The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-04-09
From its foundation the church Ira.

Another feature connected indirectly
with the Sunday School is a Bible
Glass which meets Saturday night for
studying the International Lessons;
this is under the leadership of Supt
H. n. Hanna. The church is we'll
equipped for teaching, and stands as
the Presbyterian Church always does,
for an educated people.
The WOman's Missionary Society,
organized in 1879 and reorganized in
1884 is the representative of the ladies
in the church. They have always
been of great use in disseminating mis-
siOnary intelligence and keeping the
missionary spirit in the church. One
of their noble works is keeping a cot
in the Westminster Hospital at
Oroomiah, Persia, and many sick and
helpless ones will rise up in that day
and call them blessed Aside from
this they have three departments of
work; the Foreign Mission, Home
Mission and Ministerial Relief, each
one of which receives OF their bounty
This society has under its care the
Joy Mission Band, organized under its
auspices by Miss Loring in 1884. Mrs
Martha Hanna, Mr.. Carrie Harrison
and at present Miss Lena Bauer, all
have contributed to help the children
spread the gospel in heather countries.
The Young Peoples Christian En-
| deayOr Society was organized in 1894
and served the church in place of the
evening worship until June 1896. 1t
has served to bring the younger peo-
| pie of the church into closer relations
and been of value in their education
for larger church work.
The Helping Hand Society or
gained in 1893 is composed of the |
| ladies of the church, its purpose being
| to aid the church financially. Fur |
naces and furniture in the church are
evidences that the society has been at
work. The reports of all these societies |
| will be found below, each having its |
| encouraging feature.
The present passionate began in |
June 1896. Mr.. Finney resigned i'll |
December 1885 and was made pastor |
emeritus. He had reached his seven |
| tieth year and felt that he should give |
place to Il younger man. No one who |
witnessed the acceptance of his resig |
nation by the congregation will ever |
forget the hour when all whom he had |
loved and served so faithfully, mingled |
their tears over his laying down his |
labors. Mr.. Finnay's clean, pure life |
still is force in our community and |
will be long after he has joined the |
great majorty.
On May 18th 1896 the present pastor
was called and June 10th, was ordain-
ed and installed. The church has
continued to prosper as the following |
reports show. One may consider it Il
poor year in church work when there
has been no increase in interest, or
attendance. Looking over the con-
gregation one can see both larger
ii 10, =
congregation numbers about 100 and |
the increased attendance at worship
and greater faithfulness in church
duties have been a source OF cheer and
encouragement to all the members.
Last April our rolls showed a total
OF So members. Five have gone from
the congregation to others, taking
their certificates. We have lost none
by death within the year and have
added A on profession of faith and
on certificate, giving Us now total of
1873. Four were baptized, confessing
the SAVIOUR.
G'or the tirst time in many years, the
tinancjA cordition of the church is
satisfactorily Our balance is on the,
right side by good round sum. The
total Indebtedness of the congrega
ton, including lecture room and organ
scarcely exceeds $500 and we are now
"out of the woods The contribu-
ton for benevolent objects has been
nearly $500 and all told. the offerings
have reached over 81, 600.
Lately there has been formed, a
Library Circle and before another year
elapses, we hope to have Library
suited to old and young and to begin
in this direction to make our church |
the center of the higher life of Bel Air.
A sewing school for the colored child
rem will also be organized soon by the
ladies of this church in connection
with those of sister church, and this
it is hoped will be the beginning
of a permanent work for the
colored population which is so much
needed. With the proper interest and
attention we shall soon have a kinder
garden and kitchen-garden to give the
practical training in many lines.
The report of the Sunday School /
shows progress in all lines. April
1896 shows total enrolled 81, attend
ance 10. April 1897 shows total enroll
ed -, attendance 65. The Homedepart-
ment of the Sunday School numbers Is.
The young mems bible class IA, max
ing grand total 1Ol for the Sunday
School.
The teachers and officers in the |
school are Misses Bessie Richardson,
Mamie Geatty, Helen Rouse, Lena
Bauer, Mary Richardson Messrs. p.
+. Ball and John b. Hanna; superin-
tendent, Home Department, Mrs. f.
d. Finney officers, Sunday School, |
H. n. Hanna, supt.; Malcolm Worth
ington, treasurer; Atcheson Reckord, |
secretary, Misses Mary Richardson
and Lena Bauer, organiSts.
The Young Peoples Society of |
Christian Endeavor shows an increase |
in membership from % to %. Their
prayer meeting is held Sunday at 7.
p NJ.
The Joy" Mission Band reports 4G
members with total contributions last
year of S37, as the children's part in
the great work of missions.
The Woman's Missionary society re-
ports about % members with annual
contribution of nearly $50. Both of
these societies are invaluable in the
church and make possible many
things in missions.
The Helping Hand Society of the
ladies, report 1874 received and eX
pended by them during the year end
ed, with also an Increase in member
ship.
These reports were given to the con-
gregation on April at an annual meet
ing In addition to this business the
other matters before the people were
the election of Elders and Deacons.
After adopting the Rotary System for
the Eldership and for the Deacons,
Mr.. John B. Hanna. Mr.. VIM. r. Saw
yer, Mr. John ID. Worthington and
Mr.. J. Lawrence Mccormick Mr.
James y. Fulton, Mr.. Geo. Il. Cairnes
were elected as elders and instructed to
arrange themselves into three classes.
Afterwards Mr.. Il. l.. Wilson, Mr. \.
7. Geatty and Mr.. James NJ. Reynolds
were elected Deacons with the same
instructions. The ordination and
installation of these officers will take
place Sunday morning April 18th.
The church is now well differed
and equipped for work and it is the
aim of all to make the coming year