TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE. Annual Meeting.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1493, 28 January 1882, Page 2

TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE. Annual Meeting.

The annual congregational meeting of the above church was held in the church on Wednesday evening laat, the Rev. Wm. Evans in the chair. There were about forty members and adherents of the church present. - After prayer, and the minutes of the previous meetings having been confirmed, Mr John Fishes elder, read the following sessional report :—: — Report of Session for 1881. Having seen another year pass away, it becomes us, as a church, to seek to ascertain what lessons the past may teach us, so as to make us more dovoted and useful in the future. .^ln reviewing the year just brought to aShjso.j^^are led to acknowledge our debt of grmaiwm our God and Father for manifold nier<xt«lMotowed upon us ; as individuals and as a'chunih JjKlt is a, rare thing for twelve months to puf^over a. Christian community without some of their number being removed by death : but we are thank* iul to be able to state that, during the past year, not one of our number has fallen. ,Our meetings of session have been held at their usual times, or as circumstances required ; * and we are glad to record the fact that peace and Christian harmony have invariably prevailed. The means of grace have been supplied as usual at Cambridge, Pukerimu, and Hautapu; also, bv the~atd'of Mr Fulton, at Hamilton ; and once every, month service has been conducted at the house of Mr Russell, Taoharoa, or Scotchman's Valley. The Ordinances of baptism' and the Lord's Supper have been regularly administered at Cambridge, Pukerimu and Hamilton. These ordinances havo also been administered by the pastor at Ngarawahia and Huntly. The number of members on the roll is 103, showing an increase of sixteen on the preceding year, eight of whom were received by certificate. ■ Communion classes have been conducted by the minister at Pukerimu and Hautapu, and one is about to be formed in connection with Trinity Church, Cambridge. We anticipate much good from these efforts. The Sabbath-school has been efficiently carried on by Mr , Brooks, ' aided by his staff of teachers. During the last four months a morning school has been added to the one held in the afternoon. The average attendance is good, both of teachers and scholars. The bible-class for young women, conducted by Miss Eliza Young, has been well sustained; and the bibleclass tor young men is abont being placed under the care of Mr John Perkins, who has kindly consented to take charge of it. The band of hope continues to prosper, and we trust that this effort will prove to be of benefit to the rising gencratiou in years yet to come. At the meetings is 46. - Four years ago there wat a considerable number of members of other churches who united with us in all our services. Many of these have now withdrawn to support churches of their several denominations, and now it may be said for the first time we stand , almost alone. This applies merely to Cambridge. This must tell, at least for the present, upon this congregation. The Sabbath school has passed through a similar ordeal. Under these circumstances, it becomes all who would be loyal members of our church to be faithful to the house of the Lord. We feel bound to impress this upon the members of our church. Fidelity and consistency in our brethren cheer and gladden our hearts, while laxity and indif. ference discourage arid hinder us in doing the Lord's work. We are at all times called upon I to be faithful, especially at the present time. It is our glory to know that as Presbyterians we have a noble ancestry. Among our lathers were men of whom the world was not worthy. While they were men of high culture and scholarly attainments, they were withal 'men of deep and earnest piety ; men who counted not their lives dear that they might secure for Scotland and the world the pure gospel of Christ; , Their mantles have fallen, and still do fall upon'their successors. We would not in the least appear to disparage other Christian churches; but' this we will say, that none have Inore reason^to be proud of _ their history" and thetr_ church than Presbyterians. Permit us,, then,, in conclusion, to say— Brethren, be faithful to your principles ; cultivate peace and brotherly affection. Let us strive to further the interests of the religion we profess. Let the world see the earnestness of our piety, and the excellency of our church polity. In short, so let us live and act that the voice of the Master may greet us at last, saying, "Well done, good and faithtul servants, enter into the joy of your Lord."— W. Evans, minister; Jno. Fisher, session clerk. The following balance sheet and financial report for the year were presented by the treasurer, Mr Brooks. Balance Sheet. — To, subscriptions to stipend fund, £124 17s 6d; plate collections, £116 18s ; amount received from Hamilton stipend, £35 12s 6d ; donation from Messrs Jas. and David Paton, Tillicoultry (Scotland), per Mr J. P. Thompson, £20 ; nett profit from conversazione, £12 16s 9d j proceeds of hymn books sold, 7s 8d; total, £310 12s sd. By balance from • last statement, 1 £14 10s Id; stipends, £233 15s; , church officer, £11 ; rates and insurance, £5 16s 3d; interest, £15 11s 4d ; amount remitted to general treasurer for assembly expenses, £2 17s ; pain Town Board for tree planting, £3 6s 6d ; sacramental expenses, 1880-1, £1 14s ; printing, postage, telegrams and sundries, £3 2s 3d ; law costs re church title, £2 6d ; lighting, &c-, £5 18s 2d ; balance in hand account, credit: Bank of New Zealand, £10 15s 10(1 ; total, £310 12s sd. Financial Reform 1881.— -It iawith feelings of thankfulness to our Divine Master that we are enabled to present a report which we believe to be fairly encouraging. The increased responsibility which this congregation assumed at the meeting held in April last, in under* taking to provide almost the whole of the minister's stipend, instead of only threefourths as formerly, caused your office bearers some anxiety, but, being the decision of the Church, they have done their best to meet the case, and the fact that all current liabilities have been met, and that a balance remains in hand, call for fervent thanksgiving 1 . This might not have been the case but for the handsome donation of £20 from Messrs James and David Paton, of Tillicoultry, Scotland, received through our friend Mr J. P. Thomson, and your committee have recorded a vote of thanks to these gentlemen for their timely Christian help. As the congregation has, in the year past, been taking the important progressive step already alluded to, the managers deemed it prudent to defer contributing to the church extension and other general schemes of the church until it should be proved that all local liabilities had been duly met, believing -it right to be just before they were generous. During the year the Grown grant for this property has been acquired, and steps are being taken to have the title established in the hands of trustees, The mortgage, £150 on a portion of the manse property, which is the only liability on the charge, has been renewed for a further term of five years at a more favourable rate of interest. In conclusion, the office bearers desire to thank the members of the con* gregation for the hearty support they received in carrying out the arrangements for the recent conversazione and picnic. The former resulted . in a substantial benefit to the church funds, and the latter, while being advantageous in many ways, was productive of a small surplus in money, which has-been handed to the treasurer of thejSunday School. After a little consideration, the balancesheet and financial report were adopted. The election of officers .for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. $ Mr Brooks was elected treasurer and secretary, and the following gentlemen members of the committee :— Messrs Kincaid, Perfrns, Wright, Goodfellow (Cambridg), Baxter, Dyl?es. (suburbs), Bailey, .W. Oowley, (Hauljapu), A. Wallace, R. Watson (Pukerimu), Shaw,' 'Russell (Scotchman's' Valley), and Ellii, (Tao« taoroa). Mr, J.. P,. ; Thomson 'presented the report of the Psalmody Committee, and concluded by moving^ a special; 'rote of thanks to the organist, MrliL J. Evans, which was jCamed;, with acclamation. , The fallowing*" gentlemen} j were then elected as members of ? theJPsalmody Committee ;— -Messrs, T)iJDtjmuL\. Goodfellow, prummp^^^te^^^i Juot. A vote ! otJhSa^g^ag^lfi the Hautapu , School^^himittee\ and the offigers/pf J^^^i^csl^^if^Jmrch ,for the use,, of »thep ,build^gstdunngjkthe., past 'Was carried i^to^pnchi^iumth^ji J Votea of tK«!nks 'yft^i&^p^Cm^Uma J,

and D. P&ton, of Scotland, for' their handsome donation of £20 towards the church funds. Duridg the evening the choir enlivened the proceedings by contributing the anthem "Lord of all power and might, " and other pieces. The meeting was considered by all present to be the most successful and most satisfactory ever held since the opening of the church.