ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 260, 30 July 1919, Page 7

ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING OP MEMBERS,

. Tho annual meeting of the members of St, Andrew's Presbyterian Church was held last evening in the Church Schoolroom, the Rev. S. Robertson-Orr presiding. ■ •

The report of session was presented. The report of the Board of Managers showed that the total of ordinary income was ,£1523 18s. Id., and the total ordinary expenditure £M 8 ss. 3d., leaving a balance of £15 12s. lOd. The ordinary collections amounted to .£973 lis. Bd., as .against £497 10s. lid., the average collection being about ,£2O per Sunday. During the year there were twenty-one special collections, resulting in ,£372 los. lld ; being handed over to the causes for which the collections were made. In accordance with the proposal submitted to the congregation, the section next the church on tho south side, with a frontage of G2ft.. to ■ the Terrace, by a depth of 165 ft., had been purchased at a cost of £2790,- equal to Mo per foot. The members and adherents subscribed ,£IOOO towards this purchase. The old manse in Hill Street had been sold during the year for £1800 cash. The need for more educational and eoeial work among the children and young people was stressed. The proposed extension of the prasent school building would,.it was thought, be sumcient for present needs. Mr. R. W. Porter moved the adoption . of session report, and in doing so reviewed the work of the year, making special reference ,to the very useful services rendered toy the members of St. Andrew's/ Church during the epidemic. St. Andrew's Church, he remarked, was the centre of many activities—it was a hive of industry. .They could safely say that St. Andrew's had endeavoured to meet the needs of the congregation and of tho people within the district. He announced that a movement was on foot for St. Andrew's to support a missionary of its own. '; ,

Mr. N; G. M'Farlane, who seconded the adoption of the report, also spoke ' encouragingly of the work of the church. The adoption of the report of the Board of Management was moved by Mr. W. E, Gladstone, the secretary of the board, and seconded by Mr. James Holmes. Several musical items were given by the choir, and Mr. Len. Barnes also gave an item. The. minister, Mr. S. Robertson-Orr, said that .there was no church in New Zealand that could show a larger increase in membership and suoh an increase in the collection? as St. Andrew's. He was Pi opinion that before they could minis, ter to the people they must get the people there. They must make :their services attractive so as to draw tha people. He thought they, should have more choral work. It was stated that the church was never noted for new ideas, but he did hope they would have more music. He was further of opinion that they, should have an orchestra for their even ing services. "Are we too radical to think of it?" asked Mr. Orr. He re'marked that there was not a great deal of difference between secular and sacred music; it was merely a matter of a rearrangement of the same notes. A little additional instrumental music might make all the difference, and it might bo the means of interesting the people whom they Jesifci to minister to.