RIVERTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Western Star, 26 October 1917, Page 2

RIVERTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual congregational meeting and social was held in Moire’s Hall on Wednesday, 24th hist. The Rev. C. A. Gray, M.A., occupied the chair. There was a large attendance, the hall being' filled to its utmost capacity. The reports of the Session and Deacon’s Court wore received, and these showed conclusively that the spiritual tone of the congregation was at a very high level and the finance in a very satisfactory condition, an addition of £SO having been added to the stipend ffund for the last -year. The ordinary missionary efforts were well sustained, more than £'Bo having been subscribed for these objects. The congregation are to be congratulated on another year’s successful work.

The Session, in presenting their annual report on the work of the congregation, desires to acknowledge with thankfulness the goodness and mercy that have followed them during the year. The Minister has under his pastoral care about 450 persons, to whom his ministrations both in the 1 pulpit and in the hoim© are a source of edification, comfort, and spiritual help. The roll of church members is now 139, an increase of 3 on last year. The Deacons’ Court has suffered a severe loss in the death of Mr Andrew Hall, whose long connection with the congregation and whose ripe experience made him a highly valued man of affairs in the church courts. His place will be hard to fill. The Session would extend their sympathy to his widow and family. Two other members of the church have passed away during the year, these being Mrs Learmont and Mrs J. O. Thomson. Mention may also be made here of Mr James Fullarton, who recently passed away at Otautau at the great age of 89 years. Mr Fullarton, who was well known to a former generation, had am important and honourable share, as an office-bearer and Superintendent of Sunday School for many years, in establishing and fostering the Riverton church in the earlier days of its existence. “He rests from his labours, and his works do follow him.”

Church Service. —At the half-yearly Communions, about 70' per cent, of the members on the roll have sat down at the Lord’s Table. The services , every Lord’s Day are well attended throughout the parish, the evening service at Riverton being specially well attended. The morning service is regularly carried on, although the attendance is often meagre enough. The Session desire to thank Messrs Borland, Laurie, Maofarlane, Patrick, and Campbell for their willing and zealous assistance at this

service. Sunday Schools. The Sunday School at Riverton has a roll of 41, with an average attendance of 30. The roll ■is not so large a» it was two years ago, but all the families with children of school age are represented in the school. The school is well served by 5 teachers who faithfully discharge the work they have voluntarily undertaken. Mix’ W>, Scobie. who has been so long associated with the Sunday School as a teacher, lias been, obliged to retire. The Session desires to thank him heartily for his past services, and hopes that he will soon be able, to re rune his work in the cause of the children. The death of Miss Paukhurst removes' another teacher who had a long connection with the S.S'. Miss Pankburst’s work in S. S. was indeed a service of love, and in spite of failing health .she maintained her post to within almost a year of her death. Her memory will be long cherished for her ungrudging; and faithful service for; the children. The S.S. at Thornbury, under Mr Campbell, as superintendent, assisted by two. teachers., has a. roll of 25, the average attendance being 21. At Flint’s Bush S.S. is carried on by Miss McLean, assisted by Miss Haywood, who have 9 children under their care. At Groper’.si Bush there is a roll of 14 children under the charge of Mr Macfarlane, assisted by Miss Officer. There is thus. a. total roil number of 89 children in the S.S. .of the parish, with an average attendance of 70. The Session desires to thank the teachers for their untiring zeal in the instruction of the children in the principles of religion, and they are also, gratified to know, on the testimony of the teachers, that parents gratefully recognise the work done on behalf of their children. A fair number of children sat for the Assembly Examination. The results have now come to hand, and, Children's Day will be observed on Sunday, 4th November, when the minister will address the children and distribute the prizes. Mr and Mrs J. 0. Thomson generously donated the snim of £25 to be, invested, and the interest applied to purchase prizes, to be given annually, in memory of their son Charlie, who died on service. An examination in Scripture was. held for the purpose in June, and 7 boys and girls were, awarded the. prizes then won.

The Session would also express their gratification at the notion taken hy the Deacons' ' Cc-uri 'to increase the

coni I'ihutions (.«»• thet Siistentaiion Fund, and their thanks to the. people' for the ready response they made to the. appeal, the result being £57. Bible Classes. —A Young Women’s Bible Class was formed at Thornbnry under the leadership of Miss Doogan. It meets regularly every Tuesday afternoon, and is very ■well attended. Mrs Gray’s Junior Girls’ Class.— This class started in July, 1916, with 6 in attendance, and was kept up till the end of the year, after which the class failed to re-asseinhle. Good work was done in. the study of the Gospels, special attention being given to instruction and exhortation to

personal l consecration to Christ. The Session views with concern the present indications of contentment with church attendance as fulfilling the Christian obligation, and strongly impresses upon young people and their parents the importance of decision for Christ, and of training in Scripture knowledge and service of the Bible Class as an indispensable adjunct to the worship of the sanctuary. Prayer Meeting. This meeting since the beginning of the war has been primarily devotional and iutercessional, with short addresses on the story of Peter. The attendance has been confined to about' 20. As till© prayer meeting is the spiritual barometer of the church, it is to be regretted that so large a number of church members and adherents absent themselves from a service so personally beneficial, and, in war time, of such importance in view of our national need. Choirs. —The thanks of the Session are due to those who have so faithfully led the congregations, in the worship of praise, and expressly the organist for a labour of love so willingly discharged. —P.W.M.U. Report.—

The P.W.M.U. and Ladies Guild held their annual sale of work in November, when the total takings were £46 17s 3d. Twenty pounds of this sum were donated to missions. Twenty pounds were added to the Sunday School Building Fund, leaving a balance of, about £7 ini hand. The P.W.M.U. meets on the* second Friday of each month. The Ladies’ Sewing Guild meets weekly. Both these meetings are held in the vestry. The Ladies Sewing Guild donates £3 yearly for material for the Dunedin Orphanage, arid to this many private gifts are added, and thus- two large boxes of clothing were forwarded during the year to the orphauag,e. The matron said, in acknowledging them, that “ the Riverton boxes were always the best that came to the Home.” The Committee review with deepest regret the death on July last of their able and faithful secretary, Miss Pankhurst, who had been with them .since the inauguration of this branch ten years ago. They gratefully acknowledge her kind gift of £2O to the funds of the P.W.M.U. Miss McCallum takes her place as secretary. It is gratifying to not© that the funds of this society, which fell off considerably the first year of the war, have steadily increased each year since, while Hue membership of 39 has-continued the same.

The congratulations of the Presby-* tory were conveyed by the Rev. Robertson, of Limestone Plains, the visiting minister, who in his address gave prominence tp the practical side of church membership and the unity of effort that should characterise the relations of pew and pulpit. Thereafter the meeting was purely social, anthems were rendered by the choir and musical selections by Miss, and Messrs Nut tall. Miss Southberg’s rendering of the song, “ The Swallows,” was most effective, and gave great pleasure to the audience. Mr Gray also sang, and contributed in a great degree to the pleasure of the evening, whilst the ladies provided an excellent supper. Tu the course olf the evening Mr Gray took the opportunity of presenting to Mr Borland a cheque, to be expended on books, as a. slight token of the congregation’s appreciation of his willing services as lay preacher. Though at the disposal of his own church for Sunday services, Mr Borland had generously been taking bis turn with their own elders in the morning service at Riverton,

Mr Borland feelingly replied, and signified his willingness to continue his monthly service. After the usual votes of thanks the meeting closed with the National Anthem. Opinion has been freely expressed that this, has been one of the most pleasant meetings in the history of the congregation.