the congregation a full review of the year's work. The financial year ends on 30th June. The Sessions' report referred first to the call of the Rev. Evan R. Harries, who was inducted on 15th October last. The membership is now 748, and church attendance has been well main- | tained. The report refers sympathetically to the deaths of members who have lost their lives in their country's cause—the list of such losses now numbering five. (Several of the reports refer with especial regret to the death of Mr W. D. Millar, who had been an active and valued member). The Young Men's and Young Women's Classes, and the Sabbath School, were flourishing, and the Mission Union had had a good year. Best thanks were due to the choir under Mr Axel Newton, and the work of tho Missionary Assistant, Mr S. J. Cooper, was honourably recognised in the Deacons' report. The Deacons' Court reported that the income had more than met the expenditure. The ordinary revenue amounted to £llsß, and there had been collected for special objects £332 —a total of £1490 for the year. Mission funds had been well cared for. about £l5O being raised for these. The debts on the properties total £2650. The Court, while recognising the steady flow of contributions, urged still greater liberality, and recommended the adoption of the envelope system. Mr S. J. Cooper, Home Missionary, had an encouraging report to make regarding Highfield, and the attendances at the district services—Rosewill, Washdyke, _ Glen-iti and Claremont—were fair, with the exception of Claremont. The reports of the Sunday Schools, Women's Missionary Union. Bible Classes, choir, and Laymen's Missionary Movement, were all cheerful in tone. _ Mr G. R. Joyce, in moving the adoption of the Session's report, referred to the very satisfactory progress the church had made during the year, and said that the congregation had been exceedingly fortunate in securing such a pastor as the Rev. E. Harries.— (Applause). Mr G. T. Dawson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Pa-ton proposed, and Mr Matthews seconded the adoption of the report of the Deacon's Court and the balance-sheet. Mr Young, clerk to the Deacon's Court, referred to the need for enlarging the hall they were in for Sunday school purposes. The Deacons had gone into the matter, but they considered the time inopportune for adding to the building owing to the high cost of building material. Mr Jennings emphasised the need for more room for the Sunday school scholars, as well as more teachers to assist in teaching them. Mr E. Porter, who had been away from New Zealand for six years, offered his hearty congratulations to the congregation on the splendid progress they had made during his absence. Mr A. Davey said there was a- real need for more room for the Sunday School, but he thought that until the war was over they could take some of the classes in the gallery of the church. The Chairman said there was a very pressing need for more room, and this was owing to the success of the Sunday school; they particularly wanted a large infant room; if thev had one as large as Chalmers Hall they could fill it with infants, and they wanted to be in a position to be able to say to all children: "Come along, we will find room for you." He suggested that perhaps the rich people of the congregation would provide the funds for providing additional accommodation. Mr Dawson said there was plenty of money for other purposes and there should be no lack of money for this object. It would be a great mistake to neglect the children who were the basic source of the church's strength. It was eventually decided to leave the matter to the Deacon's Court to call a congregational meeting to discuss the subject if they consider it of sufficient urgency at any time. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was carried. On the motion of Messrs Porter and Blair a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to all the church workers for their work of tho riast year. The Rev. Mr liar ries remarked that it was very pleasant to him to be associated with such a loyal and efficient band of church workers.

The resignation of Mr R. H. Bowie, as session clerk was received. Very flattering reference was made to Mr Bowie's long and useful service oh behalf of the church, and keen regret was expressed that be had found it necessary to resign. A motion was passed heartily thanking Mr Bowie, and expressing appreciation of his workThe Chairman paid a compliment to Mr Cooper on account of the good work he was doing in the outfields"and expressed the hope that lie would long continue to do equally good work. Mr Herries added a brief reference to the war with all that it meant, and said that individually and as a church they should prepare for the great testing time that was before them, the great object- being to prove how indispensable was the Church of God, and how valuable the gospel of -Jesus Christ. The last motion of the evening, and one which was carried with very hearty acclamation, was a vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Harries, wHiose good work in Timaru was warmly praised. A short but very enjoyable musical programme was gone through., after which refreshments were dispensed and the gathering dispersed at 10 p.m.'