ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 111, 18 August 1910, Page 4

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETIXG. The annual congregational meeting of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was held last night in St. Andrew's Church. There was a fair attendance of members and adherents, the fiev. S. S. Osborne occupying the chair. The report of the session included the following:—Attendance at church has been 'better than in the preceding year, as, on the whole, weather conditions have been more favorable. The week-night meeting does not improve in attendance, which is to be deplored. But we are thankful to have a few faithful souls who realise the need for prayer, and who come regularly to call upon God. During the year nineteen persona joined the fellowship of our church—ten on profession of faith, and nine by certificate. We have lost thirteen—seven by removal to other districts, and six by death or otherwise. As is customary, the roll has I been purged, and there are now one hundred and nine members in good standing, as agaiinst one hundred and three this time last year. Twenty-three child- ( ren have been baptised during the year j—fifteen in the homes of their parents, I and eight on the Sabbath in the public congregation. It is a hopeful sign that parents are coming back to the good old ' way of publicly dedicating their children |to God. We hope for still better thingß lin tin's respect. 'Eight marriages Jiave '. been solemnised during the year, and j eight funerals conducted. Several sharp criticisms were passed j upon this report. Exception was taken to the meagre notice of the Hugh Paton Mission. A point was made of the notable omission of any reference to work among young men. It was v pointed out that a church without young men was in a poor state, and the session was asked to look into the matter. j The committee reported: "The statement of affairs shows that the debit off the general account has been reduced from £10(1 Ids fkl to £81) 14s 2d, due to the recent from the )P<end«rves street property coming into the general fund. The Manse Fund Loan Account, as stated 1 by Mr. Ewing at last annual meeting, is now paid off, leaving us with* only a debt of €7OO on the manse at a low rate of interest, or, in other words, we have an equity in the manse property in Devon street 6f at least £7OO. The committee again records its appreciation of , Mr. Ewing'sa very valuable labor in this ■mattor Tlia .Snafpnfntinn Fund haM

The committee reported: "The statement of affairs shows that the debit off the general account has been reduced from £10(1 ltts fkl to £81) 14s 2d, due to the recent from the )P<enikrves street property coming into the general fund. The Manse Fund Loan Account, as stated by Mr. Ewing at last annual meeting, is now paid off, leaving us with* only a debt of €7OO on the manse at a low rate of interest, or, in other words, we have an equity in the manse property in Devon street 6f at least £7OO. The committee again records its appreciation of Mr. Ewing'sa very valuable labor in this matter. The Suatentation Fund haj yielded £43 4s Cd, as compared wtlj. £l7 7s Od for the previous year, dujj entirely to the Efforts of Mrs. Campbell, to whom the committee tender their moaV hearty thanks for her painstaking and successful work.—The report was unanv mously adopted. The reports of the Sabbath Schdol and Ladies' Dorcas Society were also adopted. The garments made by the ladies go to the Presbyterian Orphanage in Wellington. Their energies are also directed towards helping the back block mission stations.

• The usual votes of thanks were given to the Committee of Management, auditor, lady collectors, choir and Sabbath School teachers..

Messrs. Hannah and Taunt, the retiring members of the committee, were reelected. Mr. A. Anderson was re-elected auditor. Miss Taunt and Mr. McD&armid were elected as representatives to the British and! Foreign Bible Committee. At the conclusion of the ordinary business the following resolution was passed: "This meeting of the congregation of St. Andrew's Church, New Plymouth, desires to express its hearty sympathy with the efforts at present being put forth in this town and elsewhere to secure (I) the abolition of legalised gambling and (2) the abolition of licenses for the sale of intoxicating drink; and prays that under God's guidance and blessing these efforts may be crowned with success."