KENT TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 280, 22 August 1919, Page 5

KENT TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING. The thirty-second annual! meeting of tlio Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church was held 011 Wednesday night, tho Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott, D.D., presiding. The annual report was presented by the session clerk, 3fr. C. S. Falconer, and the balance-sheet by the treasurer, Mr. J. W. Jack.

During the evening a vote was taken on tho proposal of church union submitted by the General Assembly. The proposal was unanimously rejected. The report deplored the fact that "tho number of worshippers is not as great as wo would desire, Many content themselves with attending only in the morning. Distance cannot be the sole reason, for some who live furthest off are our most regular attendants. Finpt-y pews must have a depressing effect on the minister, and are a poor reward for his diligence in visitation. What is profoundly needed is a genuine revival of religion, which would in its effects reach and revive the careless and non-church going. The number attending the prayermeeting? scarcely over varies, We can always count on the same faithful few. Wo appeal for a larger attendance. "Despite the disturbing effect of tho influenza epidemic, which necessitated the closing of the school during the whole of November and December, we have been ablo to maintain our numbers, and show the small increase of 17 since our last report. On the main rdl'l we have 50 boys and 42 girls, and in tho infant department 5) girls and 38 boys, a total of 181. The average attendance is the same as for the previous year, 134. Our greatest difficulty is. the.srrious lack of teachers, which prevents us from trans-, furring classes from the infant department to the main school, and in consequence of the crowded condition of the former it is not possih'e to obtain the beac results. The Bible classes havo started a teachers' training class, which we hope will in due time provide us with rnoro teachers. The Bible classes were strong last year, and have again increased in strength' this year. The rdl'l. of tho young men's class shows a record number of Gs>.

"Tho Women's Sewing Guild continues its useful work. From August, 1914, until Ills signing of the armistice, the guiftl worked exclusively for the Red Crass, and the record of work is a most creditable one. In August a gift evening for soldiers' parcels was held, and as a resuOc parcels containing many good things were sent to cheer our soldiers on the various war fronts. On September 17 the guild held a. sale of home-made calces at the lied Cross Shop on Lambton Quay, the record slim of £10 was made and handed over to lie used for New Zealand siclc and wonnded soldiers."

The deacon? have decided to pajnt the church and lminsc at nn estimated cost of .£IBO. The amount standing to tlio credit of the Nov; Building Fund is .£1542 Bs. 7d. It. is hoped boforc long to commence practical operations. Mr. .Toiler again pnt boxes inlo circulation, and when they wore opened at n social (fathering they were found to contain .£37 Is. 9d. The loin) revenue from ail sources for the year reached the credi'able sum cf X-1568 11s. Bd.