MOUNT IDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 412, 15 February 1877, Page 3

MOUNT IDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

, \NNCAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tho Mount Ida Presbyterian congregation was held on ti, Wednesday evening last. Reports were in concerning the various departments of congregational work. The Minister reported that ho had held Sabbath services at Naseby, Kyoburn, and Hill's Creek. Tho services at Naseby were every.Sabbath evening and every alteraate Sabbath forenoon ; those at Kyoburn and Hill!s Croek, monthly, in the forenoons. II o had held, also, occasional week ..evening services at Upper and Lower Kyburn and at Mount Burster; monthly evening services at Hough liidgo; and 'quarterly services at the following stations:— Kyeburn, Ewebum, Puketoi, Lim burn, and Highlield ; occasionally, also, at Mauiototo. Tho whole work involved journoying to about two thousand miles. Ho said that, though tho congregation was cxtensivo, and tho work plentiful, it was always pleasant; and ho had good reason to believe not without precious results. Two elders havo been elected during tbo year —Mr. John Young for Kye* burn, and Mr. Adnm Holland for Hill's Creek. Mr. Holland conducts a prayer meeting monthly at Hill's Creek. There. havo joined as communicants, in Naseby, since the start of tho congregation, 97; 3 liave died and 31 havo left tho neighborhood, leaving now 63 names upon tho roll. Within the same period 21 have joined at Kyeburn: 1 has died and 0 have left tho district; making the names upon tho roll for that placo 14. During the 'last year tho Sacrament of the Lord's Supper has been dispensed to 13 persons in tho Hill's Croek district. You would observe, ho said, that there aro now 90 names upon the roll for the whole district. It is a matter of thankfulness that only 4 of the communicants within these 5 years havo died; 1 in Kyeburn and 3 in Naseby. Whilo it is to bo regretted that so many as 37—31 in Naseby, and 6 in Kyeburn—havo left tho district, yet it is also to bo borno in mind that this number is not more than might havo boon expected in a goldflold whero tho changes havo hitherto been so many. The number of children baptised within tho same period is 140. The Treasurer's report for the year ending 31st December, 1876, was then read in detail. The year was commenced with a debtor balance of £l2B Gs. 2d., and closed with a debtor balance of only £l9. A special effort to clear off tho debt on the building had been made at the beginning of tho year, which had been throughout most liberally responded to, £75 10s. being received as New Year's offerings. Tho sustentation fund had also kept up well, the rccipts being as under : Messrs. Maclutchy and Stownrt.. .. £22 0 0 Illackstono Hill 39 12 G Messrs. Jackson and Young .. .. 14 10 0 Messrs. Williamson, Ash, and M'Hutolicson 03 15 6 Messrs. GlUospio and Fottlngcr .. .. 0 0 0 Mr. Watson Shonnan 6 0 0 Mr. B. K. FloW 8 16 0 Mr. William Gnffla (Clark's) .. .. 5 0 0 Mr. L. W. lSusch, discount on account .. 19 c Kyoburn 26 10 0

Total.. .. £195 8 6 Tho incidental recoipts, comprising a donation of £lO from Messrs. Greig and Turnbull to tho building fund ; proceeds of soiree, £6 125.; seat rents, £15125.6 d.; balance to credit of building fund, £3 Bs. 7d.; and £ll Is. 6d., equal dividend, amounted to £4G 14s. 7d. In addition, there was received to credit of the collection fund— Naseby, £lO4 Gs. 6d.; Blackstone Hill, £l7 Is. 9d.; Kycburn, £4 os. 6d.; Eccfs, 14s.*—total, £126 Bs. 9d. The total rocipts for tho maintenance of the church and its clearance from debt amounted to about £4<L4 Is. lOd. Tho annual expenditure was as follows: Mmlster'B salary .. .. .. £250 0 0 ~ Travelling allowanco .. 26 0 0 Incidental expenses .. .. 40 0 C Ouurcli officer's salary .. .. 18 0 o Total .. .. .. £340 0 0 Tho Treasurer also stated that, if it was allowablo to look into tho present year, he might stato that at the end of tho first month tho church, was, for the first time, clear from debt. The Committee for the year are— Messrs. M'Hutcheson, Barron, "Wilson, do Lautour, Jackson, M'Latohy, M'Grcgor, Joseph Creighton, Allan, Ash, Mawhinney, Gillespie, 11. Donnelly, Glenn, and Field. Tho Bev. CniIEMAN referred to the work of tho year, and thanked the congregation for tho support given to tho church. The collectors Lad been untiring in their efforts, and, had been most successful. Ttte, Socrelary and Treasurer had paid careful attention'to their duties,'and deserved sincere thanks.

After soirio litllo discussion the meeting resolved that in future seat rents should bo abolished. About this considerable difference of opinion existed, the Chairman finally being called upon to give a casting vote. The arguments for the abolition of the rents were, the small smn received, and the tendency a charge had to keep people, especially new comers, away from the Church, and would bo fully made up in incieasctl snp- <, port. On the other side, it was feared the annual receipts would substantially suffer if the scats were free. ! A resolution of thanks was passed to the Rev. J. M'Cosh Smith for his unwearied exortions among the congregation and throughout the district. The movor also said he was sure he expressed the mind of tho congregation, that if Mr. Smith saw his way to go Home, and occupy tho honorable position to which he had been appointed by the Synod, leaving somo satisfactory person in his place, although they would loso by his absence in the meantime, yet on tho whole they would gain by the renewed zeal and vigor ho would bring back to his work. The feeling expressed was heartily approved by those present. Mr. Smith, in reply, stated he was much gratified at the kind way in which tho suggestion of his going Home had 'been received, and for their appreciation of his work. At one time he was inclined to think he could not be relieved, there being so few engaged in the work in the district. At the present ho did not know. There- was a litllo time yet, and in a short time it would have to' be decided—he hoped for tho best. * Thin wild not tins only sum received from tho uuore, tliorcmiiinuor not having been kopt scpiirato.