PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ANNUAL SOIREE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 62, 22 October 1864, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ANNUAL SOIREE.

The third annual soiree of the Presbytesians in this town, and their friends, ■was held in the Scotch Church, Taystreefc, on Thursday evening. The Eev. A. EL Stobo, pastor of the congregation, presided over a large assembly of his flock, and around him on the platform were the representatives of every other Protestant denomination in town. The proceedings commenced with the company singing the 100 th Psalm, which was led by the choir of the church. After blessing, tea with its adjuncts was plentifully served round the pews, and, this over, the choir sang the two last verses of the 43rd Psalm, to the usual tune "Invocation," The Chairman then briefly sketched the progress of the Presbyterian Church in Invercargill. He referred to the treasurer's balance-sheet, which showed a debt of £1,300 odds due by tlie congregation. He hoped this would be wiped off at once, and concluded by calling on Mr. P. H. G-eisow to read the financial statement. Mr. G-eisow complied and said — Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and G-entlemen — Seeing so many friends around me who are to address you this evening, I will take up as little of your time as possible in laying before you a statement of the financial affairs of our congregation. Before doing so, allow me a word of explanation as to the state of matters at this time last year." "We were then in debt to the extent of £1,273 6s. 6d. Of this amount £873 6a. 6d. was due to the Bank of New South Wales, and about £400 to the Manse Fund; which sum had been borrowed from that fund to pay for the church. The Manse cost altogether £921 17s. lid., of which £LB2 os. 6d. has been paid for purchasing and clearing the ground previous to ■ last soiree. Our income from Ist October, 1863, to Ist October, 1864, has been as follows :— Sustentation Fund £340 18 0 Church Building Fund 201 14 10 Ministers Fund.. 7 10 0 Church Seat Fund 260 0 0 Church Door Collection Fund 333 19 H Proclamation Fees Fund 65 0 0 Mission Station in Dee :Bfcreet 26 9 10 Cash borrowed from Church Trustees ...:.... 214 5 8 Cish from Bank of New South I Wales, being proceeds of bill of £700 680 9 11 Total Income..^ £2,190 74£ The expenditure has been as follows: — SurfanWaanPiind....,-. £340 18 0 5upp1ement;............... 83 17 0 Precentor, till 30th Dec, 1863...... 25 0 0 Beadle.. 25 15 0 Eitraordmnry Church Door Collections.. 38 11 5 Cash paid to tho credit of Church Trustees :..... 1,108 19 0 Levelling, draining, • and fencing church ground .' '. 101 5- 0 Timber for Church 75 17 2 Expenses on Church 50 5 7 Outlay on Manw 789 12 5 Rent of former Mftnso 33 6 8 s*nk of New Bouth Wales %.

Mission Station in ; Dee-5treet.......... . 92 8 6; Miscellaneous. .....;.... 100 12 10| Total Expenditure...,. . £3,s3s 14 10^ The expenditure and income will there stand-thus :■— ' v r ;-. Liabi1itie5........................ £3,535 14 10JA5iet5.:;... .;..;..............:......... 2,190 7 4J Difference. .-..£1,345 7 6 We have therefore apparently added £72 Is. to last year's debt ; but -when it is borne in mind that £92 Bs. 6d. has been expended on Dee-street mission ; upwards of £100 in levelling enclosing, and draining ; £33 6s. Bd. for Manse rent ; | upwards of £120 for timber; it will be seen that we have actually made an advance, as these are sums that do not require to be laid out again. The interest of the debt has also been paid. The total cost of church, church furniture, approaches to the church, &c, is about— £2500 0 0 Do. do. Manse 1000 0 O £3500 0 0 Deduct debt now due. 1345 7 6 Leaving amount paid up to date ... £2154 11 5 You will see then that upon the whole we have reason to look forward with a hopeful view of things. Before I sit down I beg to draw your attention to the fact that there is a gentleman present who contributes £50 a year to our funds. You are aware that tho Deacon's Court voted a salary of £50 per annum to the Precentor. I have the pleasure of informing you that Mr. M'Connell discharges this duty without any salary — thua contributing directly to the extent of £50. lam sure you will join me in a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. M'Connell. The assemblage received this latter announcement with much gratification, and cordially tendered their thanks to Mr. M'Connell. The Chairman next called on Captain Elles to address the meeting, but that gentleman declining, TheEev. Mr. Drake came forward, and said that, although he had a speech half prepared, he was obliged to throw himself on the indulgence of his Preabyterian friends, as he could not give one so effective as he would wish. He lamented the deplorable fact that the Presbyterians of ! Invercargill should allow their church and | manse to be some £1.300 in debt ; but ho j had no doubt that would soon be done away with, and that within the next six weeks — that was the fullest extent of time — the Presbyterians would be in the happy position of being free of debt. He had recently heard that a Roman Catholic priest in Queenstown had collected £i,OOO for the building of a chapel, and he considered that it would be a disgrace to Protestants —men who held a purer faith and nobler* aspirations — that they should have their church and manse in debt. The truth was, that the Koman Catholic was more sincere in his false faith, and more ardent and liberal in the bestowing of his means to support it, than Protestants generally were to support their means of grace. The speaker then, in a humorous style, went over a list of names, each of whom, he certainly concluded, would subscribe according to their means, so as to free the church and manse from debt. The sums named ranged from £50 to £10, and the total amount conceded to was £500. Mr. Bo>~ar, sen., next addressed the company. He humorously supported the opinion of the previous speaker. The Her. Mr. Siiaw was glad to meet i with his Presbyterian brethren, but felt that a debt amounting to £1,300 odds was a stigma upon them. As the sort of spirit in which they should go about retrieving their fame, he instanced the case of a negro congregation in one of the "West India Islands. The congregation was in debt, and at a general meeting of the members, three resolutions were universally agreed to. First, that every man should give something. Secondly, that each should give according to the means which Providence had placed within his reach ; and, thirdly, that all should give cheerfully. Now, a member o£ the congregation, who was well-known to be wealthy, came forward to the elder at the plate, or collection-box, and tendered a certain sum. " Dat is in accordance with the first resolution," said the elder, " but it's not in accordance with de second resolution. Take back your money." The contributor took back his money and retired, but conscience doing its work, he returned, and surlily threw down double the former amount. Again he was checked by his brother, who said " Dat is in accordance with de first and second resolutions, but it is not in accordwith the third. Take back your money." The money was taken back, but after a few minutes consideration, the man returned with it and begged that it might be accepted as a cheerful gilt. The elder on this occasion took the sum, and he (Mr. Shaw) hoped that the congregation of his brother, the chairman, would go and do likewise. Subscription sheets were then handed round the pews and a handsome sum subscribed. Mr. John Macdonald then addressed the meeting, and the hour being late, it was agreed to break up and leave out several other speakers who were in the programme. The company then dispersed, the choir singing " Disciples Dear." The other anthems sung in the course of the eveuing by the choir were " The Prodigal Son," " Great is the Lord," and " The Earth is the Lords."