PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1078, 3 August 1912, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the Foxtou Presbyterian Church and triennial visitaliou of the Presbyterian Commission took place on Tuesday last. The Comtflissioners were the Revs Mackay and Rauderson, with Mr Rockel (elder). The commission met the session at 4 p.m., and committee of management at 7.30 p.m., when the usual investigations were made in connection with the spiritual and material welfare of the charge. The annual meeting of the congregation was held at S.XS p.m. There was a good attendance, aud the Rev J. M. Thomson, m.a., presided. After devotional exercises, the annual reports were presented. The efforts of the committee, as disclosed in the report, were of an exceptionally successful character, and the position of the congregation had been greatly improved thereby. The Radies Guild report likewise exhibited much practical activity on their part, whereby they had added greatly to the furnishings of the church and schoolroom. A hearty vote of thanks to the ladies for their much appreciated and successful efforts was carried by acclamation. The Sunday school report submitted by the superintendent, Mr John Speirs, showed steady progress both in numbers and efficiency, aud the end of the year found the staff and school in exceedingly good heart. The congregation accorded the superintendent and his staff their warmest* thanks and appreciation of the noble work they were doing. Proceeding to the election of the Committee of Management for the ensuing year, the congregation decided to increase the number of the committee to nine, and thereupon re-elected the six present members, and added Messrs Buglass, McKnight and Simpson to the Board.

The Rev J. M. Thomson then introduced the Rev Mackay, of Bulls, the convenor of the Presbyterian Commission, who addressed the congregation, and expressed great satisfaction at the healthy and prosperous condition of the charge, as revealed by the Commission’s investigations. In a very racy manner he gave practical counsel to the congregation.

Mr Rockel, as the elder attached to the Commission, also addressed the congregation, expressing his continued deep interest in the Foxtou congregation, congratulating them on the past year’s work. He was interestingly reminiscent of early days and early buildings in the Manavvatu district.

The Rev A. C. Randerson, of Uevin, gave the concluding address, deliveiing a most inspiriting and practical exhortation and counsel to the office bearers and members of the congregation. He spoke sympathetically of the almost appalling task set the minister at Foxton in the large extent of the charge, and asked the heartiest sympathy and sup* port ui the congregation for Ms

Thomson in so bravely undertaking such a task. He exhorted the office bearers specially to bring their whole interest and mind to bear on the problems of the situation confronting them, and urged them particularly to show initiative in all affairs of the Church. In an exceedingly striking expression he sounded the key note of his exhortations urging the members of the Church to “keep their faith green and then turn it inside out.” Their faith must not be allowed to become faded and withered or even drooping, but must be continually refreshed and revivified so that it is kept in a bright, green, growing condition and then it should be exemplified and made visible practically to the world —'it should be “turned inside out.”

In the course of the meeting the Rev J. M. Thomson expressed his personal and the congregation’s appreciation of the work done by the various organisations of the Church, and also by the individual members thereof. The meeting, which was a very hearty one, was concluded with the Bendiction.