ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Kumara Times, Issue 2651, 6 March 1885, Page 2

ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meetingand conversazione of the Kumara Presbyterian Church was held in St. Andrew's Church, Third street, on Wednesday evening, the 4th inst. The meeting was one of the largest ever held in connection with the church, the building being crowded in every part. The Rev. George Hay, Minister of the Church, presided. Tbe meeting was constituted with praise and prayer. Thereafter an excellent tea was served by a willing band of stewards, chiefly of the fair sex. Mrs Williams, organist of the church, presided at the organ, and during the evening, supported by an efficient choir, rendered with great effect several hymns from the new hymn book recently adopted by the congregation. Not the least attractive part of the programme was an organ solo by Mrs Williams, with violin accompaniment, by Mr Alex. Miller, violinist. The Rev. Mr Hay, in his opening remarks, explained that by the law of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, a meeting of the congregation is held annually, at which the Board of Management submits an audited statement of the income and expenditure for tbe year. In accordance with a resolution of the Finance Board and by a written order from the Secretary of that board, according to the custom of the church the meeting had been duly called from the pulpit; and the Treasurer was there ready to submit a statement of accounts, duly audited. He expressed the great pleasure he had at seeiDg so many supporters of the church present, and paid a high compliment to the perseverance of the ladies who had come forward and furnished such an abundant supply of the good things of this life. He hoped the business of the meeting would be carried through in the same orderly manner in which it had been begun. The choir having sung " Pleasant are Thy Courts above," Mr William Nicholson, treasurer of the church, read the financial statement for the year ending 31st December, 1884 (an exact copy of which we publish on the next page). The Chairman complimented Mr Nicholson on the clear and lucid statement he had just submitted, and stated that it was now for the congregation to consider it. Mr E. C. Peters moved the adoption of the report. Mr John Miller seconded. Mr James Drummond then addressed the meeting. The Moderator then gave out a hymn, which was sung by the choir—- " Jerusalem the Golden." Mr A. C. Campbell, Secretary of the Board of Management, in a neat and telling speech summarised the various items in the report submitted, pointing out that in no year of the church's history had there been so much money raised as during tbe past year of the Rev. Mr Hay'a pastorate in Kumara, the gross receipts for the past twelve months being £539 12s Id, as would be seen from the various balance-sheets now before the meeting, this being an increase of .£305 4s 4d over the income of last year, including Stafford congregation. At this stage Mr John Caldwell, and Mr John White both rose to speak. The Moderator stated that there was evidently an organised attempt to obstruct the business of the meeting; he had no objection to continue the discussion of the report to three o'clock in the morning, but he wished to know if the meeting desired to hear Mr Caldwell and Mr White. The meeting by a large majority refused to hear them. As no one else rose to speak, the chairman called for a vote for the adoption of the report, when a whole forest of hands were held up. He then called for a show of hands against, when a few were held up. The Moderator declared the motion carried by a large majority. A man who gave his name as John Garvin, who had evidently not expected this result, entered his protest, and appealed to the Presbytery. On the motion of Mr Woods, seconded by Mr Watson, Hx A. C. Campbell, I

Mr William Nicholson, and Mr James Woods were unanimously appointed by the meeting to appear before the Presbytery and answer the appeal. The Moderator then gave out; a hymn, aud intimated that the programme put into his hands reached a point which he would rather have carried out in his absence, and with the leave of the meeting he wonld ask Mr Campbell to take the chair, and he would withdraw. While the hymn was being sung the rev. gentleman lrfc the church, aud Mr Campbell took the chair. Mr James Hanseu then moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Harry George, and carried by an overwhelming majority:— " 1. That the congregation of the Presbyterian Church, Kumara, now assembled, express their unabated confidence in the ministrations and conduct of their pastor, the Kev. George Hay, and request him not to resign his charge of Kumara and Stafford until the Presbytery shall have given the congregation an opportunity of stating whether it is in the interest of the parish that he should resign at this time. 2. That the congregation indignantly repel the idea that the recent petitioners to the Presbytery in any way represented this congregation; and this meeting hereby emphatically disclaims all connection with the action of those petitioners in so doing. Farther, That copies of the above resolution be forwarded to the Moderatoi', and to the Clerk of Presbytery, and to the Minister of the congregation, the Rev. George Hay." The choir having sung another hymn, Mr William Harvey moved, Mr John Love seconded, and it was carried unanimously :—" That Mr John Garven be requested to resign his office of the eldership in the Kumara Presbyterian Church. 1. Because his conduct as elder has brought great discredit and injury to the Presbyterian cause in this parish. 2. That having allied himself with a small section of the congregation who have without any just cause withdrawn from the worship and support of the Presbyterian Church, he has lost the entire confidence of the congregation now in attendance on the regular service of the Church, and who are contributing towards its support. 3. Meanwhile the congregation consider it judicious that the sessional affairs of the Church of Kumara be conducted by the combined sessions of Kumara aud Stafford, i. That copies of above resolution be forwarded to the Moderator of Session, the Rev. George Hay, and to Mr John Garvin." After the customary vote of thanks, the meeting was closed with prayer.