CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 7

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

ST. JOHN’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. A meeting of the members of the congregation of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willisstreet, was held iu the church on Monday evening, but ivas rather thinly attended iu consequence of tile inclemency of the weather. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Ilcv. James Patorsou, who stated that as it was a matter in which he was directly interested ho would retire. Mr. David Kobertson was then voted to the chair, when lie called upon Mr. Gardner to explain the objects of the meeting.

Mr. Gardner thou 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 was thought advisable that a manso should be erected some time ago, but the amount of debt due upon tlie church had precluded any action being taken to accomplish this desirable object. A debt of some £2IOO was due upon the church, bnt he was happy to say that through the liberality of the congregation it had been reduced one half, a sura of £IOOO having been contributed for this object. This left £SOO iu debentures to he paid, and reduced the-mortgage on the church property to £SOO. By the means proposed to bo adopted the congregation would not bo asked at present, to contribute towards tho erection of the manso. It was proposed to borrow about £I6OO, and tbe Rev. Mr. Paterson bad undertaken to pay interest on £IOOO, aud a member of tbe ■ church bad generously guaranteed interest on another £IOOO, leaving interest on £SOO to bo met by tbe church. On the motion of Mr. T. K. Macdonald, seconded by Mr. T. McKenzie, the following resolution was unanimously carried ;—“ That the managers be empowered to raise about £ISOO, to be expended iu erecting a manse.” Mr. McKenzie stated that just Q 3 he was coming to the meeting Mr. George Hunter had most generously offered to give a site for tho proposed building, containing about a quarter of an acre of land, adjoining tlie church property, and admirably adapted to tlie 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 tho chairman the proceedings closed with prayer. __________