PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. MT. IDA PARISH.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 12 October 1917, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. MT. IDA PARISH.

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30tb, 1917.

Dear Parishioners, —On Jane 30th we concluded another year of the life and work of our church. As a Christian Church it is with feelings of deepest regret that we have to record that the close of our Church year found the majority of the nations of the •arth still engaged in deadly warfare. Our prayer to our Heavenly Father is that this war may speedily end, and that victory may crown the united efforts of Great Britain and her Allies. During the past year, as since its commencement, the war has had a great effect upon all phases of oar Churches' life and work. However, we are glad to be able to say that, on the whole, the results have not bean for the worse. We miss very sorely our young men, but are glad that they hava gone, and are, without exception, aoitting themselves like men. We commind them all to the protection and guidance of Almighty God. During the past year the hand of death has been heavy upon us, taking from our midst those upon whom the Lord has called. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended unto all the bereaved ones.

Your minister has endeavoured with all due diligence to give attention to the work that falls to the lot of a minister of the Gospel His hope and prayer is that the preaching of the Word from Sabbath to Sabbath, and the work of the Bible Classes and Prayer Meeting, may result in the building up of the believers in the faith, and in turning to God the unconverted. The general visitation of the Parish has been carried out as systematically and »s often as time would permit, and your minister has had cause to rejoice in this part of his work, because of the kindly welcome that has awaited him everywhere. Special attention has been given to visiting the aged and sick, but your minister would be glad if you would make it your business to let him know if there ere cases of serious illness in the Parish, because it sometimes happens that a person may be ill for some little time before he finds out.

The Sacrament of our Lord's Supper is dispensed twice a year, and during the past year nine persons have joined the Church on profession of faith, and two by certificate; —the removals were four, all transferred. The Communion Roll which last year contained 126 names now stands at 131, a net increase of five for the year. Twentv three children were baptised curing the year. We are glad to relate that efficient work is being done by our Sunday school teachers, and our thanks are due

to oar superintendents and teachers for the interest they have taken in the lambs of Christ's flock. We have a total of 83 children attending our Sunday schools. Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of our church service to keep up to higbwater mark, is the service of praise, but this could easily be improved if our young people would only in a greater measure consecrate themselves to this service. We feel sure that by so doing ihey would be greatly blessed in their own souls, and would undoubtedly, bring blessing to others. Our thanks are extended to the organists at the various centres, and also to our only choirmaster Mr H. Moore, who has acted in the dual capacity of choirmaster and organist The members of Session and of the Deacons" Court have with diligence and heartiness attended to the spiritual and the material affairs of the Church as occasion required.

The Ladies' Guilds deserve all due creait for their , arduous labours throughout the year, atid great praise for the success of their sales of work.

The Church has responded vwllinely and liberally to all appeals made from the pulpit on behalf of missions— Home, Maori and Foreign, and this is an indication that, in so far as tbey are able to do so, the members and adherents of the Church are willing to obey the Master's command: "Go Ye." A Young Worshippers' League was started at three of the centres, and has a roll of about 60 members. Your minister appeals to you to send your children to Sunday School, and to church because it is our duty before God to train up the men and women of the future to "know the Lord," and to te morally pure. We thank the Sustentation Fund collectors for the work that tbey have done during the year. We are glad to have ended the year with a small credit balance, and hope that there will be no diminution of the liberality of the congregations in the days to come. But let us put first things fir«t, and seek the kingdom of God and bis righteousness. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do bis will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Yours in the Master's Service, Geo. D. Falconer.

Balance -sheet of the Nit. Ida Presbyterian Church for year ending June 30th, 1917.

GUILDS. Naßeby and Kyeburn Presbyterian Ladies' Guild—Balance-sheet for year ending Judo 30th, 1917.

GENERAL i ACCOUNT. Receipts. Expenditure. : Balance from 30,6,16 £4 17 Stipend £240 0 0 Sustentation Fond— Pulpit Supply 3 13 0 Naseby 40 7 6 ' Missions: — Ranfurly 35 12 0 Foreign 12 0 0 Kyeburn 15 13 6 Borne 10 1 0 Gimmerbnm 11 6 6 Youth of Church Kyeburn Station 3 3 0 Fund 2 0 0 : 106 2 6 24 1 0 Collections — Orphanage (Beth M'Leod) 13 0 0 Naseby 70 1 3 Girls' Home 34 10 0 Ranfurly 58 6 5 Presbytery Expenses 1 15 0 Gimtnerburn 12 3 11 Assembly Expenses 3 10 0 Kyeburn 10 0 5 Aged ana Infirm Ministers' 150 12 0 Contribntioo 4 0 0 Donation from Ranfurly Manse Repairs 5 11 6 Guild, shown as a loan Sastentation Fund of Otago 2 10 0 last year and then exPrinting and Advertising 2 1 6 panded, now merged into Insurance Fire and Accident 7 13 5 a donation 25 0 0 Donation from Ranfurly Guild Mis»ions: — (expended last year now Bbown Foreign 12 0 0 to explnin that loan has merged Honw 10 1 0 into donation) 25 0 0 — 22 1 0 Bank Charges and Cheque Girls' Home Collections 34 12 0 Books 18 0 Orphanage „ 13 7 6 Travelling Expenses Manse Grant 15 0 0 (Fawcetts) 15 0 Rent of Glebe 5 0 .0 Moderators 10 0 Aged and Infirm Ministers 1 15 0 (per Naseby Guild) 4 0 0 Balance 10 19 8 Refund Bible Depot ac. per Rev. G. D. Falconer 116 £380 18 1 £380 18 1 Liabilities. Excess Balance Orphanage Ac. 30,6,15 3 18 10 Excess Balanca Orphanage Ac. 30,6,17 7 6 Balanca Girls' Home Collections 2 0 £4 8 4 NASEBY LOC AL ACCOUNT. Receipts. Expenditure. Ladies* Guild for Caretaker £13 0 0 Balance from 30,6,16 £3 0 11 - Proceeds Social 4 7 3 Caretaker 13 0 0 Sunday School Collections 2 19 Light and Fuel 3 18 0 Balance 6 9 2 Sunday School Requisites 6 14 3 Organ Repairs 6 0 £25 18 £25 18 2 RANFURLY LOCAL ACCOUNT. Receipts. Expenditure. Balance June 30th, 1916 £2 13 Lighting and Cleaning £6 14 6 Maori Mission Birthday Maori Mission Birthday League 1 2 C League . 1 2 0 Social Proceeds 6 12 Sundry Repaira 3 15 6 Ladies' Guild 6 0 C Balance 3 3 6 £14 15 e £14 15 6 RANFURLY RESERVE Ft'ND. June 30tb, 1916 £9 12 6 1917 9 12 5 '

Keceipts. Balance from last year £42 19 Kyeburn Sale 18 12 Naseby Sale 61 15 Private SaleB 10 17 Bank Interest 17 .8 U H 1 1 £135 1 5 Ranfnrly Presbyterian Church Ladies' June 30 Receipts. Cash in Hand and in ltank June 30th, 1916 £2 3 Cash Sales 9 7 Sale of Work Dec. 7tb, 1916 24 0 „ Sheep Skins (donated) 1 3 Lent to Car Fund at 4 per cent 25 0 0 Interest for one year at 4 per cent 10 0 — 26 0 2 7 3 10 0 £62 14 10

Expenditure. Material £28 4 H Caretaker 13 0 0 Organist ■ 12 10. 0 Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund 4 0 0 Hire of Hall 1 5 0 Advertising 18 3 Insurance 5 0 Expenses of Sale 9 0 Miscellaneous 10 U Stamps and Stationery 9 Credit in Bank 72 8 9 Cash in Hand 1 10 5 £135 1 5 Gaild—Balance-sheet for Y«ar endiner h,19l7. Expenditure. Material £18 14 6 Sale Expenses 18 0 Stamps and Stationery 3 0 1 1 0 Donation of loan to car fund and interest to the Mt. Ida Congregation 26 0 0 Ranfur;ly Church Committee 6 0 0 Balance 10 19 4 £62 14 10