CHURCH MEETING AND CONVERSAZIONE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 127, 5 October 1877, Page 2

CHURCH MEETING AND CONVERSAZIONE.

A very largely attended Church Meeting and Conversazione was held in the Town Hall, on Friday evening, the 28th ult. After refreshments had been handed round, the business of the evening was begun by the Chairman, the Rev. VV. H. Cooper, calling on all present to stand and recite the Apostles' Creed, after which a Collect and the Lord's Prayer were said.

The Chairman, in his opening remarks, stated that as Chairman he had little to do but introduce the speakers. He would first call upon the people's churchwarden to read a statement of the present financial .position of the parish. Mr IL'.Wagstaff then read a financial statement, by which it appeared there was due to the Incumbent one quarter's stipend, £50, six months' allowance for cleaning and lighting the church, and for bell ringing, £13, also an old debt for rent, before the parsonage was ready, £23 13s. 4d., with a sum of £14 4s. 6d., which he had paid out of his own pocket for chairs required in seating the new part of the church, making in all a total of £100 17s. 10d. There were, also, two accounts due to Mr Mountfort, one for fees on the parsonage, and the other for the plans for the enlargement of the church. The other accounts for advertising, kerosene, etc., came to about £14, while the balance due to Mr Penlington, on the contract for the addition to the church, was§£B9 10s.' He was not prepared to say how the required amount was to be raised, but the matter must bo taken in hand at once, and he did not despair if every one would only do their best. The amount required yearly to support the church in the parish was about £270. Barry's Bay contributed about £40. The head of the Bay should

at the least give £25 a ye;ir, and Robinson's Bay about £20 annually, but these out-parts of the parish did not contribute anything like their fair share. If they did so, it woul'l leave about £100 to be collected in Akaroa and Gorman..Bay, which , there ought 10. bo no difficulty in doing.

His Lordship the Primate then addressed the ■•meeting, and said he had ever taken an interest in their social as well as religious welfare, lie had Keen the improvements that had taken place since his last visit, —the erection of a goodly parsonage, and the extension of tiie church ; and he cordially approved of what had been done. He had also noticed, while on his way to Akaroa, the church at the Head of the Bay. Thus there had been three buildings erected for the highest purposes, and he rejoiced to see these buildings erected for the honor and glory of God, and considered it a sign of progress. His Lordship then touched upon the stale of the parish, and alluded to the divisions that had existed, trusting that Mr Anderson, whom he now had the-pleasure of introducing, would heal the differences that had crept in.

Thj liev. P. C. Andkhson said that he felt somewhat diffident in addressing the meeting, being a stranger amongst strangers, but that the kind mention made of him by the Primate, and his rev. friends at his side encouraged him to i'eci more at his ease than he might have done otherwise. Mr Anderson then went on to speak of the past and future of the church work in the parish. Speaking of the past, he said that although he had never been in Akaroa before,he had, nevertheless noticed the progress made, and the zeal and energy displayed by Mr Cooper ; and as to the future, he only hoped to be abie to further the work of the church honestly and faithfully, without raising any party cries one way or the other. He. strongly deprecated party spirit; and having pointed out that theology was one tiling and true religion another, concluded his remarks by expressing his wish to make the acquaintance of all present, and his hope to claim the friendship of one and all when his duties in Akaroa were done.

The musical portion of the evening was conducted by Messrs. Penton, Inwood, Robertshaw, and H. Bridge.

The Rev D. 0. Hampton spoke at some length, touching upon the mission work of the district, and Mr Cooper's co-operation.

The liev. W. H. Cooper, in taking farewell of the parishidners, said that he was conscious of many short-comings and indiscretions on his part during his ministration, and for which he now wished to be as freely forgiven as he forgave any who had opposed him. He had at all times only had his heart in his work, and certainly that consistency of action should always com-mand-respect even from those who disagreed with the course taken. He hoped that the parish would be more united during his temporary absence, and under the ministrations of the Eev. P. C. Anderson, whom, he was sure, they would find to be a conscientious, hard-working, and faithful Minister of Christ. It was not his intention to have spoken to them so fully, but that one thought Jed on to another, and that having lived so long amongst them, he felt the parting from them, although only for a tim«, somewhat more than many would give him credit for. Finally he bjr! them farewell, and hoped that those present would take it as his farewell, as lie would not have the time to call upon all personally, but trusted that those whom he might overlook would tindeistand that it was not intended aa a alight upon them. The singing of the National Anthem closed the meeting.