ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1218, 29 August 1911, Page 6

ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.

5. A SATISFACTORY YEAR. Tho sessio.i of St. James's Presbyterian Church, in their annual report to bo presented at the annual meeting of the congregation on Wednesday next, state that the communicants' roll now contains the names of 313 members. The number added during tho year was 49, of whom 12 were received by examination and 37 by certificate. Removals, duo to removals from tho district, numbered 49, and one member died. Tho attendance at communion services is presented in quarterly returns as follows:—September, 220; December, 177; Mirch, 23!; June, 191; average, 205. Tho attendance at the Sunday services has been fairly well maintained. Tho weekly prayer meetings are being steadily attended; 63 members havo enrolled in tho "Leaguo of Prayer." In the month of March special meetings wore conLictcd by tho Rev. J. Pattison, General Assembly evangelist, and considerable interest was shown. Seventyfour children and one adult were baptised during tho year. The church has 3(3 communicant l , and 115 noncommunicants over sixteen years of age. Young peoplo under 1G years of ago number 370. Families represented in the congregation by communicant and non-communicant members number 203, and other families 123; total, 32G families. Pastoral visitations havo been carefully attended to during the year. There were 22 burial services. The following additional elders were elected; Messrs. Campbell, Grant, Keys, and Lewis, and the following were added to the deacons' court: Messrs. Ramsbotham, Wilton, Eidye, M'Gowan, Ryric, Watt, Richmond, Reid, Carruth, Johnson, Brooker, and M'Leay. The congregation was visited by a commission' of Presbirtery, which after full inquiry camfi to *h very satis-' factory .conclusion.

The" most important event in the year was the erection _ and the opening of a new school building, and the alteration of the old schoolroom. Tho number of scholars on the roll is now 323, IG9 girls and 115 boys. The average attendance was 211. Twenty-six new scholars joined tho school; ono scholar was promoted to the teaching staff; sixteen girls were transferred to the Young Wonien's Bible Class; sixteen lads to the Junior Young Men's Bible Class. Tho staff of the school now numbers thirty-one. The total number of names on the cradle-roll is 171. Thanks are expressed to the numerous friends who gave chairs for tho little folks in tho infant class. The Junior Young Men's Bible Class has 19 members; it subscribed .£2 10s. to the Canton Village Mission. The Young Men's Bible Class has 25 members. The Young Women's Bible Class has a similar roll. Four boys joined the Sunday School start of teachers. This class has given assistance to the orphanage, and. has contributed to the Maori Girls' School at Turakina, and also to raiso funds for the new Sunday school. During tho year tho Minister has interested himself in the formation and organisation, in connection with the de- • fence scheme, of a company of senior cadets composed of lads between 14 and 18 years who arc connected with the churches in the district. He has been helped by Mr. G. M. Johnston, of the Sunday School staff, who has now taken charge" of the company. Tho St. James branch of tho Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union has held regular meetings and collected .£lB, which was divided among the Canton and Now Hebrides Missions and tho Church Extension Fund in New Zealand. The Maori Birthday League has now 120 members, and has contributed .£5 10s. to the Maori Girls' School at Turakina and ,£lO to Dr. Parks, in Canton. The Dorcas Society has met all appeals. Tho ladies' gewing bee and guild contributed JIISO towards the cost of the new schoolroom. The ladies have also formed a sewing boo to help with the school for the children of the. Orphanage. Tho thanks of the congregation are given to the choir. The treasurer's report shows an income from ordinary sources of JM9B 4s. Cd. The sum credited during the year to the Sunday School building fund and to the renovation fund was ,£1(548 2s. Id. Disbursements totalled =£1017 3s. 7d., leaving a balance of .£3O 18s. Gd. The increase in (he church debt is regretted, but it is explained that the congregation now possesses a very valuable property in good condition. It is suggested that efforts should be made to reduce the debt. A gift Sunday on June 18 brought in «E4O, which with the credit balance of £30 has been set apart as a nucleus of a debt extinction fund. , Thanks are tendered l> Mr. J. G. Macpherson. the retiring honorary treasurer. Mr. Walter M'Leay has succeeded him.

Regular afternoon service? have bren conducted at Island Bay by the liev. W. Shirer. and an evening service on the first Sunday of each month. The ordinary revenue exceeded JCofl. A salo of work in October realised JUG, which was expended in the purchase of a piano for the use of tlio church. Tho Sunday School has a roll of (10, and an average attendance of IU. About one-third of the scholars entered for the General Assembly and Sunday School Union examinations with very satisfactory results. Summing up its report, the session states that thero is evidence of sustained genuine, interest and active ell'ort in all 6raucb.es of the work of the thurcL