PRESBYTERIAN ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL SOIREE.
I The annual congregational meeting of the Presbyterian Church took place on the evening of Thursday, 17 th February ; the Hey. A. H. Stobo, pastor, in the chair. Tea was to have been on the table at half-past six o'clock, but by some cause or other .-..did 'not... make its appearance until nearly eight, • The delay was most wearisome and annoying, taxing the good humor of those assembled to the utmost, in spite of the minister's attempt to fill up the gap (profitably by the reading of a number of tracts. "At last, however, the servitors appeared with their steaming urns, and the lively rattle of the china broke pleasingly the dreary silence. After j bodily wants had . been abundantly supplied, and thanks returned, the chairman opened the intellectual part of the programme by an able address on the general condition of the congregation. Alluding to points of analogy between the existence of an individual and that of a Christian congregation, he said a year in the life of the latter would be found to afford more subjects for reflection than an equal lapse of time in the life of a single person, inasmuch as the experiences of the church involved the changes which had occurred to all its members. A year, especially in youth, seemed a long time to look forward to, but when past it appeared short indeed, and when looking back, he had frequently found himself humbled on account of the little that had been done. In view of the great work in hand, the great work about which they were then met, the work of the church, the furtherance of the kingdom of Christ, life itself seemed short, and it became him and them to press on, redeeming the time. Occasions like that were suggestive and appropriate points on which to pause for a moment and survey t;ie pTst, as also to take a prospective glance, for the purpose of discerning what; improvements might be effected in the future. He thought it most erroneous to suppose that any church was perfect, or minister either ; the safest course for both was to be progressive — striving after greater usefulness and excellence. Turning to the records of the congregation, he found that the roll of members had stood much the same for a number of years. Many names had, of course, been changed, but the number stood about the same. At their last celebration of the Lord's Supper, 174 communicants had actually sat down- at the previous one, six months before that, the number had been 180, and at the one before that again, 185 had partaken. This showed a slight decrease on the actual attendantce at the sacrament, and he held this the truest criterion of a church's vitality. Many of their most steady and promising members had been obliged from com mercial causes to leave the place, and many of their young men had also gone away, owing to the long prevalent depression, still, he thought there were plenty of young people rising up to fill these breaches, if they would only come forward ; but they did not. It seemed in these colonies that young men, as they came up to maturity, were fairly carried off and absorbed by the world. This showed vital godliness to be at a low ebb, defectiveness in the means for promoting it, and the necessity of a special effort being made to counteract worldly influences on the young. He was glad to see this question attract special attention at the late synodical meeting, and was in hopes that even during the present year something might be effected in reviving the work of God in our midst. One means to this end, which had been resolved upon, wasaraore frequent change of pulpits amongst the ministers. Alluding to the natural reserve of the national character, he thought it would be better if sOme freer intercourse on spiritual matters were encouraged. He would not for a moment admit that if men were not prone to speak on religious topics, it was an evidence that they had none in their hearts — fat from it, the reverse might ofren be the case — but he thought reserve was carried just a little too far, and that a little more conversation on such subjects would be a means of much good. He hoped his own session even might do something in the way of affording opportunities to enquirers ; and he took the opportunity of saying for himself, that he was always glad to meet personally with such at hia own house or elsewhere. Another point to which he wished to draw attention, was the irregularity in attendance at church. It was lamentable that many even of their own people rarely were to be seen in their pews ; others, again, came just a time or two on particular occasions — when the sacrament was approaching, or when they were likely to require baptism administered. A slight improvement had been observable in this respect during the past year, as also in the attendance at the weekevening meetings, both at the church and at those which he held in private houses throughout the district. It had been justly said that the week-evening Prayer Meeting was the pulse of the church, and there was still much room in this respect for stronger indications of their vitality. The Sunday morning Bible Class * bad also increased a little, but not enough. He would like to see it taken advantage of by a much greater number of those for whose benefit it was intended — young men and young women. The importance to them of getting right principles firmly established in their hearts at that critical stage of their life could not be over-estimated. In conclusion, as their minister, he could only follow the example of Paul, and throw himself upon their prayers and co-opera-tion, feeling assured that, having these, the church would prosper and do good. He was especially in want of assistance in the matter of domiciliary visitation to those who attended no place of worship, and" who were living without thought or care about their souls A He would be J
glad to see any member of the congrega^ tion, whether office-bearer or not, come forward to\ help in this matter. He trusted that by v laboring, earnestly together they might have larare evidencer of the presence of the spirit of God during the present year. Thos. Watson, Esq., Treasurer, read the following report on the financial affairs of the cßu^ch :— ,
£IGW 14 9 Mr "Watson added that it would be observed little, progress had been made in. clearing off the old debt, but he might draw attention to" the fact that about £150 had been spent in making necessary and valuable additions to the property, which, had it been applied to the liquidation of the old liability, would have reduced it to a very small sum. He hoped, however, that the present? year would see it wiped entirely off, as the Deacon's Court had decided to spend no more for extraneous purposes until the balance was cleared off. On the motion of Mr Grant, seconded by Mr Porter, the report, as read, wa* adopted. Mr Alex.M'air, Secretary and Treasurer to the Sabbath School, gave a report of the progress of that institution. After mentioning several improvements which had recently been effected in the manage- • ment of the school, he said the attendance 'had been gradually increasing. In L 867 the average was 101; in 1868, 133; in 1869, 151 ; and during January, the present year, it had . risen „to 171. . ;It9 finances had also greatly improved, for besides having made additions to the library, &c, they had now a much larger balance in hand than at the commencement of last year. Speaking of the library, he said that it was now largely used by the children, and was most admirably managed by Mr Jno. M'Pherson, who not only gave a deal of attention and care to its proper conduct, but had also recently sent home an order for £5 worth: of books for it at his o«oi cost —an instance of liberality and goodwill which his fellow-teachers and the school generally would not soon forget. Mr J. Findlay, in moving the adoption of the report, took occasion to deliver a Ion? address upon the subject, which was said by those who heard it to be most • able and interesting. Unfortunately, however, the speaker's voice was not powerful enough to reach beyond the two or three pews in front, and the good of the oration was cgnsequently lost to the majority of the audience, many ;of whom exhibited symptoms of uneasiness ... in sitting out what, to them, was simply a dumb pantomime. After a service of fruit had been partaken of, the meeting was further addressed by Mr Bethune on: Bands of Hope ; by Mr Erskine on Psalmody ; and by Mr Porter on Missions'. Between the various speeches, the choir, a very efficient one, under the leadership of Mr Erskine, sang a number of anthems and other pieces of music, which were much appreciated by the assembly. At. about half- past 11 o'clock, rather a late hour, proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of the doxology, 'Miord pe» us Still," after which the people were dispersed with the usual benediction from the pastor. • _. ... „ .
BECKIPT3. Subscriptions to Sustentation Fund £220 0 6 Seat Rents ... ... 'V. ' — '210 0 6 Church door collections, ordinary... 188 15: Church door cn] lections, special ... 46.2 8 Proclamation Fees ... ... ... 15 0 0 Myross Bush Mission ... ••• . 25 4 0 Dnysnrine Insurance Fund ... .42 12 6 Do Maintenance Fund, being contents of Sunday School Missionary boxes for 1868 an 1 1869, including donation of £2 from Mr \ Arnot , ... ... 721 .7 S Do do Myross Bush Sunday School 3 15 0 Proceeds of Soiree, 1869 ... ... 7 0 6 Collection for Foreign Missions ... 20 17 0 Collection for Queeiistown. Church 15, 1 0 £815'' 6 0 Balance due Treasurer ... '... 245 9 9 £1060 14 9 j EXPEKDITUBI". I Sustentation Fund, accounted for to Q-eneval Treasurer ... ... ... £220 0 0 IDo do Supplement to Minister ... 104 16 * Mr Bethune /Missionary ht Myross X'A ' : ■ ■ -: ;A. j Bush ... ...... 7... 70 0 0 Salary to Precentor... ... ' ... 25 0 0 ! Salary to Beadle 36 7 6 Amount of special collections paid to those interested... • ... ... 149 15 *T Cost of additional land at Manse... 31 10 O Fencing and ditching same ... 42 S 8 Alterations and additions to Manse 18 3 4 Cost of stable ... ... ... 16 9 10 Furniture for vestry, &c. ... ... 13 13 O Book shelves in pews, &c... ... 18 5 6 British Messenger and books ... 714 6 Subscription to Manse Road, ' insurance, advertising, &c. ... 24 9 O Interest, Synodical expense, &o. ... 17 7 6Kerosene and lamp glasses ... 10 2 3 £806 2 11 87-i;*ec froa. iast.jear ..'. . ',„ 254 1110
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Southland Times, Issue 1217, 1 March 1870, Page 2
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1,815PRESBYTERIAN ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL SOIREE. Southland Times, Issue 1217, 1 March 1870, Page 2
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