PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 313, 7 November 1929, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. Followed by Enjoyable Social. The annual meeting of iEe Presbyterian Church was held in the church hall on Monday evening. The Rev. W. T. Brabyn presided over a fair attendance.

After the devotional exercises, Mr. Brabyn said that it gave him great pleasure in presiding over the meeting that marked another milestone in the history of the church. The attendances had been good, and" as usual the congregational singing had been the best in the parish, it always being an inspiration. The church owed a debt of gratitude to Messrs. Hollinshead and Sealy for filling preaching appointments. After thanking the various church officers for their assistance Mr. Brabyn appealed to the church members and friends to press steadily onward. Mr. J. Gawith, the secretary of the management committee, submitted the annual report, which stated that the hall had been leased to the Education Department for school purposes. The sustentation fund had been well supported, £3O 10s being received. Collections amounted to £77 13s lid, whilst retiring collections for the Chinese famine fund and missions realised £1 2s 9d and £4 5s respectively. Donations to the earthquake fund amounted to £2 5s 6d.

A statement of accounts relative to the hall was submitted, and both documents were adopted. Mrs. Benton submitted the annual report of the Ladies’ Guild, and on the motion of Messrs. Riggar and Benton, the ladies were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The report of the Sunday school, as given by Mrs. Gawith, showed that the roll number was 31, and that the Sunday school had been to the fore in supporting the various activities of the church.

Mrs. Begbie read the baby roll report, which showed that there were 24 names on the roll. There are 12 members on the roil of the recently-formed Bible Class, the report of which was submitted by the secretary, Mr. Jack Gawith. Comprehensive votes of thanks was accorded all church workers. The Rev. E. H. Atkey, vicar of St. Paul’s, who was greeted with applause, expressed his pleasure at being present, for it was the first time he had had the opportunity of seeing a Presbyterian annual meeting carried out. He was impressed thereby; for they all appeared to be workers. He was greatly interested in the Sunday school movement, for, to the speaker’s mind, it was one of the most important phases in a church’s life. The Presbyterians apparently made their Sunday schools places of enjoyment to the children. In closing a, semi-humorous speech, Mr. j Atkey expressed his willingness to j work in Christian unity, with the i other churches, a statement that was greeted with applause. I Messrs. Tong, Riggar and Hollins- : head were elected to fill the vacancies on the management committee. Following on the annual meeting, j a very enjoyable social hour was j spent, Mrs. Hollinshead, Mrs. Sales ■ and Messrs. Gawith, senr., Tong, G. Brown and Hollinshead brothers contributing items. Mrs. Riggar and Mr. Howie played the accompaniments. The ladies provided supper and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev. W. T. Brabyn . brought an enjoyable evening to a close.