TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE. Annual Meeting of Congregation.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1961, 31 January 1885, Page 3

TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE. Annual Meeting of Congregation.

Thk annual meeting of the congieg«tion was held on Wednesday evening last, and wan largely attended. After tea had been served, tho arrangements for which weie admirably conducted by Mosdames s i Young, Hally, H. Ferguson and Mbs Reid, the geneial business of the meeting was commenced, the Rev. W. hvans piesiding. The anthem " H«»ly is The Loid Our God," was pleasingly lendeied by the choir, after winch de\ otion.il e\em-e^ weie conducted by the minister, who delivered .in earnest addiess, appropriate to the occasion. The minutes of the t».. pievi-ms meeting weie lead and confiimed. JMdei John Fisher, Cleik of Session, read the following report. ;— SESSION \t. KKI'OKT. How often are we lemiuded of the fact that this M not our rest, that vve are but pilgrims passim? onward t<> our final destiny This meeting, indicating another Htage in our pi ogres', the close of anothei year in our history, »» calculated to impress, thu deeply upon our he.uts. As we look back over the past year we wet abundant reasons to thiink tho great Head of the Clnnch fox his continued goodness, i\nd setting up our ebenezer to His pjaise, acknowledge that hitherto the Lord hath helped us. The work of the church was somewhat letarded Mime month* ago by the indisposition of ths pastor, but we are glad to say that he has now l>cen restored to health, and we trust to long continued usefulness. During the yeai religious services ha\o been tonducted at Cambridge, Hamilton, Fukerimu, Hautapu, and the outlying disti lets, and the ordinance* of the church ha\e been administrated. The attendance at these various services have been on the whole satisfactory. At Hautapu there h.is l.ccii no change as to the placo of meeting, but when the public school will Ik? removed, we sli.vll take the subject into consideration and act .us circumstances might dictate. In future we hope to be able to attend to the interests of Scotchman's \ alley distnct with greater efficiency than we weie able to do m the past. The Sabbath school continue* undw the able uupenntendence of Mr Brooks, and as aevenvl teacheri have left, or are about leaving, itw earnestly hoped that others will come forward and consecr.ite themselves to this good woik, that the young of our district may be trained vi. in the principles of our holy religion We are grateful to record the addition of several to our communion roll duimg the year, while, on the other hand, death has gathered into the hea\enly fold two of our faithful and tried friends. Mrs Hally, who was for many years an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, after a seveie illness fell a-sleep, resting hei hope simply on Christ as her only redeemer, and Mrs McMillan, who wa« a Christian of eminent piety, died m full confidence of hei inteiest in the Divine Saviour These events -.peak aloud to our hearts, " Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man coineth." "Inrefeiencetothefabuc of the chinch, it has l>een improved and beautified : while the congregational singing has bjen gieatly aided by the introduction of .» new pi]M> organ. We aie grateful to know that, under the able playing of Mi A. J. Kvans, the instrument is all that could be desired, there lwing nothing equal to it this side of Auckland, while our choii would certainly do ciedit to one of the city churches.* As Presbjtenans we aie not given to Jglory in facts like these, we would lathei gloiy in a sound theology — in the publication of a full and fiee gosiHil. At the same time, it is not inconsistent with our principles, ho to conduct the choral part of divine worhip that there should be nothing repugnant to rehned and cultivated taste. We are prepared to acknowledge that oui fathers, in avoiding one class ot evils, went almost to the opposite extreme, stupping this part of divine service of every «hied of ornamentation. While we would not plead for anything like florid ritual m the sen ice of the sanctuary, it becomes us to see all thing' done deceutly and in order, and we have now the means of doing this placed within our reach. In conclusion, while we are grateful for every token of heavenly benediction m the past, let us look onward and press foivvard " Them is much land yet to lie possessed. Let us listen to the call— " Come out to the help of the Lord again* t the mighty." Let us renew our covenant with God. Look well to the foundation upon which oui hopes rest. To live and act, that we may be found ready when the summons shall l>e served on us. " Give an account of thy stewardship," and be invited to entei into the joy of our Loid. Mr Brooks, treasurer, presented the baUncu-iheet and financial report, which were as follow :—: —

Audited and found correct. Auditors.

VINANCIAI, HKI'OKT. Tin* piist yc.ir has been one of the most iin]*>rt.tnt hi the history of the Church, s» far, at any rate > ** regards the activity of its hnanci.il ojierationH. The ordinary rovenue and expenditure have maintained .vbout their usual figuies, but social efforts on )>ehalf <>f the Building Improvement and Organ Fund* have insulted in an addition of £233 Os llfl to the receipt-*, ltesides pi<>ceedrt of the «ale of the Ameiican (trgtiii, witli part of which it id intended to puich«we a Hinall instrument for use at services riming the week. The alterations to the building involved an expenditure of £"2">l <»s Kd, on account of which £81 Is 4d hart Ween collected, leaving a debit balance on the building improvement account of £170 .">h 4d. AgftinHt this, £57 is aheady piomised by friends, to be paid during this year. The oigan has coat £IU7 11s, excht Hive of the expen«es incidental to the opening sei vices, againat which £152 19s 7d h;w >|«fii rained, leaving a debit balance on tho organ account, of £21 18s 4d Ag.iinst this then' are about £13 of Bubicriptionn pi<>miaed and considered good. The l.idies <>f the church who are associated in the Guild, have contributed handsomely to the improvements by giving tho table, chans, and floorcloth for the sacramental jwwh. In order to discharge outride obligations arising through the improvements, the managers found it neceßsary to raise a tempoi.iry loan. Through the kindneas of Mr J. H.illy, £2.">0 w.ui advanced by him on ten"' 4 very advantageous to the Church, of « hifh Bum £2T» has Wen repaid, leaving, after paying all known liabilities, a debt of £22">. Thn may lie reduced at any time, as the ptomirfcd subscriptions come m, and the retuing nianageis hoj>e theii Huccosors in office will be able to cleai ;t off at an eaily c<l ' F. J. Brooks, Treasurer. MrAV. Siintns icad the Psalmody Com. pjitteo's fepoit, whivll was* as Mlvwc ;--Th«

chief business which has engaged the attention of the Psalmody Committee during the past year has been the acquiring of our oigan, and it h with gicat pleasuie and satisfaction tliat the members close their term of office, having leason to believe the instrument is appreciated by the congiegation. Through the liberality of subscriber to the fund the cost ban been almost de frayed, as the financial repmt has .iheady shown, without having apptopu.ited to the purpose tlie money received fiom the sale of the old instrument. It is piopo^ed shoitly to make an effort to clear off the leniaming balance by inviting an An ck Kind minister to lectuie on behalf of the fund. The committee desiie to record their appieciation of tlio very satisfactory m.uiner vi which Messis Henry Jonts and Sons "f London, have executed the older, and of the kind assistance rendeied by the Rev. <h P. Hewlett, tlnough whom the ordei was suiit ; al«o of then gratitude to Mi Thomas Macky, of Auckhnd, m'lh> attendod to tlie landing and tiansit of tlie organ tlnough Auckland, fiee of charge ; and to Messrs Brown and Ferguson, who conveyed it gi.ituitously fiom Hamilton. The oiganist and choir li.ue ben legulai and attentive to their duties, .vnd the Psalmody Committee desire to express their approval of the satisfactoiy mannoi 111 which the musical poition of the, seivice has been conducted. Ihe committee would call attention of niiMinVn to the excellent volume of psalms and hymns entitled "Church Praise," which has received the sanction ot the Geneial Assembly, and has been adopted by some of the Auckland churches. It is not thought de-irabUs to move for its adoption hciu atiJitvseiit, but they lecoiniuend that whenever the supply of books in use by the members of the congregation lequuesto be renewed, a change should be made, and the book m question adopted. W. Simms, Secretary. The follow ing is the Ladies' Guild j epoi t : —The ladies' guild has been cat nod on throughout the year, with more 01 less iegul.inty. The attendance has vai led from 30r4 to 701 8. Work has generally been plentiful, so much so that some of the ladies kindly volunteeied to take some home, in order to finish it by the tune it was wanted. Any fi lends willing to help will be very gladly received. There is a- small collection of useful and ornamental aiticlcs in hand, which the ladies have made, and foi which they will be glad to find purchaser. It is hoped that more fi lends will inteiest themselves 111 this sphere of work m the coming year, and thus infuse more spit it and inteiest into the hearts of those who w ei e the originators of this good woik. It is pioposed to recommence the meetings of the guild in a week from this tune, and to introduce somciiiipiovementsin the method of working. J)ue notice of the first meeting will be given, and it is hoped that the ladies of the congregation will unite in making tins part of the chuich work successful. M. Brooks, .Sec. pro tern. On the motion of Messrs Kincaid and J. Ferguson, the reports and balance-sheet weie adopted. Eldei Rhodes cvpressod his great satisfaction at the method in which the building improvements had been earned out, and admitted tlmt though he had legaided the alterations and iinpoitation of the oigan as inadvisable, the lesult had caused him to alter his opinion, and regard the whole with pleasure. Ho paid a, high tubute of praise to tlie committee and to the trea>uiei for then able management, and also to Mr W. .Sllllllll and Mr A. J. Evans (the oiganist), foi then indefatigable exertions on behalf of the organ. The anthem, "Incline thine Ear," was well rendeied by the choir, Mr Evans piesiding at the organ with his accustomed ability. It was resolved, on the motion of Messis Watt and H. Ferguson, that the number of member-, of the committee for the town disfciict be increased to six. The follow ing gentlemen were elected as managers for the year: — For Cambndge tow 11 . — Messrs, Saigent, Hally, Souttcr, McMillan, J. Ferguson and T. Simms. Cam budge subinbs -.—Messrs Brown and J. Cameron. Pukeiimu: — Messrs W. Scott and A. Wallace. Hautapu :— Messrs W. Russell aud Wm. Covvloy. Tauvvhaie :— Messrs C. Shaw and D. Bell. The following Psalmody Committee were elected .—Messis J. Fciguson, W. Simnis, J. L. Soutter, \V. Kincaid and F. J. Brooks. On the motion of Elders Rhodes and Fisher, Mr F. J. Biooks -\\.is appointed tieasiirer, and on the motion of Messis Biooks and Fisher, Mr Saigent was appointed secretaiy. Shvr Lkttinc— Circulais had been issued lequesting the attention of membeis to the mattei, and pointing out the ditfi culty the committee had experienced, owing U theie being a much laiger number of sittings applied for than weie available. Elder Watt pi opened, and Mi A. Wallace seconded, " That the chuich leveit to the former method of administiation, and all seats be ontiiely free." An amendment by Mr Goodfellow to the effect that " tlie letting of sittings as adopted during the past six months bo continued," found no seconder, and lapsed. The motion was then put to the meeting, with the 1 esiilt that 20 voted for it and only one against it. Elder Watt's proposition was therefore decl.ned earned. On the motion of Messrs Sargent and Kincaid, a special vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Win. Simnis for the interest he had cv inced, and the assistance he had rendeied, especially with regard to the j inimical poition of the sei vices, and paid a high compliment to him for his eneigetic help in laising funds for the new oigan, great credit being also due to the organist, Mr Evans, with whom the project first originated. votes of thankw weie also accoided to membeis of the outgoing committee, the stewards ot the Wesleyan Church, the school committees at Huutapu and Tanwhare, and to the friends who had conducted the music of the church at the various places of meeting. The minister then pronounced the Benediction, thus closing one of the most successful meeting"! which has been held in connection with tlie chuich.

£ ». d. £ i. d fo Balance brought forward S <» „ Plate collectionsCambridge 102 13 2 Pukenmu 9 10 5 Hautapu 3 4 7 TaUHharC __Lllls 15 7 To Subscriptions to SttCd * ° rUamSt>S w3 6 „ Scat rent. '" '. »> 0 0 , Subscriptions to Huiiding Improvement Fund .. 09 17 0 „ Collection at re- opening scrTicC iL-LJ 81 1 4 „ Receipts on Oifan Ac- „ count 10l 10 . „ Nott proceeds of soiree „ „ - (December) . 19 8 < Nett proceeds of Social Meetmc (April) ... 1' * „ Collections on behalf of " special scheme" ... jl2 0 „ Hymn-booV:, sold ... J ° !I „ American Or«an .... do 0 o „ Loan Account -V>o 0 0 less refund on account .. 2a 0 0 225 0 0 Proceeds sale of Horse 8 0 0 7o" (i r>

EM'BNDJTURI'. £ s. d. £ i d Ity Stipend .'-.0 0 0 „ Amount remitted to Genera! Treasurer ... 8 11 0 IncidcnUl Expenses ... 30 11 0 „ Organist's Salary ... 10 0 0 „ HuildinK ImproTfments— Archit-ct and Builders' Accounts 2*2 13 10 Cobtot Lamps, Matting, etc 18 12 10 _.»1 0 8 Orjan Amount— ImoireCo^t 120 0 0 Freight and Krei tion 47 11 0 hxpfnses of ()p<"ninj; ht-n icc>,poi (Jifi*, teleifraroi, etc _L?i! 1U 17 n Cost of Hjmnbooks for ' salo •• •• . • • 317 10 „ InUTC^t, Rate* and In<or- " CoJTof Ho'Ae '..'. '.". D 0 0 " I'.alancp in Bank of New Zealand 4 8/ 707 6 &

Trinity Church Cimbkiix.k, jjvlvnteshkkt kortheYkak k>di.no Dm.-k.mhui 31»t, 1884.