ST. JAMES’ CHURCH.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 662, 26 August 1921, Page 8

ST. JAMES’ CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. The following- reports are continue ed' from Tuesday’s issue:f/Jasvayement Committee's Report. The members of the Management Committee representing St. James' Church •'were elected at a meeting of the congregation held on Sunday, August 29, 1920, at the close of the morning service. It consists of Messrs G. Blake, Crosbie, Clarkson, Ward, Low, D. R. Hamilton; Bombay elected Messrs G. Ingram and J. B, McKinney; Dockland elected Messrs J. K. Hamilton and W. M. Murray, and Pukekohe East elected Mr J. W. Robinson. At the first meeting of this committee held on September 8, 1920, Mr W. Low was elected treasurer and Mr I). R. Hamilton secretary. This committee managed the general business of the whole charge, as well as the local business of St. James’ Church During the year the committee received a report from the Hal! Committee that had been elected by the previous committee. This report was referred to a congregational meeting which was held in St. James’ Church on November 24, 1920. At this meeting a Hall Committee was elected by the congregation to go into the question of a ball. In accordance with a motion carried at a meeting of the Management Committee held on June 9, 1920, that the committee should be elected as laid down in the book of order, a ballot was taken at the meeting held on June 15, 1921, when it was decided that Messrs J. G. Ward and G. W. Blake retire in 1921, Messrs J. Crosbie and D. Clarkson retire in 1922, Messrs D. R. Hamilton and W. Low in 1923. Messrs Blake and Waid therefore retire at the present meeting but are eligible for reelection. During the year the general business of the Church has been prosperous. Eleven meetings of the committee were held and well attended. Several of the elders, who ; are ex-officio members of this com- ; mittee, also are good attendees of j our meetings, and all the members of the Management Committee appreciate their kindly interest, sympathy and advice. On September 1G and 17 last year we held the seventh annual Bulb and j Spring Flower Show. This was an } unqualified success, and the thanks of the whole charge are due to all ij those who helped, but especially to j the ladies of the .guild. i The Management Committee regret ( very much to lose Mr Gundy’s services \ as envelope secretary, on account of him leaving the district, and we take this opportunity of placing it on re- : cord the splendid service he has ran- ! tiered St. James’ Church, Sunday School Report. : The number on the roll at the Gnu of June was 84. The average attendI once about 60. A large number of j ! children joined the Young Worship-; p.'-i'c:’ League. Schoio was held on ea.cn Sunday in the year, except from Christmas until the first Sunday in February. The number of teachers on the staff is now eight. At the end of the year Mrs Feist took over the superintendency cf tne kinde, gm ten and Miss L, Perkins was appointed secretary in place of Mr Blair who has resigned. The collections ior tne year amounted to 1:22 ' 12s. The expenses were £26 2s 4u made up a- - ' follows: —Missions Vo. teachers’ books and scholars £5 17s, rolls and drawing books £l, prizes £9 13s 4d, Brakes diplomas £4 7s. The expenses were ji. good deal more than usual, but following the* old custom too many prizes were given, and the item for Bailees’ diplomas was a back order. It has been decided not to give prizes : for attendance next year, so that we : should stand in a good financial posif ti.on next year. At present v;o are } £4 in debt, and it has been decided to 1 ask the Church to help by a donation 1 to that extent. In February the \ annual picnic was held at Cheltenham ; Beach, and a Iprge number of parents \ and friends, as well as the children, \ attended. The picnic for the kinder- ; gar ten children was hold at the Doctor’s bush in March. A Sunday atfcer- \ noon song service was hold in the ; Oddfellows’ Hall on May 15, and was i very successful', it has been decided • | to hold another on September 10. The • remount of £3 19s was collected last ; | tifno towards the hall fund. Mws L. \ | perkirs represented t ! *e Sunday ■ j Sthccl at a conference of S.S. teach- | crs field at Fn'rnerston North at ■ [■ zst.ru. A Bible Study Class her. Iwon • starteu by the teachers a d promises l L: kr of up >'• vm’ g c' i;.c,-a and S.S. L aclvvs. The work i the SClFor boys W"S k end -c* n ■: ped for bo;no tune h*.- ’ l [n find a teec-her to take M»* Murray'? i ; ' ■, *nd Mr H”rn!ford lad as many : : ft .,. tv/o d how; in - ow-ai r ir m 1,-fi; Ur H hep re.vr fi t oww t 1 \v)yn t v, f.v'-e'*t'y Wanted L I ; -v k>n v. dk ’’ U c’-.nwh is

energetic man to organise a Young Men’s Bible Class, with social work connections. An additional class room oi' two would be of great assistance. At present there are three classes held in the church, and the teacher of the senior boys has hard work to manage his class as might be done when restricted to almost whispering so as not to distur-) the other two classes. Therefore if the hall building cannot bo proceeded with, it would be a good plan to add a good-sized class room which could be used by the senior boys nad the kindergarten S.S. Report of Primary Department. The primary department of the Sunday School has 42 children on the roll with an average attendance of 30. The class is held on Sunday afternoons in the church and a more unsuitable building for primary work could hardly be found. It is next to impossible to carry on the work in an up-to-date way unless something is done to provide room for the little ones. There are live teacheis who are most regular in attendance. During the year Miss L. Perkins handed over the direction of the class to Mrs Feist, as she had found the need for her services in the morning school'. The teachers are young and enthusiastic about their work and with a properly equipped room could easily have twice the number of children. There have been many wet Sundays this winter that have interfered with the attendance of the children, but most of them are eager to be at the class. The church members cannot lay too much stress on the need of interest'of the parents in the Sunday school as it is ,the greatest part of the church W>rk. Surely in a district that makes so much of the secular education of the children the facilities for religious training should not he neglected. rfJasiofjet’s Re-elected. Messrs J. G. Ward and G. W. Blake the retiring managers, were re-elected unopposed. General, In connection with the Sunday school reports, Rev. Nixon stressed ; upon parents the importance of send - . ing their children to Sunday school. 1 He also urged upon the necessity of having accommodation erected for the teaching of the children. Tire facilities must be provided. They had a band of teachers any church jin the world would be proud of and they did their work for ? the love of ‘ it. minister’s Stipend, I The minister’s stipend was increased bv £SO per annum. \ j 511 misters Thanks. Mr Nixon tendered his thanks for ; assistance rendered by the organist and teachers and everyone who had assisted during the year. : • Vote of Thanks. Mr G. G. Littlejohn was re-elected auditor and accorded a hearty vote • o' r .thanks for past services. | During the evening vocal items • were rendered by Mrs E. Campbell. Supper was dispensed and clu'y ap- } predated.