ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 14 September 1911, Page 3

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

l - ANNUAL MEETING. ') There was a good attendance at* St.' • Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Tues- . day night, when the Rev. J. R. Shore, 1 of Hinwra, and Moderator of the Tara- '- naki Presbytery, presided over the oni nual meeting of the congregation. The s proceedings opened with devotional cx- ■ ercises. ' The session reported that during tlto 1 year twelve names had been added to < the roll of members—three on profession of faith, seven by certificate, and i two iby reinstatement. Twelve names ! , had been .removed from the roll, leaving 10!) in good standing, the same a-s last year. The roll was purged on June 113, .when the above was the result. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was I observed three times during the year. Seventeen children were baptised during the year, and six marriages were j solemnised. ' The managers reported that dt had , been resolved to have the manse put in a thorough state of repair and painted, jond this was now being carried out un'der the supervision of a committee. During the year Mr. ,T. G. McGregor was appointed honorary organist, (but las the position interfered with his duties in the Postal Deportment he had been reluctantly compelled to resign the appointment The thanks of the congregation were due to him for his services. The organ had been thoroughly overhauled and tuned. Messrs. J. W. Taunt, J. K. Hannah, and - Robert .Evans had resigned from the'committee, and the positions would have to be I filled. Mr. Taunt had also resigned the secretaryship, and Mr. N. K. MacDiarmid had been appointed to the position. The revenue for the year amounted to £335 7s *2d, and the year closed with an overdraft at the bank of £US Is 3d, as against £BD 14s 2d at this time last year. This overdraft' ■ Mrs. W, N. Ewing had generously ofi fered to try to wipe out by a systematic canvass of the members of the congregation, and she had so far met with encouraging success. The managers tendered Mrs. Ewing their hearty thanks for the effort she was making. • Thanks were also due to Mr. Sinicock ' for his work in keeping the church ground in order. The committee invited volunteers to assist him in the work. As the committee had heavy ex- : penditure to meet during the past year, it was earnestly hoped that the SaMw.th ' collections would be as liberal as members could make them during the new < year the church had now entered on. The Sunday School report stated '

that the scholars on the roll numbered 115. ami the averaje attendance was !)1. The teachers enrolled were 22. and their average attendance ]<!. Tlie financial statement showed a credit balance of £S 10s 2d. Sixtv-six scholars ha-d (rained attendance prizM. 24 had obtained certificates and prizes for the General Assembly's Catechism examination, three certificates for the ("Scripture examination, two for the essay, and 20 for repenting Scripture. TheTe were now 07 members of St. Andrew's branch of the T.8.R.A.. of which Miss Taunt was the secretary. Tt was. regretted that there was not a voung people's Bible Class connected with the school. Appreciative reference was made to the labors .for the school of the Rev. S. R. Osborne, Mrs. Oborne. nnd Mr. A. Osborne, who had resigned. •The. Dorcas Society's report stated that interest in the work had been well maintained, although the attendance hud not been as pood as last vear. Messrs. Smart Bros, were thanked for a donation of a {jus-heater. These report* and the various balancesheets were adopted. Management Committee. Tt was necessary to elect three members to fill the places of Messrs. Taunt, TTamia and F.vaTis. who had resigned, and Messrs. W- r, arapbcl!. X. R. McTsaae, and A. K. Smart were appointed. Mr. A. Anderson was re-appointed awl i tor. Tlie committee were given the powpr to fill any vneancies which might, occur. Bible S o "iety. Miss Taunt, and Mr. MacDiarmid were reappointed to represent the church. . Votes of thanks were passed to all chuNi workers, and Mr. Ewing emphasised the importance of the Dorcas iSoeietv and the influence it had in ehnireh work. Snecial votes of thanks were passed to .Mrs. Ewing and to Mr. MacDiarmid. To the former for her energetic canvass to wipe off the overdraft, and tr the bitter for the zeal in -which he carried out the mnnv duties connected with the offices held by him. Mr. MacDiarmid thanked the congregation foi the vote of thanks, and. on behalf r>l Mrs. Ewing, Mr. TOwing did likewise, aw 1 stated that the, sum of £lO2 Ss fid hac: been collected towards wiping off the overdraft. The meeting closed with the hymn, "C Cod, our Tlelp in ages past," and the Benediction.