PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1746, 9 August 1917, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of Hie Foxton charge of the Presbyterian Church was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday night. The Rev. J. H. Bredin presided over a fair attendance. After opening devotions, the following reports were read and adopted : SESSION REPORT. “In presenting its annual report, the Session desires to express its thankfulness to Almighty God for His continued goodness and mercy to us as a congregation. The great world war has brought deep sorrow into the' homes of some of our people, and has tilled many hearts with anxiety on behalf of loved ones who have gone forth to battle in the cause of righteousness and liberty. The Session commends to our 'Heavenly Father’s keeping (hose who have gone forth, and prays that peace and consolation may he vouchsafed to the bereaved. The session prays that this dreadful and devastating war may incline <mr individual lives to a deeper devotion to spiritual things, and likewise impress upon ns and upon the people of our Empire the need for continual prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Session commends Hie congregation to deeper humility and Christ innlike sacrifice at this period. The Session is pleased to report that attendances at divine worship in the various churches throughout the charge has been well maintained. A. marked increase is shown in this respect at Glen Ormm. Still, there is room for improvoiuenl, and the Session pra verfuliy commends lo the eonoregatioiis a more regular attendance at divine public worship. Full advantage should be taken of this means of grace, and deprecates external aad material affairs other lima sickness from attendances at public woi'ship. By a regular attendance at public worship, our spiritual life is revivified, and Hie hands of the minister are upheld. Public worship is an outward and visible sign of Christian vitality, and our attendance should no) be con-ideved in Hie light of duty, Imf rat her esteemed as a glorious privilege. Regular services have been maini a hied Hiroughmil the year, except in the out district on one or two occasions, owing to stress of weather. The quarterly Communion services have been held throughout ihe (-barge, and were well attended. The pulpit ministrations have been, and are, a source of continual blessing, and in this connect i(iii the Session .desires to place on record the splendid and devoted work of our beloved minister and servant in Jesus Christ. He has given ns of Ids best, and the charge is fortunate in possessing such a faithful and gifted pastor. Ilia pastoral visitations have been faithfully carried out, and di-lance, weather, or personal inconvenience have not been an obstacle P> his mini-orations to Ihe sick' and bereaved. The Session hopes that the charge may he privileged to retain him for many years to come. His kindly and sympathetic nature has endeared him to all. The Session is pleased to report'Hint Hie Sabbath schools are well maintained, 1ml: there is a pressing need for more workers in this vital adjunct of the church. The attendances show an increase. The Session makes'an earnest appeal for assistance, in order (o maintain a thorough training and careful oversight over the little ones in spiritual things. A weekly Bible Class is conducted with marked success by the Minister at Foxton, The Session expresses its, thanks to those who are labouring in the Sabbath schools, and to those who are assisting in the service of praise—Hie choirmaster ami organist. The Session desires to mark its appreciation of Hie spirit of enthusiasm, loyally and unanimity which exists among the office-bearers throughout Hie charge, and the splendid work they have accomplished during Hie year. The outlook of the charge, both spiritually and financially, was never brighter, and the Session prays that God’s richest hles.-ing nqiy continue to rest upon us as a people and upon the work in this small corner of Ilis vineyard." BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet was read and adopted as follows: — Receipts:—Home missions £5 14s 3d,' foreign missions- £0 Os fid, Foxton £IOO 0s 4d, Rangiotu £57 IBs, Glen Oroua £32 10s, Tiakilaluum £B, church extension £24 10s (Id, assembly expenses 10s (Id, Presbytery expenses £2 3s Oil, petrol grant, Mr Co-tall. £2, discount 12s 7d. Youth of Church fund £1 10s (id; total receipts, £3OB 8s lid. Expenditure: —Home Mis,-ions £5 14s 3d, Foreign Missions £0 0s fid, hack debts, Mrs Smith’s Estate, fis Bd, stipend, Rev. Bredin, £2OO, exchange 15s fid, keeping account at bank 10s, insurance, lire, £5 11s 4d, assembly expense.- £3 ss, presbytery expenses £1 10s, Aged and Infirm Ministers’ Fiuk(*~£o, rates, manse, £7 4s lid, repairs, motor cycle, £1(1 14s, repairs, manse property, £lfi 10s lid, stationery 11s, petrol grant £5, Youth of Church Fund £1 10s fid; balance, £22 17s 8d; total expenditure, £3OB 8s lid. Liabilities: —Foxton charge capital value, £3,370 17s; Foreign Missions unpaid, £1 0s 7d; Maori Mis-sion-unpaid, £3 10s; New Century Fund, £75; total liabilities, £3,456 7s 7d. Assets:—Bank of New Zealand, £5 13s 9d, cash in hand, Treasurer, £2 11s fid; property account, Fox-

ton, £2,s6o;■property account, Glen Oroua, £310; property account, Rangiotu (buildings), £280; property account, Rongotea, £SO; furniture, £220; motor cycle, £SO; total assets, £3,479 5s 3d. Balance of assets over liabilities, £22 17s Bd. This concluded the business of the charge, and the report and bal-ance-sheet; of the FOXTON CHURCH was presented by Mr Claris as follows : “Although we are entering upon the third year of this great war, and one would quite naturally expect a certain amount of depression and lightening of (he finances of the Church in consequence of the many calls towards patriotic funds, the past .financial year has been most satisfactory. Although more money has been raised other years, it lias gone towards some special work, and the collections towards the stipend fund have been smaller. This year, as far as collections go, has been a record one, the sum of £144 4s lid being raised, as against £lll 12s 5d last year. Had the offerings each Sunday continued during the latter six months as they, avoraged the first six months, a still belter return would be shown, but they have fallen off lately about 19s per Sunday. This state of affairs would not occur did all members adopt (lie envelope system, which has proven itself a solid asset lo the Church. I would like to thank those who adopt (Ins system ■ for.their faithful adhesion and regularity in their contributing. The managers fully recognise this- system as being the mainstay of the finance-.. The increase (his year, it will be noticed, is only £3 more in the ordinary collections, but there was an extra £24 5s 3d paid into the general account from Foxton Inwards (he stipend fund which has eased I lie position greatly, (he expenses last year being heavier. During (he early part of the year it was deemed advisable to shift the newly erected fence at the Manse back a bil 1 rum tlit; house for appearance sake, and Mr Renton kindly undertook (he work, and also (he laying down of a lawn and footpath alongside, which has improved the look of (he properly. As an act of appreciation for her services as organist, Mrs Claris was presented with a solid silver tea set, the teapot suitably inscribed—a handsome gift from the congregation. It has been decided by the managers to erect a railing each side of the pulpit, and as' a choir enclosure which, Avhen completed, will give an improved look to the church. The work will siiorlly he put in hand. Owing to the gales being left open and stock wandering around (he church, it was deemed advisable to (dose up ihe I'iglil -ot-way granted to members nl (he. Good Templars’ Hall at the oaek of the church. This work was carried mil by the- eonnnillee members, and a post and wire fence erected accordingly, and the right-of-way closed ,(o the hall through the church grounds. .In order to preserve the hank along the liver at the manse from lulling away through getting undermined by the strong winds, Mr Sjieirs senr. donated a sum of £4 to go towards planting the hank with ieephml, willows, etc. This -work is soon to he put: in hand, and it is to be hoped Ibat it will prove effective and prevent future (rouble with loss of the hank. As (he annual payment on the manse, some £3O, was in arrears, a subscription was taken up in all (he districts, Foxton contributing £l7, (he other two districts Hie ha la nee, the total debt, now lying on the manse is something like £7O, which is the only debt that: lies on any of the church property. Mr Belly asked for (he use of (he vestry one night each week for his instrumental practices. His request was granted, with the understanding that lie contributes towards Hie gas account for gas used. During the past twelve mouths- two socials were held in the '.Sunday schoolroom, which were enjoyed by all, and which added to the church hinds £3 7s and £2 4s (id respectively. The managers received a communication from (he Foxton Ladies’ Guild, asking them to take in hand the work-of concreting the hack paths of the manse, and donated £5 towards satin'. The Management Committee deemed it advisable to lay the matter before the General Committee, (ho latter committee subscribing £5 more towards Hie work, and as more subscriptions and donations were contributed by the other district members, it was decided to get all the paths concreted, us •well as the hack yard at the manse, Hie work to cost somewhere about £2B, and to he started as soon as material was procurable. When donations come in lo such an amount as this it does not appear that the war lias made any appreciable difference in our financial outlook. The whole outlook for the coming year seems’ to auger well,” The total receipts for the year from all sources (excluding subscriptions to the manse debt liquidation loan) were £lO5 0s 2d; balance to credit for church improvement fund in P. 0., £23 3s Gd. Expenditure: transfer to general account £l2B 10s 7d, potty accounts £l9 11s 7d, missions £l2 18s, repairs £4. LADIES’ SOCIAL GUILD. “The July Guild was the last one of the seventh year. It has proved very satisfactory in all respects. Miss Cooke, owing to her departure from Foxton, resigned the position of treasurer, and Mrs MeColl was elected. During the year material for curtains for the Sunday schoolroom was procured. Thanks are due to Mrs McMurray and Mrs AlcColl for making and hanging the

eurtains, which they did to the satisfaction of all. It was proposed and decided to donate £5 from the Guild’s funds towai’ds the cost of concreting paths at the manse. The ladies wish to thank Mr A. Speirs jur. for donating and fitting up table in the kitchen of the Sunday schoolroom.” The finances of the Guild disclosed receipts £2O 9s Gd, expenditure £7 18s Gd, "leaving a credit balance in hand of £l2 11s. . SABBATH SCHOOL. Mr McMurray reported favourably in respect to the Sabbath school, and the finances disclosed a credit balance of £2 Is sid. All the managers were re-elected. Votes of thanks were accorded to all office bearers, organists, choir master, and Sunday school teachers and eulogistic references were made to the work of the minister. The Rev. J. H. Bredin reviewed the work of the year, and referred to the loyally and harmony which was , apparent throughout the charge. Ho appealed for improved attendances at public worship, and delivered an eloquent address on Christian duty and fellowship. - The meeting closed with the Benediction, followed by Hie National Anthem, after which the ladies dispensed supper.