PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1597, 12 August 1916, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual congregational meeting of the Foxton charge of the Presbyterian Church in Hew Zealand was held in the school on Wednesday night. There was only a moderate attendance. The minister, Rev. J. H. Bredin, presided, and apologised for the absence of representatives from Rangiotu and Glen Oroua. He expressed disappointment that there was not a larger attendance to hear the annual reports and balance-sheets, and to obtain first-hand official information as to the spiritual and financial condition of the charge. He hoped that counter-attractions were not responsible for the absence of so many.

The session report, as read by Air Hornblow, was adopted on the motion of Mr 11. J. Claris, seconded hv Mr John R OSS,

The balance-sheet for year ending June 30th, 191(5, was read by

The balance-sheet was read by the district treasurer (Mr W. Kenton). It disclosed a satis factory year. The year commenced with a hank credit of £2B 15s Id. Foxton contributions £lßl os 9d, Eangiotu £SB 8s 9d, Tiakitahuna £lO 3s, Glen Oroua £34 lus 3d, other receipts £lO 18s lOd, making a total of £353 17s Bd. The expenditure for the year totalled £321 18s lid, leaving a balance to credit of £3l 18s 9d. The chief items of expenditure other than stipends were: part refund of loan from Hew Century Fund £Ol 2s Gd, manse renovation £22 Bs, insiiruaee £G Os Id. The assets of the charge are £3,505 and liabilities £123 14s Gd. leaving a balance of assets over liabilities of £3,381 10s lid. On the motion of Messrs J, M. Barr and Claris the balance-sheet was adopted. Mr H. J. Claris road the report of the Foxton church, which showed that £287 had been raised locally for the year as follows: Sabbath collections £l4l 12s sd, for liquidation of manse loan £9l 2s 6d, for motor bicycle £l9 7s, social, subscriptions, etc., £lO 12s 7d, Laides' Guild £ls 4s Gd, making a total of £287 8s 3d. (The total amount collected last year was £150). There is an amount of £lO Is 9d in the P.O. to credit of insurance grant on church, after paying £l9 18s 3d for painting the building, and £5 for gas fillings. Petty expenditure amounted to £2O 5« 9d. The transfer to General church account was £lO4 11s 4d, plus £23 15s 2d expended on behalf of general account. The year closed with a credit balance of £4l. The balancesheet was adopted on the motion of Messrs J. Eoss and \V. Renton.

The report slated that Foxtun will bo called upon to meet the annual revenue lost from the Tiakitahuna centre, £32. The increase in the collections taken up in Fox ton is the difference between £lO5, the previous year and £l-11, an increase of £36, or about 14 s per Sabbath. This increase, if maintained, will not cover all liabilities now that Tiakitahnna is cut off. “I still ap2>oal again this year to all those who have not joined with a good many of us to take up the ‘envelope system/ and if all members will do this an assured income of £3 per Sunday alone from collections will be the result, and be sufficient to make us financially sound without the need of special efforts or asking for subscriptions.” Reference was made to the departure of Mr and Mrs Buglass and Mr Clippies, and thanks accorded to Mr John Bett, of Palmerston X., for gift of a service board, and to.the donors of chairs for the choir, a»d to the choirmaster, Mr J- M. Barr, Ladies’ Guild, and others. When the £IOO is paid off the manse loan the charge will be free of debt. The report of the Ladies' Guild was read, and set forth the good work done by ibis social organisation. The Guild has a credit in hand of £3 17s Gd, after meetingexpenditure for church, improvements of £l4 16s 6d.

A report of the working the Sabbath school was made by Mr Hornblow.

The following gentlemen were elected a committee of management for the year: —Messrs Claris, Jno. Boss, J. M. Barr, Titos. Henderson, K. j\L Pa rices, J. MeColl, R. McMurray arid das. Ross, with Messrs Hornblow, Alex. Speirs and \V. Renton ex-officio members. The minister, in subsequently reviewing the reports, and after complimenting members on the year’s successful operations, urged an improved attendance at public worship and particularly at the Communion services. There were some members of the church he had not yet seen at any of the services. This was a matter of disappointment to him. ’The Communion service provided a means of reconsecration, and he urged a full attendance on this ordinance, lie stressed the importance of the Sunday

school work in view ok i ho growing: laxity of homo worship. Ho paid a trihnto to tlio good services of the loenl choir under the able coudtietorsbip of Mr J. At. Barr. Keferring to the disjunction of Tiakitahuna from the charge, ho said bo was personally sorry that this course had been necessary. The Tiakitahuna folk had treated luiu with the greatest kindno--., and ho would retain pleasant memories or his somewhat brief connection with them. Touching linance, ho hoped the effort would bo continued to tree the charge from debt, and that every member would adopt the envelope system of contributing, as this provided an assured iimincc. He concluded by referring to the traditions of ibo church, and asked them to look upon it in the spiritual sense, planted in the world to uplift mankind. It was the Temple of God, and he urged all to pray for the outpouring of the Spirit before they entered it.

Votes of thanks were accorded to all office-bearers, elmir, organist, and Sabbath school leaehers.

Refreshmonis, supervised by Mesdames Aic. Murray and I’.irkes, were partaken of at ilie conclusion of the mooting.