PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1134, 16 August 1913, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The following reports were read and adopted at the annual Presbyterian congregational meeting held on Wednesday evening last ;

SESSION REPORT. The Session have reason for profound gratitude to God for His grace and blessing through ihe past year. There has been steady progress throughout the charge, while this has been substantial in Foxton, the centre, it has been most marked perhaps in the country districts, which have been iudefatigably served in pastoral visitation and sabbath ministration by the minister, the Rev. J. M. Thomson, M.A., who has been enabled to accomplish so mu :h by large use of the motor cycle. Rangiotu has expanded most of all, the little church being regularly well filled by a highly appreciative congregation, the interest of the children being particularly keen. At the Foxton morning service also the young people receive special attention and a goodly number attend regularly, taking great interest in “Pilgrim’s Progress” as told to them by the minister every Sabbath morning. Last November Presbyterian services were begun at Oroua Downs on Sabbath evenings, these being fairly weU attended and much appreciated. The minister has also visited Bainesse district and held several week-night meetings. On Sabbath, June 15th, he held a service at the railway station, when a dozen adults and six children attended, this being the first sabbath church service held in that district. In Bible class work the minister held a fortnightly class at Tiakitahuna last winter with 26 ou the roll and attendance usually about 20, and this winter he is conducting a similar class in Foxton. The minister has also conducted a Bible class one morning a week in the Foxton State School. The membership roll has increased during the year from 81 to the present number 100, there having been 21 additions, xo by certificate and 11 by profession of faith. Only two names, however, have been removed and the roll has not been thoroughly purged, through want of opportunity, owing to the members of Session being so far apart. The communion of the Lord’s Supper has been dispensed quarterly in each district and the attendance fair. The Session would exhort members to diligently avail themselves of all their high spiritual privileges. The Sacrament of Baptism has been administered to 19 children, 3 of the occasions being in church. In March last Mrs Wrigley was compelled, through ill-health, to resign the position of o r ganist in the Foxton church, and at the request of the Session, Mrs Claris has kindly officiated very efficiently since that date. Mr Wrigley at the same time resigned the conductorship ot the choir, and Mr James Buglass has been appointed to the position, and fills it faithfully and excellently. The Rangiotu Church lost the services of Miss Donaldson through her marriage, but Mrs Lyall, on request, has taken up the duties enthusiastically, and together with Mr Alsop, conducts choir practices both for adults and children, and the Service of Praise has been greatly improved thereby. Mr D. Rowlands as conductor, and Miss McEwen as organist, still continue their valued services in connection with the Tiakitahuna choir. Miss Annie Farmer faithfully discharges the duties of organist at Glen Oroua, and Mrs Bethune has given us her good services at Oroua Downs. The four Sabbath schools in connection with the charge show a marked increase in total numbers, rising from 120 last year to about 150 this year. The superintendents are Mr John Speirs, Foxton, Mr J. Costall, Glen Oroua, Mr Hedley Wilton, Rangiotu, Messrs D. McCully and E. Rockel together at Tiakitahuna, and all with a goodly band of teachers, are loyally observing the Master’s injunction, “feed my lambs.” The Tiakitahuna committee have secured a good church site, and in due time no doubt it will be occupied by a suitable building. A Re union Sabbath

was inaugurated on May nth of this year, very successful services being held at Foxton aud Rangiotu. We pray God’s continued blessing upon his work throughout the coming year.

SECRETARY’S REPORT, FOXTON CHURCH.

The financial aspect of the past year ending June 30th last, is a most satisfactory one when taking into consideration the fact that no big special efforts have been made throughout its term to augment the stipend fund. The few pleasant little socials that were held (four in all) brought in nearly The collections show an increase on the previous year of about £ls, although the quarterly subscriptions are less; this, no doubt, is due in a large measure to the difficulty of securing a suitable collector. Warm thanks must be tendered to Messrs Gibbs and Speirs for their liberal donations to the general stipend fund, and which shows in the balancesheet. It is pleasing to note that this year the total collections, amounting to 5s id, have all gone intact into the general account, and all expenses have been covered by the special efforts. Of course, in congratulatiug ourselves upon this successful year, we must bear in mind the fact that we have had no abnormal expenses to meet like we had last year for the vestry building —a sum of the usual offerings, for this alone, the carnival contributing £7O of this sum. At the beginning of the year the church narrowly escaped destruction by fire, the roof aud paint-work being damaged and the fences destroyed. The fence along Mr Stiles’ boundary has been re-erected at a cost of to put a new roof ou the church of tiles. Miss Duncan has kindly offered £lO towards this, and the Ladies’ Guild have given another £lO, and we have £3l 7s 6d in hand from the Insurance Company to go towards repairing the damage by fire. The motor-cycle purchased for Mr Thompson has been appreciated by the country congregations, and has given greater facilities for visiting the distant families by the minister than could be undertaken with a horse and trap, as well as giving the minister more time between his services. The telephone has been laid on to the manse, and no doubt has already proved a boon to others as well as the minister. The committee have decided to hold on to the section at the Beach for another season, in the hope of something advantageous turning up through the coming summer. It is to be regretted that such a small percentage of the members of the Church have seen fit to adopt the envelope system of contribution, and, ladies and gentlemen, I am not again harping on this because it saves me trouble — it gives me more work —but I, for one, can see the good of it to the Church, and so can all those who have adopted this regular method of giving what one can afford, and the committee would like to see all the members taking it up. It would then be possible for the committee to be assured of a definite income to be expected each financial term, and make their arrangements accordingly.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINPENDENT’S REPORT.

I have much pleasure iu presenting to you my report on the Sunday school for the past year. The roll number is the same now as at the beginning of the last year, namely 52, and the attendance this last four months has averaged about 43, which I consider very satisfactory. The teaching staff is the same as last year, with the addition of one male teacher, making a total of six teachers, namely, Misses Ross, Miller, B. Speirs, J. McKnigbt, and Mr McKnight and myselt. The cradle-roll is still in existence, and is being carried on very satisfactorily by Miss J. McKnight. The Assembly examinations iu connection with the Sunday school have just been concluded, under the supervision of Miss Miller, the result of which will not be known for some little time. In connection with the Sunday school we have a library, which has just been augmented by the addition of £2 worth of books, bought and paid for out of the Sunday school funds, and these books are lent out to the children each Sunday free of cost. Needless to say, they are of great assistance in developing the minds of the children. During the year the Sunday school picnic was held at Himatangi, on the grounds kindly lent by Mr and Mrs Renton. The picnic was a great success, and we are indebted to Mr and Mrs Renton for the use of the ground and the kindness extended by them to the

children and visitors. The collections curing the year totalled £7 ns ; expenditure, £5 ; leaving a balance of £2 11s 5; donations received since, 15s; prize books, £2 ss; leaving a balance to this date of £1 is sj£d. lu conclusion, I beg to thank the teachers for their assistance and loyal support during the past year, and also to the children for their splendid attendance, excellent behaviour, and attention to their lessons. The balance-sheet of the local church for the year disclosed receipts is 7d, and expenditure 5s yd—a very satisfactory state of affairs.