SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20282, 26 August 1937, Page 13

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH CONGREGATIONAL MEETING. ELECTION OF ELDERS.

The annual Tneeting of St. Andrew’s congregation was held last evening when despite the unpropitious weather there was a large and representative gathering. The Rev. H. G. Gilbert presided, and congratulated members upon the position as disclosed In the reports. He expressed the pleasure Ae and Mrs Gilbert experienced in resuming pastoral work In St. Andrew’s after their tour of Europe, the Holy Land and the mission fields, and thanked all who had co-operated 60 heartily In the work of the church and in meeting a position of more than usual difficulty with heartening loyalty and self-saorlflcing generosity. The session report (Mr C. L. MaoDiarmid, clerk) stated that the roll had been thoroughly revised and now stood at 449 members. By profession of faith 25 had Joined up and 30 by certificate. A number of disjunction certificates had been issued. The average attendance at the quarterly Communion was 307 at the main ohurch, and the ordinance had also been observed quarterly at Melville. Reference was made to the services rendered to the church by the Rov. R. R. Grant Sutherland as locum tenens during the absence of the minister, the Rev. H. G. Gilbert, to whom, and Mrs Gilbert, a warm welcome home was tendered. The report referred to members who had died during the year. “We commend all those who have suffered loss to the goodness uf our Great Father in Heaven,” added the report. “During the year Mr W. (I. Sayers resigned from the Session. His long service to the congregation as an elder and in other capacities is gratefully acknowledged. In conclusion, the session desires to express Its appreciation of the work done by the various church office-bearers and by the numerous organisations and Institutions which continue to carry out and assist In the work of St. Andrew’s. Most of these organisations are presenting their own reports, from which It. will be evident that the congregation is In good heart and that our position is being maintained. For our minister we again ask the support and the prayers of the people.” Management Committee. For the Management Committee tho secretary reported that the financial position of the congregation was satisfactory. All the church property was In good order, a meed of praise in this connection being paid to Mr George Glevely, who, as chairman of the Buildings and Property Committee, had given generous service. The year had opened with a debit balance of £sl. This had been converted into a credit of £67 17s 6d. A sale of work at the close of the year had netted £226, an effort which was largely due to Mr and Mrs Gilbert, who, “fresh from a tour of the mission fields and fully seized by the needs there, Imparted their enthusiasm to the members of the P.W.M.U. and other organisations, with the result that tho objective was reached.” The amount raised for all church purposes during the year was £I4OB 4s Bd. The standing debt on the church property had been reduced by £25. anti now stood at £2200. The committee urged members and adherents to adopt the envelope system for regular giving to the schemes of the church, and also asked for Increased support to the debt extinction fund. Regret was expressed that Mr E. L. Jones, who as treasurer had rendered invaluable service for over 20 years, had found it necessary to resign that office. It was stressed that the position was one of major importance, and Mr Jones had discharged the duties in an exemplary manner, the special thanks of the congregation being due to him. The loss of Mr R. 11. Page by death had been greatly felt, as he had been a faithful worker. Thanks were tendered to all who had assisted in the material affairs of the church, and “a continuance of the co-operation and support which have long characterised St. Andrew’s congregation” was confidently anticipated.

The statement of accounts showed the following credit balances: General account £67 17s 6(1 (£66 6s lid allocated to missions) ; Melville account, £8 15s Pd; church extension fund, £2 IPs lid (transferred to debt extinction); debt extinction, £l4 1 Is 2d; Sunday school building, £174 1 Is Id All the subsidiary organisations showed credits varying from 13s lo £2l 2s /id. Other Organisations. The report of the P.W.M.U. (4 4 financial members) indicated Dial it is a live body and had maintained an active and sustained interest in the various mission schemes of (he Church by means of visits and letters from missionaries from overseas. Tribute was paid to Mr and Mrs Gilbert, who have “not spared Themselves in relating to us their travels in Palestine and Vi Hie mission fields in China and India. The fruits of Mr Gilbert’s travel talks have benefited not only St. Andrew’s but many oilier congregations.” .Mission boxes had netted £l9 9s Id and the Maori Mission Birthday League (Miss Madge Hey. -secretary) had contributed £7 12s Gd. The Sunday School report (Mr F. E. Mason, superintendent 1 staled that Ihe work had been somewhat hampered by Hie oulbreak of infantile paralysis. The roll number was DEL An urgent appeal was made lor the services of more teachers. The live Bible Classes submitted satisfactory reporls,- indicating Iha! the youlh work in the congregation was in a flourishing slate. The Young Women’s .Missionary Club raised £ IG 10s lor misisons. It has a membership of 30, Ihe average ni tendance, being 20. The I.allies’ Social Guild was doing excelled! work in Die social life of llie church, meetings being well attended. Melville Branch. Rev. .1. Burrows reported good progress hi his work at Ihe .Melville Church. Services were held regularly and Ihe young people were receiving special attention. Messrs Rapps. Truman, Hooper and others had provided pulpit supply, and .Mr Llewellyn Jones acted as honorary organist. The Smida> School wi.s maintaining its position, hut progress had been hampered by Ihe epidemic. Interest in ihe Maori mission had been

1 sustained. The interior of the church had beenu Improved and the grounds are receiving attention. All the reports were adopted, various speakers congratulating the Minister and office-bearers upon the position disclosed. It was announced that £22 9s 4d had been contributed to the special appeal to the church throughout the Dominion for £6OOO to lift the Incubus or debt from the Maori mission wo"k. Presentation to Rev. J. T. Burrows The session clerk, Mr C. L. MaoDlarmid, referred to the work at Melville and paid warm tribute to the services of Rev. J. T. Burrows in Church, Sunday School and hospital, in recognition of which he presented him with a , tangible token of appreciation from ? the office-bearers of St. Andrew’s. r Tlie moderator endorsed Mr Mao- , Diarmid’s remarks and specially eulogised Mr Burrows’ work as hospital 5 chaplain. j Mr Burrows suitably replied. Election of Officers. s ' An election of elders for a five-year f term resulted in the appointment of i Messrs A. Anderson, F. Findlay, R. T. 3 Gllmour, E. E. Hooper, C. L. MaoDlari mid, J. Primrose, A. J. Warn (all re--3 elected), J. Hamilton, D. A. Sellar and - G. Wright. Messrs D. V. Bryant, A. W. Green, - G. Henry, E. L. Jones, B. Primrose 1 and E. T. Robinson were appointed v to the board of management, a Mr Geo. Boyes was re-elected audY ltor, he being thanked for past ser--3 vices. 9 Other Matters. y n The moderator appealed for subi scribers for the church paper, The i. Outlook. s A comprehensive vote of thanks l. was passed to all who had assisted In s the work of the church. - e Sympathy was expressed with Miss s Osborne, the head of the primary dss partment, in her lndispoeition. 0 Mr Findlay moved a vote of thanks e to Mr and Mrs Gilbert for their sero vloes and on behalf of the congregaf tion pledged them continued co-opera--1 tion and support. This was carried •. by acclamation, and Mr Gilbert feelingly replied on behalf of Mrs Gilbert and himself. 3 The benediction concluded a most _ harmonious meeting. 3 Before dispersing, supper, provided v by the ladies, was partaken of.