ASHBURTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1744, 19 January 1888, Page 2

ASHBURTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

> The annual oongregatlonal meeting of \ ; the Aahburton Presbyterian Church wat held last night In the church, there b ioc a very fair attendance of members of the j 1 congregation Tea and refreshments were ■ 1 provided bb uanat at 6 80, and after thear ' bad been partaken of, the ohair was taken by the Rev A. M. Beattle, and tha meet* ing was begun by singing Hymn 108 from 1 Sankoy's oolleo'lon. The Chairman then 1 gave the Session Report for the year, 1 whioh stated that there had been nu ' ■ great ohpnge In the roll of communion members, bat that seventeen had been . added and four taken off, the latter being h by removal to other places. Regarding ' the attendance at services, those at • Wftkanul had been larger than m any » former year, and there was an increasing i interest being taken there m all ohurclr , matters. At the Ash burton Churoh the attendance m fine weather was fair, but on sev-ral lnolement Sundays a great I falling off had taken plaoe. Evangelistic ' servioes htd been held during the year by \ Mr Duncan Wright, producing good re- , suits, and It was hoped tuih eervlcae would again be held here, as epeolai services of this oharaoter brought special blessings to all concarued. Mr Beattle , had boon laid aside for a portion of the 4 yrar from his pulpit and other duties, bnt j he was thankful to God for his recovery . after six weeks rest and holiday. Toe * Minister's Bible Class had b««n kept up, * abont twenty-five attending this, and Mr > Webster and Mr Orr had givt n good help In this work during the peritd of Mr j Beattte's abience The Sabbath Sohool , hid a roll of about 200 hundied scholars, bat the average attendance was not so 1 greu. as the number on roll warranted, t although the staff of teachers was good, i viz., thirteen at Ashburton and six at . Wnkanul. The ladies In oharge of the j Maintenance Fund had done very good work daring the year m collecting funds ' and tract distributing ; this was the more • to be commended as the pastor's vlsltai ttons tp the people had not been made with accnafcomed regularity m comeqaence ( of his illness and enforced rest. The . Session were under great obligations to the ' oholr for ths service of praise, and now ' that Mr Lamb had been aeou?ed as ' oouductor, good work for the oharoh wrb i being done and a great improvement was ■ manifest In this portion of the servioes of I the sanctuary. About forty baptisms, nine . marriages, and seven deaths had taken place daring the year. It would be found that, considering all circumstances, the financial report for the year was satisfactory, and In thanking all those engaged In the good work, the Session hoped they, would go on with freah vigor for the sake of the caaae of Christ* Mr Beattie then, In the name of the oongregatOD, p oeented Mfn Kid 1, the popular churoh organ st, with a parse of sovereigns, as a testimony of the appreciation In whioh htr valued servioes were held, her ability, diligence, and urbanity m the diaoharge of the duty of organist both at Church and Sunday Sohool being very highly spoken of, especially when, during the absence of a conduotor, after Mr Savage's removal, difficulties had to b?, and were surmounted. Mr A. Orr returned thanks for Miss Kldd, and stated th»t although the testimonial had only been taken up a day or so ago, yet It had been at onoe and heartily responded to. MrSponoo then read the Sunday Sohool report, m whioh it was stated, the roll now contained 137 scholars, with an average attendance of eleven teach ern, and an appeal was made to the church ft r more funds m support of the school library and work. The annual picnic held at Mr Baxter's this year was a great sacoess, being very well attended by the ohlldren, although not so many parents and friends were present as nsual. The children's tea and entertainment held In the churoh was nlso well attended and carried out auooeasfully, the attendance of the adults being a good sign of their sympathy with the Sunday School work. The report was adopted, Mr Orr referring to the loss unstained by the echcol In the removal of Mr Webster to Pott a Me Barrett gave the report of the Finance Committee for the year, and Mr Orr, as Treasurer, explained some items on the balance-sheet, which bad been printed and distributed. It was reßolved that "Church Praise," the new psalm and hymn book, be brought into use, when funds are available for the purchase of same, for use of the congregatlom The Finance Committee for the current year were then elected, Mr A. Orr being re-elected Treaeurer and Mr BirreU Secretary, and after another hymn had beon eung, the Chairman dosed the meetlog with prayer and Benediction.