PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 5971, 21 August 1912, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MTDETING>|MD SOCIAL. Tlio annual business meeting and social in connection with the Lawrence Presbyterian Church was held in the Sunday School Hall on Friday evening when there jyas a wry largo attendance o£ members, adherents, and friends, the sitting capacity of the room being taxed to ite utmost capacity. Tho Bev. IJ.1 J . C. lJurward, Mi. A., presided, arid with him an the

platform were the lltevs. CI. Millar (Milton), J. S. Ponder (Waitahuna), W. Watson (Methodist, Jjawivnoc-j, and Mr Pate, missinnai'v at Tuapeka West.

The proceedings having been opened by siting of an anthem by the Choir and prayer. The Chairman made a few appropriate remarks in the couiso of which he emphasised the importance of due attention to the spiritual side ol Church work and the necessity for members ind 1 adherents (young and old) taking an active interest in the Various organisations which they had established (within tho congregation for the promoting and thickening oi the spiritual life oi the Church. The minutes of the previous annual meeting having been coiulirmed, The reports from the various committee:; were submitted.

Mr J.'". Wvian (secretary) read the managers' report which noted thati there had been an increase in iliu ordinary Church door collections of 137, in the Sus testation Fund oi HU and in seat rents £(>; that had been contributed to the various missions and J-3'i to various Church connections and charitable institutions.

Mr John Edic „read the re|.> tpi thu Kirk Session which contai .... record ol the spiritual work of iJu. . hureh during the past year, Inter r. m, it noted that the bacraiiuut oi the Lord's Supper' had been ih.-peusod four times at the various centred, the average attendance beiu_ U5 ; the loss to the Blue Spur congny.in.n ( >i ~i. John Christie, sen., and the appointment oi Messrs John Christie, jun., and J. Mcli. Miller as eiders at Blue Spur j the appreciation* of the services of Messrs \ ivian, l£die, Miller, Stenhuuse and cithers in taking service* at the various centres; that [irm.i nt, tings were well attended as also was the Bible Class ; that the Choir (under Miss Robertson) was reukriuir excellent service in the praise oi the ' Church and thanked Mrs Wright for acting as organist ot the prayer meeting; acknowledged the self-sacri-ficing services oi the oniniy teachers in the various Sundav Sclmols throughout the charge; expressed sy,inputnv with those who had suilered bereavement during the year, and referred to the translation of the liev. R. S. Allan to the Musselburgh charge during the year and the satisfactory settlement of the Rev. p. 0. Dunvard. Mr John McCrae (convener) read the report of the Sustentation Fund Committee. This showed that the number of contributors had been increased ; that several bad augmented their subscriptions a ivd that the total amount received during the past war showed an increase of about .C 9 011 the previous year. Mr Bowie, ib preseutinij tlu report oi the Seat Letting Committee, expressed his thanks to the members of the congregation for their generous response in connection with the Committee's appeal for taking up oi (more seats. There had turn a considerable addition to the number of seat holders, and it was cojjlidently expected that tho income from this source would be much greater in the coming year than had been in the past.

j\lr D. Walker read the report on the Sunday Schools which was of a very satisfactory nature, and indicated that this department o! (.'hutch work was in the hands ol a stall of enthusiastic teachers ; that Cl2 of the contributions had been devoted to missions ,md f A to the Orphanage, and that the con 41 ~1 ■ was greatly indebted to iMr A. Campbell for the musieal training of tin■ children.

The secretary of the PJW.M/U. reported an active and harmonious year's work ; that £3O c.f the amount raised by their ellorts had been donated to missions ar.d a parcel of clothing donated to Sister Alison ior distribution among the Maoris, and that the Cnion was indebted to an anonymous donor for the gift of a new White sewing machine.

The liabilities (which included sundry accounts)' were estimated at £26 and the assets at- £92, leaving a credit balance of £66 Os 3d. On the motion of' Messrs D. Mcintosh and W. Anderson, the reports e.nd( fealance-sheet were received and adopted, 'both gentlemen expressing their appreciation of their satisfactory charaoter.

The Managemeat Committee. It -was announced that there were fir« vacancies in the Committee oi

Management—four due toi,U> B yearly proportional retirement and one by resignation—and tk« following gentlemen were nominated to liii u« »acancies S. Ledlie, C. Stores, 1). liirkpatrick, ;W. G. Ataliiniay, iA. ilobertson, Jf. Martin, A. MjcCorkindaie, and J* H. Pearson, To 'avoid the L-iine necessary for the taking oi a ballot the Uhaioman announced thai sups would be printed and circulated at the services on Sunday, these to be returned by members .and adherents on the following Sunday. Messrs Andrew and Alex. McLean were re-appointed auditors. Addresses.

■Alter the business pwtion of the meeting had 'been disposed ol a very interesting and instructive a<nJicss was given by the iiev. Mi- Millar who after congratulating the congregation upon the nappy settlement of the iiev. Mr -jjurward as their pastor and upon the spirit of gimlness ana j»u ( , iulneis that pervaded the various reports submitted went on to speak ol ■ the necessity of a thorough de\ elopI nient of .all our powers—physically, J mentally, and spiritually. The lievs. Ponder and Watson, who also spoke, coulined their remarks to those of a congratulatory nature with a few suggestions as io how tiiey'oi the pews might strengthen and,uphold the hands of then' minister by prayer and by taking an active part in the spiritual work of the Church.

During the course oi the e-.-unig a very enjoyable musical programme was submitted by the members oi the Choir. This included the anthems " I Was Glad," and " Come Thou Fount," and the following- vocal solois : " When Night is Darkest," iilrs Blair"An Old World Serenade," Miss Yraan ; "The Last Muster," Miss Brown; "The Pilot" Mr C. Stokes junr.; " Sincerity," Miss Edie ; and " The Star of Bethlehem," Mr A. Campbell.

Votes ol Thanks. Cordial .votes-of thanks were passed to the speakers, on the motior.l u! Mr W. G. McKinlay; to the Choir and those who had assisted in the musical programme (Mr Edit"), and to the ladies for providing the refreshments (Mr Hecnan). After a generous supply of refreshments had been < served the proceedings were brought to a close ry 1 pronouncing of the Benediction.

Ueceipls. Church doer collections £240 2 9 Special Collections Destitute Women a iid Children (English strike) U 1 5 Aged and Infirm Ministers 5 0 0 Assembly Expenses .... 6 0 0 Knox College Patients' and Prisoners' 2 13 0 ' Aid 6 0 0 Sundayschool Prizes ... 7 13 3 Donations Prize Fund 3 0 0 S. /School Collections ... 15 12 6 Boys' Bible OlaBS , 2 '6 8 P.W.JI.II., for Missions Rants, hall and section ... 10 0 0 5 5 0 Seat Rents 52 in 0 Sustentution FundLawrence 99 116 6 Blue Spur ' 33 16 11 Clarks Flat . 1(7 4 <7 Wetherstones 8 11 3 General Treasurer 22 10 A Manso Graijt 13 0 0 Proceeds Rev. Ponder's lecture 5 16 6 Bonations 5 18 6 ■Subscriptions Break of Day 1 0 0 Mai 18 10 Balance 1911 £16 2 8 Stipend 23»7 10 0 Pulpit supply and train fares 40 8 6 •Refunds Reus. Allan and Durward 27 6 3 Church Officer 30 7 6 Organist 18 15 0 Rates and Insurances .... 16 19 4 Susten.tat.ion Fund 28 10 0 Sunday School prizes and picnic) 13 18 4 Aged and Infirm] Ministers 5 0 0 Assembly Expenses 6 0 0 Patier.ts and Prisoners' Aid 6 0 0 Destitute Women and Children 11 1 5 Knox College 2 13 0 Missions 33 0 0 Repairs -and Improvements 12 15 8 Repairs to Organ ,.... 3 5 0 Presbytery Expenses .. .. 2 15 0 SSundav School 10 3 9 Advertising and Printing 4 U 0 Interest and Bank charge 2 2 0 Lighting 12 7 0 Exchange and cheque book 6 '6 Rent of Reserve 4 0 Balance 46 16 11 Toital £591 18 10