PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Shannon News, 5 August 1924, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of parishioners of the Presbyterian Churcm was held on Wednesday evening when there was a, lair attendance, the Rev. A. F. Stewart presiding. The report presented by the management cominittee showed tXie church to be in a flourishing position, ibotli the manse and the church being free of debt and there being no -outstanding liabilities. New pews had been installed and the added comfort and appearance had in a great meosu/re compensated fox; tire heavy expenditure incurred. For a church of such limited membership to incur the cost of £65 ■ 15s 9d, plus the cost of staining and ' polishing,'and in the same year wipe ' off that debt, spoke well for the loyal- I ly and generosity of its members. ' During the coming year it was hoped ' to put aside a sum for the purpose of '

painting and repairing, the church and installing electric light in both the church and manse. 'During the year a prominent members had presented a cow for use at) the manse. These were ths Utile kindnesses which went to make the rough places"" smooth in home mission life. A special collection or 17s 9d was remitted to the "Youth of Chusrch" Work Committee. After a lapse of some years a Sunday school picnic was held, also a most enjoyaible social evening for the children. To. the zeal and enthusiasm of Mr J. Riches and his devoted band pf teachers was due the large increase in the Sunday School attendance. Not only had the school increased numerically, but in the irecent examinations i the'five scholars brought honour to

themselves, their, Sunday School, their teachers and the superintendent. It was hoped that under Mr Riches' care the Sunday .School might go from strength to strength and that he might see the result of his arduous duties in time to come. The management expressed keen appreciation, of the valuable and whole-heftrted services given by Miss Aim as organist, and also extended their heartiest thanks to Mrs McCullogh for keeping the church in such a spotless condition. Mr J. Riches, superintendent of the Sunday School, in his report, stated Miat when he took charge in September last the attendance at the Sunday School was somewhere in the vicinity of 30 scholars; to-day there was about, 70 on the roll, with an average attend-' auce over the last 30 Sundays of roughly 40 children. He pointed out that this average might appeair low, but it had to be remembered that they went back to the days when the Sunday School; was growing and that if thci average had been taken only over tlie last 10 or 1% Sundays it would he much higher. He said this success had not. been brought about without thought and effort and in this matter he could not tod'highly commend and thank the teachers for the time and trouble they have taken with the children and also for their regularity in attendance. He urged the 'necessity of,

another male teacher as he believed in. the principle of having male teachers for boys and lady teachers for the girls. The result-of the Sunday School examinations conducted recently under the auspices of ■'the Presbyterian Church are as follow:—Division A:

Phyllis Bufterworth, Scripture 75, memory-72. Division D: Joan Murray, Scripture 68, memory 63; John Ewart, 66-69; Raymond Watkins, 50-60. Division E: James Ewart, Scripture 55, memory 65, essay 65.

The church, balance sheet showed a credit of £1 16s 5d and the Sunday School a credit of £6 3s 6£d. The election of managers resulted as follows':—Mesdames McPherson, Me-

Giillogh, and Nicol, and Messrs Jno. Ryrie, Sanderson and G. Mitchell (all re-elected). Mr Cronquest was elected secretary in place of Mr Millar, who has been transferred to Petone.

After the pronouncing of the Benediction a dainty supper was served by the ladies.