ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 16 August 1937, Page 2

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

YEAR IN REVIEW. RECORD OF PROGRESS. Another year of progress in the history of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is referred to by the minister, Rev. J. Hubbard, ALA., IS. D., in his pastoral letter prefacing the reports to he submitted tu the annual meeting ol members. | “The report of another year’s Christian witness and work gives us cause for thankfulness. The consistently large congregations, the high percentage of our people who are so laitiilul to the Communion services, the healthy state of our young people's worn, tne generosity of our congregation, fill me with thankfulness to Almighty God. j The attendances at the feaubatli services ! rejoice the heart of preacher and poo- ! pie,” Mr Hubbard states. “I receive | cheering letters from tune to time, | testifying to the friendly feeling in our church, and to help received. We inherit a high and ho.y heritage; let us prove worthy of it. With the spirit of Christ increasingly in our hearts; with His law of kindness upon our lips; with His royal badge of service as the mark of all our lives, let us go forward and attempt greater things. I wish to thank all who have helped m the life and work of the church. I.cannot speak too highly of the good work done, especially among the young people of the church, Dy the Sunday school teachers, and the Bible class leaders, nor too gratefully of the courtesy and kindness of all the leaders of the various organisations, to me. To the office-bearers, to all who are fellowworkers with us in the Gospel, and to ■those who make mention of us in then prayers, I give my thanks.” The session report (which is signed by Mr W. B. Tennent, session clerk) states that Mr Hubbard lias commenced his third year of service, “and has still further entrenched himself in our hearts and minds as our beloved pastor and friend. We rejoice to know that he has been honoured by election to the position of moderator of the Wanganui Presbytery. Our roll, after having been thoroughly purged, shows a further increase, and now numbers 629. During the year GI were added to the roll, 16 bv profession of faith, and 45 bv certificate; 54 members were doleted and/or granted disjunction. The average attendance at Communion was 502. the highest attendance being 530 on March 15. equal to 84 per cent, of our roll number. Death Ims removed Messrs Currie. Swan and Forbes, and Mesdames McDowall, Barry. Lett. Simpson. Young. Brvce, Currie, and Miss Edgar. To the relatives of all these members we extend our sinoerest svromthv. During tho year Messrs G. M. Rennie, A. P. Snart. and C. B. Williamson were eleva+ed to the session and ordained. This year the following deacons retire bv rotation: Messrs J. M. Mitchell, J. Murrav. F. G. Opie. G. C. Pe+ersen and H. G. Ram. Of those who retired this year Mr J. Mitchell did not seek re-elecf on. The session desire to thank Mr Mitchell for the services he rendered during his term oil the deacons’ court. Mr L. Fitzsimons, one of the younger men on the court, left to take a position in Wanganui. AVe thank him for his services. Air J. Griffiths having completed 50 years of _ teaching in Sundav schools, the session applied for this dinloma. which was presented to him. Miss Agnes Chapman tendered her resignation as leader of the senior young women’s class, after a period of 15 years’ service as leader. This necessitated a re-arrargement of leaders. Miss J. Glover nndetrook the leadership of this class. Miss Haig tlieintermediate. and Miss Feist the junior. Sunday school: Airs A. AT. Lasce“es and Air A. D. Campbell tendered their resignations as superintendents of these two departments. Aliss C. Thompson succeeds Airs Lascelles as superintendent of the primary department, and Air A. C. Alien succeeds Mr Campbell as sunerinfended of the senior school. AVood Street Sunday School: The roll number, which had increased to 80. was such that the work could not he satisfactorily carried on without making alterations to enlarge the hall to about twice its present capacity. It was decided to keep the school purely as a kindergarten and primary school and bring tho children of Standards 3 and over to St. Andrew's. Airs AY. Ritchie has made three handsome gifts to the church, a cloth for the Communion table, a beautiful piano for the Sunday school, and a silver plate, once the property of her father, to he used in the distribution of the elements to the elders a+ Communion. An anonymous donor has also presented a enrI tain in front of the organ and drapitigs for the pulpit and lectern. During the winder services have been held Sunday, evening per mon+h at the AVood S+-"et Snndav school. These sopm to l>o filling a special purnose in that they are being* attended by a number of people.”

The following roll figures are furnished, those for 1936 appearing in parentheses: —Sunday school: Primary, Cl (55); junior. 113 (140); senior. 2l"; Wood Street, 63 (69); total. 288 (274). Rible classes: Junior Y.W.8.C., 15 (16); intermediate, Y.W.8.C., 21 (16): senior Y.W.8.C.. 15 (14); senior Y.M.8.C., S (20); intermediate Y.M.8.C., 20; junior Y.M.8.C.. 30 (47); total. 109 (113). There are 111 names on the cradle roll. Thanks are expressed to the choir, under Mr A. J. Graham, for their continued and faithful attendance, also to the Chapman family for providing flowers in the church on Sundays,..; DEACONS’ COURT REPORT.

“The finances of our church show very gratifying results. The total; receipts from all sources for the year, £4273 16s 4d, no doubt constitute a record.” states the deacons’ report. “On this occasion unusivd receipts totalling £1935 2s 4.1 from legacy money and Government subsidy account for the large increase compared with the previous' year. Without these special receipts the comparison is as follows:—This vear. £2333; last year, £2449 (including donations for church furniture of £262). Again we are pleased to report that success lms been attained in the endeavour to meet regular expenses from ordinary revenue without recourse to the congregation s golden offering or special donations. The income of this account was £l4ll 11s fid and the expenses £1305 5s 10d, leaving a credit balance of £6 5s /d. Sunday offerings received per medium of the plate compared with the previous ■yp/'r nr* 3 f 155 follow; colloctions. £666 (£573)- W.F O. “For Ourselves.” £387 (£392): interest. £124 (£93); total. £1177 (£1058). The interest fund, which was set up to meet the additional interest commitment on funds lrorrowed on mortgage for buddings, was again of great assistance. The previous voar’s total was for seven months onlv. so that the average monthly contribution lias rowdily fallen from £l3 to £l2. Sustenta.tion Fund: A number of our connregntion prefer to give in this way. £7l being contributed, as asrniest last vear. Expenses totalled £1305 *s lOd which means an average of practically £25 per week. Golden Offering: The generous member who last vear gn.ve such an inspiring lead of £2OO donated the same substantial sum this year. The

total amount- was the handsome sum of £719 Is Bd. Under the will of the late Mr John Balsillie £2500 was gifted; £IOOO for missions and £ISOO for Sunday schools and general funds. Of this- sum £1583 6s 8d was received this yea.r. We-, commend the congregation for the; substantial manner in. which, the.p-.debt of the church has been reduced this year bv £2241 10s 6d to £3261 9s Bd.”

Mr G. C. Petersen, secretary of the deacons) court, signs the above report. Steady progress is reflected in the sectional reports of the Bible classes and Sunday schools. The P.W.M.U. reports a membership of 65. The ladies’ guild has had a satisfactory year, a lively interest being taken in the drama circle. The Girls’ Auxiliary reports disappointing attendances, hut the Men’s Cb>b lias had an average attendance of 85.