ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 303, 16 September 1920, Page 5

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

MEETING OP CONGREGATION. The annual meeting of the congregation of St. John's Presbyterian Church was held last evening in the schoolroom, the Kev. H. W. Burndge, minister in charge, presiding. . In opening the meeting tho chairman stated that tho Hon: J. Q. W. Aitken, the Moderator of the Church, was unable to be present, as Jie desired to be, because he waß under tho doctor's orders. Mr. Malcolm -Eraser moved the adoption of the report, already published, and said that the congregation was to be congratulated on the excellent substitute the Hev. Dr. Gibb was able to place in charge of tho church during his absence from New' Zealaad. The Hnanoe showed' that St. John's was flourishing. A church ought to .be judged by its sacrificial work, and judged by that standard St. John's could take a great deal of .credit for the progress made, and for the services rendered to those in its neighbourhood. Contributions to missions to the heathen last year totalled £601; Maori missions, £69; home misaions, £769 10s., the total contributions to missions being £1439 10s. Other contributions for sundry purposes,. £2273, tho grand total of contributions for other than purely congregational purposes amounted ito £J713 'tOs. Tho general finance of tho church, notwithstanding the advancing prices, had closed for the year with a credit balance. Mr. H. C. South, in seconding the motion, commended tho social work of St. John's among the voung people. After a brief discussion, in which several speakers expressed regret at the pending departure of the Ttev. H. V 7. Burridge, owing to Dr. Gibb returning from the Old Country to resume charge of St. John's, the motion was carried. All the speakers referred to the enforced absence of tho Hon. J. G. W. Aitken from the meeting, and expressed the hope that ho would Boon be out of the doctor b hande. In brinßins the meeting to a close, the Kev. H. V. Burridge thanked the congregation' for the very great help he had received. He commended them for their loyalty, their sneriflec, and their Eense of duty. It was a privilege to him to have been in temporary charge' of the historic St. John's Church. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the office-bearers and workers. _ Several musical items were given during the evening, and at tho close refreshments were served by the Indies.