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HISTORY OF KNOX CHURCH.

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CHAPTER VI.

The Sustentation Fund—Its highest point reached in 1875—Collections for the Poor—Ladies' Association—Mrs Welsh, Bible-woman—Collections for Benevolent Institution and Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society—Other Special Collections.

THE Deacons' Court, at its second meeting, resolved to organise a scheme for the collection of the Sustentation Fund, and the minutes show that on numerous occasions since then this scheme has received most anxious and careful attention from the Court. The amount contributed to the fund by the congregation for the first complete year (1861) was £315 Is 6d. From that year onwards there was on the whole a somewhat steady annual increase until 1875 inclusive, when the amount reached £610 10s Id. There has been a falling-off since that year, the amount raised for the year ending September 30, 1890, being only £413 1s 3d. It is to be hoped that the recent energetic efforts of the treasurer, Mr J. T. Mackerras, to secure an increase in the number of contributors among members and adherents, will meet with much success. It may be noted that the highest amount reached was that for the year (1875) before the new church was opened. It is a question whether the subsequent decline may not be attributed in some degree to the efforts made by the congregation to reduce and ultimately to extinguish the debt upon the church building, and whether the prevailing depression in business has not seriously diminished the spending power of not a few members of the congregation.^[1]

↑ Sustentation Fund.—This important fund, we are glad to report, shows an improvement on the previous year, and taking into account the labour disturbances, which had the effect of throwing out of employment a number of contributors, may, on the whole, be considered satisfactory. Still, an examination of the contributions reveals that while the congregation as a whole responds fairly well to the claims of this fund, a not inconsiderable number do not show that appreciation of its merits that the office-bearers would like to see. Practically this fund is the means of maintaining the ordinances of our holy religion in the thinly-settled districts of the interior, and therefore should commend itself to the liberality of those able to maintain it. As a congregation we enjoy in rich measure the blessing of Christian ordinances; let our hearts open to do more for our people and their families who are doing the good work of settlement, and so insure under God's blessing a population fearing God and loving righteousness. The contributions for the year amount to £427 2s 1d.—Knox Church Quarterly Statement, Sept. 1891.

[1] Sustentation Fund.—This important fund, we are glad to report, shows an improvement on the previous year, and taking into account the labour disturbances, which had the effect of throwing out of employment a number of contributors, may, on the whole, be considered satisfactory. Still, an examination of the contributions reveals that while the congregation as a whole responds fairly well to the claims of this fund, a not inconsiderable number do not show that appreciation of its merits that the office-bearers would like to see. Practically this fund is the means of maintaining the ordinances of our holy religion in the thinly-settled districts of the interior, and therefore should commend itself to the liberality of those able to maintain it. As a congregation we enjoy in rich measure the blessing of Christian ordinances; let our hearts open to do more for our people and their families who are doing the good work of settlement, and so insure under God's blessing a population fearing God and loving righteousness. The contributions for the year amount to £427 2s 1d.—Knox Church Quarterly Statement, Sept. 1891.

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