Knox Church.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 103, 1 February 1900, Page 2

Knox Church.

The annual business meeting of the congregation T» 7 as held in the Minday School H.dl on Tuesday evening, when the Rev A. S. Morrison presided over the 30 persons present. After devotional exercises, and the reading cf the minutes of last annual meeting, the Clerk of Session, Mr Smith, read the Ses&ion's report. 'J his showed among other things that there had been a nett gain of 11 to the membership of the church, the number ot members at the end of the year being 164; average attendance at communion, 81. It-v\as remarked that there had been a gratifying improvement in church attendance during the latter part of the year/ Inference w s made to the fact that the Sunday services were much better attended m the evenings than m the mornings, and it was suggested that possibly the late hour to which many people were detained at business on Saturday nights rendered them unfit to attend church on Sunday mornings. Efforts were being made to have service at Waihao Downs every Sunday instead of once a fortnight as hitherto. The contributions to missions (£3O 10s 6d) was a large increase on that Of former years. On the motion to adopt the report, some discussion on Saturday night shop hours took place, during which it was pointed out that the session suggested no remedy for the i evil. * Miss Strong read the report of tho bunday School. There had been progress all round. Roll f.or the year, 138 ; average attendance, 100; No of teachers, 14; and increases in contribution to missions. Mr Allan read the Sunday School balance sheet. This showed receipts of' over £21, and a credit balance at the end of the year. At' this stage the Rev. Mr Morrison delivered an address, in which he thanked the congregation for the welcome they had given Mrs Morrison and himself, and the cordial support he had received in his work during the past, his "first year as their minister. -He mad> special reference to work among the young, giving praise to the Sunday School teachers. He remarked that three young persons oonnected with the church, country residents, had been prize-takers in the " Outlook " competitions, one of these topping the list for the colony. He expressed the hope that the work of Bible-class and Christian jExtdeavour Society would be taken up heartily during the coming year. '1 hanks were due to Messrs Tstrackieton, Hopkins and Mansfield, for their services in connection with the interdenominational SundayschooJs at Hannaton, Kapua and Waituna respectively. He had made 462 pastoral visits, and hoped in

future to visit each family at least twice during the year. The secretary, Mr P. Grant, read the report of the Management Committee, and Mr W, Coltman, the statement of receipts and expenditure. These showed that the ! finances of the church had greatly improved. It was resolved that the committee of management* should be increased to ten, fivefetiriug annually. Messrs "W. M. Hamilton, W. Miller, R. Y. Eoyd, T. J. Smith and -R. Kicol were elected to the vacancies of the present year. Votes of thanks were passed to the Session, Committee, Sundayschool teachers and office-bearers. On the motion of Mr W. Allan, seconded by Mr T. Brown, a resolution was passed thanking the pastor for, and cordially expressing appreciation of, his services during the past year. Mr Morneon expressed pleasure at receiving such a token of tbeir confidence and goodwill. The meeting closed witn the benediction.