CHURCH MEETINGS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14716, 4 August 1921, Page 6

CHURCH MEETINGS

ST. ANDREW'S, HAMILTON, The annual congregational meeting of the above church was held last evening. There was a large attendance, and the minister (Rev. R. Mackie; presided. The meeting was opened with devotional exercises. In a foreword to the reports. Rev. R. !tlackie thanked the congregation for the sympathy, kindness and help accorded lo him and his during the year. He pointed out the difficulties of the charge and the physical impossibility of doing the pastoral work efficiently. In these matters he asked for the sympathy and co-operation of the congregation, and concluded with a feeling reference to the loss sustained by the session clerk ( Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid) during the year in the death of his wife. The session report, submitted by Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid (clerk), showed that steady progress had been made, the attendance at the services showing a marked improvement. A tribute was paid to Mr Pascoe (choirmaster) and the. members of the choir for the improvements effected in the psalmody. The Sabbath school and Bible Classes. P.W.M.U., the Ladies' Guild and the Girls' Auxiliary bad all rendered excellent service in ttieir respective spheres, while the cause at Gordonton had nourished, for which Mr John McGregor was largely instrumental. A member of the church, Mr D. M. Osborne, had volunteered for foreign mission wort*, and was now undergoing a course of preparatory training at the Moody Institute, Chicago. Keeling reference was made to the deaths of Mrs Osborne and Mrs Redmond, which'had occurred during the year, and the session placed on record its appreciation of the services rendered during many years past by Mr James Primrose, who has severed his connection with the congregation. As the cause was growing, the congregation would soon have to face the question of securing an assistant minister, as it was impossible for Rev. A. Mackie to overtake the work. The names of 54. persons had been added to the roll — 39 by certificate and 15 by profession of faith, whiie 14 disjunction certificates virt been issued. The average attendmce at tiie communion services was 188. The sacrament of baptism had been administered to 23, one being an adult.

Mr Bade submilted the report of the management commiltee, which showed that the financial affairs of the congregation were satisfactory. Plans have been prepared for a new Sunday-school building, but as the cost was estimated at £6OOO and the burden on the cuiigregation was now somewhat heavy the interest charges amounting to nearly £250 annually, it had been decided to let the complete scheme remain in abeyance for the present, but to erect two class-rooms and a kitchen as soon as the estimated cost (£1250) is in hand. Thanks to the energies of the choir a new organ had been installed in Ihe church without any call upon tlio ijoneral church fund.'

The treasurer (Mr E. L. Jones) submitted the statement of finances It showed that the year had opened with a credit of £146 10s 2d, and closed with one of£lS6 4s 4d. General collections for the year totalled £569 8s (St. Andrew's £538 lis 4'd, Newstead £3 7s, Tamahcre £l6, Roto tuna £ll 9s 8d), and the sustentation fund reached £397 8s 6d, while special collections for various schemes amounted to £56 4s 4(1. The revenue from all sources was £1216 0s Bd. The missions account showed that upwards of £l6O had been collected for the various fields. The Shore annuity fund has a credit of about £BO, whilst the Sunday-school building fund has £964 6s in hand. The'surplus of assets over liabilities was estimated, roughly, at £SOOO. The Sunday-school report (Mr A. J. Hargreaves, secretary), emphasised the need for additional accommodation, it being claimed that the school is the largest in the Auckland district, if not in the Dominion. The leaching staff numbers 44, the scholars totalling 407, an increase of 95. The primary classes were also growing. The branch school al Hamilton East was making good progress. The children had raised £l9 J9s 3d for the Canton village mission and £2 5s for the backblocks mission.

The report on the Gordonton branch church showed that it also had had a successful year. £lls being paid off the mortgage, leaving a debt of only £IOO on the property. The report of the P.W.M.U., the girls' auxiliary, the Bible classes and the choir were all of a most satisfactory nature, indicating that the officers and members were keen in their work and generous in their support of missions and other schemes of church activity.

The reports were adopted. It was decided to transfer an amount to the credit of the Church Debt Extinction Fund to the Sunday School Building Fund, provided no objections were raised by those who had contributed to the former fund. Mr David McGregor was appointed to the eldership. The election of six managers resulted in Ihe return of Dr. Douglas, Messrs Beaver, Coombes. Hargreaves, Harkness, and John McMiken. Mr Mac Diarmid on behalf of the office-bearers and congregation, made appreciative reference to the tactful and faithful work of Mr and Mrs Mackie. and Mr Mackie feelingly replied, thanking the office-bearers and the loyal band of workeirs for their co-operation and support. After the benediction had been pronounced, a dainty supper, proA'idcd by the ladies in the schoolroom adjacent, was partaken of.