CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5446, 10 September 1878, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

ST, JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. A meeting .of the members of the congregation of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Willis-street, was held in the church last eveniug, but was rather thinly attended in consequence of the inclemency of the weather. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. James Paterson, who stated that as it was a matter in which he was directly interested he would retire. Mr, David Robertson was then voted to the chair, when he called upon Mr. to explain the objects of the meeting. Mr. Gardner then stated that the meeting had been convened for the purpose of obtaining the consent of the congregation to the action of the committee for building a manse. It wasfchought advisable that a manse should be erected some time ago, bub the amount of debt due upon the church had precluded any Hction beiug taken to accomplish this desirable object, A debt of some £2 ’OO was due upon the church, but he was happy to say that through the liberality of the congregation it had been reduced one half, a sum of £IOOO having been contributed for this object. This left £SOO in debentures to be paid, and reduced the mortgage on the church property to £SOO. By the means proposed to be adopted the congregation would not be asked at present to contribute towards the erection of the manse. It was proposed to borrow about £ISOO, and the Rev. Mr. Paterson had undertaken to pay interest oa £IOOO, and a member of the church had generously guaranteed interest oa another £IOOO, leaving interest on £SOO to be met by the church. On the motion of Mr. T. K. Macdonald, seconded by Mr. T. McKenzie, the" following resolution was rmanimously carried :—“That the managers be empowered to raise about £ISOO, to be expended in erecting a manse.” , Mr. McKenzie stated that just as he was coming to the meeting Mr. George Hunter had most generously offered to give a site for the proposed building, containing about a quarter of an acre of laud, adjoining the church property, and admirably adapted to the purpose. A unanimous vote of thanks to Mr. Hunter for his very liberal offer, which was of course accepted, was carried unanimously, on the motion of Mr. T. K. Macdonald, seconded by Mr. G. Leslie. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the proceedings closed with prayer.