CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 108, 4 August 1876, Page 5

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

A congregational meeting was held in the church at Kaitangata, on Tuesday evening, Ist -nst., for the purpose of learning the mind of the congregation in reference to increased church accommodation..

The Rev. J. M. Allan occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. The 'Chairman briefly stated the object for calling the meeting, and intimated that he left the whole matter entirely in the hands of the congregation. Mr David Dunn remarked that to" make any considerable addition to the present building, and to put the church in good order would cost close on £400, whereas a new and comfortable church could be put up for £800 or thei*eabouts, capable of seating 250 or 300 people. The Synod, he tmderstood, would give £1 per sitting, making •^jSOQ/and the; present building would bring i£looj leaving only Yg'4oo to <be iraisedin the -district. v This 1 , he considered . the -district was perfectly able

hnnd«ome churches, costing from £SUO to £600, perfectly free from debt.

i\ir i\ rttmlilart proposed that a committee be appointed io make enquiries us to the cos! of making* tht* zie-je^sary improvements on the present church, or ol building a new church.

Mr D. N. Blackie seconded the motion, nnrl suggested that, the district should be eanv.-tssed, in order to find how much each one was prepared to subscribe, either towards the old church or new one.

Mr G. Steven thought it would be a groat mistake to make any addition to the present building-, as it would simply amount to erecting two, or at least oneand a half churches, instead of one, as a nncrw r church must eventually be built, and the sooner the better. WUen tlie prpsent building was erected, some thirteen years ago, it was at least lai'ge enough for the wants of the settlers, and in keeping with the surrounding buildings, but whereas in every other matter "progress" had been the order of the day, in church buildings at least, no improvement was visible, and unless a strong and united effort were made, the present state of things might go on for another generation. In looking round the large and commodious dwelling-houses', of the older settlers, the hotels, stores, school and railway buildings, .aiid the new Postoffice now in course of erection, one was forced to exclaim as King David did to INathan the prophet — "See, I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God remains in curtains," and he (Mr 1*3.) was certain that if that venerable prophet were present, he would say to us (as he c}id in substance to David) " Begin your new church at once." Mr Stevens concluded by proposing as an amendment, that a Committee be elected to proceed at once with a new church.

Mr JD. Dunn seconded the amendment, and remarked that if the gentlemen present could only exercise a little more faith in themselves and their neighbors, the church might soon be built aud paid for.

Mr A. JN. Hislop was in favor of a new church, but was quite prepared to support Mr Stoddart's motion. After much friendly discussion, a compromise was effected, and a Committee was chosen, consisting -of the office-bearers .(ex officio) together with, Wefkrs P. Stoddart, (i. Stevens, A. Hislop, A. Blackie, K. Darling, W. Aitchison, W. Harvey, James Smaill, and Andrew Smaill, to proceed either in building a new church or m making an addition to the present one. A meeting ot the Committee was then held, when it was resolved to get estimates prepared as to the relative costs of the different methods.

The proceedings wei'e terminated by the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.