CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 18853, 19 June 1920, Page 2

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES

FROM PULPIT AND PEW. June G was the 76th anniversary of birth of the Young Men’s Christian Association. The world-wide movement is an everincreasing tribute to the life-work of Sir George Williams, whose desire to raise the moral standard of the young men of his time led to the foundation of the association. To-day the Y.M.C.A. has a wider objective, and believes that every boy should be trained physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. The St. Andrew’s Junior Christian Endeavour held a social evening last Wednesday to obtain material for the sweet stall at the coming bazaar. At the two previous bazaars the Junior Christian Endeavour had charge of this stall and their success on both occasions led to their being again asked to lake in hand this stall. There was a large attendance and both old and young entered enthusiastically into the games and competitions, most of which proved to be quite new and very amusing. During the evening supper was supplied in the tea-roorn, which had been very tastefully decorated by the members of the Endeavour. The ladies of the P.W.M.U. very kindly assisted in the tea rooms. A very enjoyable evening was spent and over £4, besides various gifts of material, etc., was received towards the stall funds. The fortnightly meeting of St. Peter’s Methodist Band of Hope was held in the Sunday School on Wednesday evening last. Mr G. Brown occupied the chair and in a brief speech emphasised the need to keep alive the principles of total abstinence and the urgent necessity of securing Dominion prohibition at the next election. The programme consisted of choruses, solos, recitations and dialogues rendered by the members of the Band of Hope. The large audience evinced its appreciation by its hearty and frequent applause. On Monday, June 7, the "Y” branch of the W.C.T.U. held their monthly meeting in the Y.M.C.A. rooms, t,he president, Miss Seed, being in the chair. During the evening the president gave tut outline of the history of the official organ, the ‘‘White Ribbon,” whose 25th birthday was celebrated by taking up a collection, the proceeds, £1 4s, going towards the Maori fund. An elocution class will be started shortly if sufficient pupils are forthcoming. The Rev. H. G .Gilbert gave a very helpful and instructive address for -which he was warmly thanked. Supper was then dispensed and a pleasant half hour was spent in social intercourse. During the years of the war the Pine Bush congregation dropped its annua! socials to concentrate on patriotic work. This year, however, the social was resuscitated, and it is interesting to note that it has lost non© of is old-time popularity. The church waa crowded on Tuesday, June In, many latecomers being unable to obtain seats. The chair was taken by Mr A. S. Holms, of Wairnahaka estate, who put through a lengthy programme the items of which were furnished entirely by local performers. The only outside name was that of the Rev. H. Maclean, of Knox Church, Invercargill. During the evening opportunity -was taken of bidding farewell to the Rev. W. F. Findlay who, after a ministry of 34 years, nearly 16 of which have been spent in the Fortrose parish, is retiring to enjoy tire evening of life in Timaru. Reference was made by several speakers to the faithful work done by Mr Findlay in his extensive parish, nor was Mrs Findlay forgotten, her Sunday School work being specially singled out for praise. At last Sunday evening’s service at St. Peter’s the Rev. P. J. Cossum intimated that to-morrow evening he will deliver a special address to young people entitled “True Manliness.” The choir will render special music. A pro re nata meeting of the Southland Presbytery has been called for Tuesday, June ’29, to consider the call from the Dunedin Presbytery to the Rev. Hector Maolean to St. Andrew’s Church, Dunedin. A congregational meeting of Knox Church, Invercargill, will be held at the_ conclusion of the evening service on June 27, when th« Rev John Collie will cite the congregation that St. Andrew’s. Church, Dunedin, intend giving a call to their minister, the Rev. 1L Maclean. . , The clergy often pet some surprisingly wittv rubs from the “plain-spoken women” in their flocks. There was a vicar of a very scattered rural parish who possessed a remarkable knowledge of fungi. So keen was he on his hobby that he somewhat neglected his pastoral work in his quest for specimens for his collection. One day ha popped in to see a bed-ndden old lady, and she immediately reminded him of how king it was since be last gave her a call. It 1 had been a toadstool,” .she out, “you’d have been to see me long ago.”