CHURCH LIFE & WORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 4

CHURCH LIFE & WORK.

BUILDING SCHEME.

BY THE KENT TERRACE CHURCH

For some years those responsible for the progress of tho Kent Terraco Presbyterian Church huve felt tho need of acquiring land in readiness i'or building a new. Sunday school, and for o'ther purposes, and at Inst night's annual meeting oi tho congregation, winch was presideu over by the iCev. J. Kennedy Elliott, a big scnenie was embarked upou. Tho pastor first stated that lie desired 'to thank the congregation for their support, which, instead ol showing any signs of falling oil, had increased so much as tc astonish him. Ho was gratilied also with tho largo attendance that evening. ilr. Falconer, in presenting tho twentysixth annual report of Church life and work, staled that the Church had shared in tho benclit which camo to tho whole city through tho recent mission which tilled the Town Hall each night. About thirty persons connected with their congregation professed to bo converted. Two gratifying' results 'of that evangelistic campaign ivero 'the better. attendance at the weekly prayer meeting and tho I'ocket. Testament Jjeagin,-, tho members of which wero pledged to read 0110 chapter a day. Missionary education was not neglected in their schools, and more might be done in the way of inducing children 'to attend the morning services. Tho report then tlealt most sympathetically with tho deaths of Mrs. A. Jack, Mrs. J. S. Macartliur, -Mr. William M'Donalil (elder), Mr. George l'arailise, Mr. James M'Carribon, Colonel Alexander Crow, and Miss Elliott, their pastor's sole surviving sister. Tho number of elders had been decreased by deaths and removals, but threo new elders were elected last June. Arrangements were in hand for a house-to-house canvass, with tho object of inducing those who wero no-t connected with other places of worship to joiu that Church. The attendances at the last Lord's Supper were: July 132, October 159, January llfi, and April 191, tho averago attendance being 157, or 53.1 of tho membership. Tho number on 'tho Communion roll was 291, and the baptisms during the year numbered 38. There had been many changes in tho Sabbath schools, where there had been a constant ebb and How, there being 108 boys and 115 girls, with an average attendance of 129, which -was 28 less than last year. Their financial position was such as 'to cause wonder, and the envelope system which had been introduced made for assured finance. The collection for tho orphanage amounted to Jill, whilst .£6l was received as thank-offerings, in the retiring collection. The building fund had .£OB9 to its credit, and the total incorao for tho year had been ,£IOOB.

The report having been adopted, Mr. Falconer explained that the question of further extension of Church property had been seriously considered, as - all adjoining laud was being taken up. The deacons had decided, however, that until tho necessary money was in hand they oould not put a definite scheme before them, but it would bo better to buy the property so as to be ready for extension. The other evening it was unanimously agroed that tho property adjoining tho manse should bo acquired, they having a considerably-reduced offer compared with that of threo years ago. That property had a house on i't, the rent of which would froa them from expense in tho holding «*f the land. The Deacon's Court asked that tho building fund' money eliould bo used for that purpose. Mr. Tolloy said that if they did: not adopt that scheme they would bo placing themselves and their successors in an unfortunate position. Tho question of building new schools was one for. tho future, but they wanted to purchase tho land so that in the futuro tho history of the Presbyterian Church would' bo helped forward and increased in dignity. Mr"Falcone: 1 added that'the idea.was to'proceecl witlr the erection of the now Sunday schools as soon as half the amount needed was in hand. If that meeting adopted the schomo the matter would have to be put before tho Presbytery.

Tho scheme was then, approved, and tho rest of tho evening was spent in conviviality.