CHURCH MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 194, 15 August 1907, Page 2

CHURCH MEETING.

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH. Tne aimnal meeting of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Ponsonbj, was held last evening, and was largely attended fey the congregation, the Key. A. Macaulay Caldwell presiding. The Eession report showed that the membership of the church h;icl increased, by 46 duxiiio" the past year, the total TinTrihar now on the roll being 213. The attendances at tie Sabbath services throughout the year had been large, and were still large and increasing. The session had been strengthened by the addition of four new elders. The manager's report showed that by the recent enlargement and renovation of the church the seating accommodation had been more than doubled, there being now provision for 523 sittings. The cost of the alterations and additions had been ,£2460. The receipts for the year -were !£Bl4 13/7, including £75 7/6, contributed to various missions. The yi2ar closed ■with a credit balance of £1S 16/. Collections fox the year exceeded those of theTpxevions year by £95 19/3, pew rents those of the previous year by £6 6/3. Subscriptions and collections for the building fund were £1148. The reports of the /Sunday Sehoel,. the Young-Women's Bible Class, St. Stephen's branco of the Women's Missionary Union, Minister's Bible ; Class, and the choir, all showed these J church agencies to be in very efficient operation. Sympathetic references were made in both session and manager's reports to the lamented death of Mr. E. M. .Watt, the axeidtect of tha church, just on the ere of the completion of the work of enlargement. Laudatory reference in each report was made to the conspicuous success ■which has attended the ministrations of the Rev. A. M. Caldwell throughout his occupancy of the charge of St. Stephen's. The managers have, under consideration the question of the erection oi a suitable hall for school and social purposes on the site adjoining the church, recently purchased. Messrs. Kirker, Brown, Falconer, Gallaugher, Hurndall, and Mitchell "ware elected members of the Board of Managers. Votes of thanks to the Sunday-school teachers, the choir, and other -workers in connection with the congregation were carried ■with acclamation, and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought the meeting t<> a close.