THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1427, 30 April 1912, Page 6

THE CHURCHES.

ST. PETER'S. ANNUAL MEETING. Tlio annual mooting of parishioners of St. Peter's Church was held last night. The vicar, the Von. Archdeacon C. C. Harper, presided.

The vicar delivered an address, in the, course of which he reviewed the church work of the year, lie felt quite justified ill .statins that in practically all departments of work steady onward progress had been made, lie refrained from making comparisons of numbers, for ho thought the very worst basis for tin estimate of church work was that of counting heads. During the year the "I'arisli Magazine" had been established firmly with a circulation of 4i5. This was not s-o large a circulation ns lie had hoped for, but by degrees he expected it to improve. The District Visitors had been at work for nearly a year. He had divided tho parish into lit districts, of which 2G were regularly visited. A Sunday-school had been opened at Mitchelltown, which was attended by 5G children, and evening services were held there every Sunday, and were well attended. The parish had been aide to realise another hope, and to retain tho services of Sister Qniiian as deaconess. She had been at work for nearly three months, and he w.as able to state that her work would lie found most valuable. Tho congregations remained very fair, though tlvcre was room for much improvement. The total number of communions made during the year in tho parish was G575, being an increase of G79 for tho year, making an average of 12G weekly. On Easter Sunday there were in all 500 communicants. He had learned to value more highly than he could express the work done by Dr. I'yffe and the choir. The work of tho Sunday-schools was very encouraging. There had been an increase of 125 scholars, and (he teachers were elncient and earnest. Tho work of the Mission was most valuable, though very difficult and often disheartening. He believed it was gradually becoming a real power for good, and that under Mr. linine and Sister Quinan it would become steadily more so. In conclusion, ho thanked parishioners for their loyalty and kindness to himself and Mrs. Harper, and ho knew that in the future us in the past he would find himself associated with a large, devoted, and loyal body of voluntary helpers. The churchwardens' report and balancesheet (already published) were adopted without discussion, as were also the reports of the various church institutions in the parish. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. G. G. Hodgkins; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. K. Wilbcrfoss; vestrymen, Messrs. 11. ]•'. Allen, E. Anderson, W. E. Bethmie, G. Lawrence, A. Richards, J. M. Butt, T. Bollinger, H. \V. Lloyd. G. W. Robinson, V. l'enty, and Dr. Pollen; auditors, Messrs. D. S. Jameson and S. Hammond.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. J. M." Butt for his Ion? service to the church in tho position of auditor. TERRACE CONGREGATIONAL. CHANGES DURING THE YEAR. Tho annual Teport of tho Terrace Congregational Church states that tho church year commenced with a membership of 133, and ended with 134, an increase of one. In May Mr. Glasson had a threatened nervous breakdown, and was ordered complete rest, which necessitated his absence from the pulpit and pastoral duties for ten weeks, and afterwards to go slowly. Tho church desires to thank tho ministers and friends of all denomina-

tions for their spontaneous, gratuitous, and acceptable pulpit supplies. In June .Mr. Alfred Lindsay sent in his resignation as deacon, principally on account of failing health. Tho resignation! was accepted with regret, and a. resolutiou expressing the church's appreciation of his long service passed. Mr. Lindsay had held office for nearly tweiityono years, having been elected u deacon on June 30, 1800, and, with the exception of six months in ]ill).i-0„ had held office ever since. On August 27 Mr. W. D. Dumbell, a former deacon, was elected, for tho unexpired portion of Mr. Lindsay's term of office. The terms of office of Messrs. Dumbell and Ilott expired this year, but at the aniuml meeting, held on April 10, they wero re-elected. The deacons have re-elected Sir. P. Mendowcroft treasurer, and Mr. "W. K. Knowles secretary. "The attendance during (ho year," continues tho report, "has been "fairly good, all things considered, but not nearly sufficient to adequately till the building. Tho difficulty of getting convenient residences, at reasonable rentals, in tho vicinity of the. church, has necessitated removal of many of tho congregation to less congested parts of tho city, or into the suburbs, and although some come considerable distances to attend the services, inclement weather, and other causes often prevent their doing so, while others find it inconvenient or impossible to attend." Under the conductorship of tho organist, Mr. Horace G. Hunt, Mus. Bac, the choir has continued to render efficient servjee. Tho attendance at tho Sunday School was about the same as in tho previous year. The number on tho roll increased from 95 to 100, but tho average attendance fell from 77 to 72. 4 Tho finances of the church, as shown by the attached statement';, must bo considered very satisfactory, the year was commenced with n debit balance in this account of ,£3S 13s. 2d., which by the end December had increased to iI7G ..ss. Finding the income was inadequate to meet the expenses of maintaining public worship, and as circulars apparently ha.l little effect, the l'inance Committee felt compelled to recommend considerable reduction in tho expenditure. Tho Church deferred tho consideration of the committee's recommendation to enable a personal, canvass to bo made. The canvass resulted in the receipt of promises for increased weekly offerings sufficient to warrant the continuance of the former rate of expenditure, and special subscriptions more than' wiped off the deficiency, leaving a credit balance at the end of tho year of .£ll lis. lid. The Finance Committee desires especially to thank tho friends who obtained Hie subscriptions. Tho subscriptions received for Homo Missions, with .£ll generously donated by the Young Womeu's Club, and oCG from the Sunday School scholars, wero sufficient to meet the amount apportioned to our Church, and to wipe off the debit balance of ,£8 153. Cd. brought forward from the previous year. ST. ALBAN'S, EASTBOURNE. A NEW PARISH. The annual report of St. Alban's, Eastbourne, laid before tho meeting of parishioners last evening, states: "During 1911, the committee, after considering ways and means, recommended to a general meeting of parishioners that steps be taken for the creation of a separate parochial district. This was approved by the meeting, and Synod subsequently granted tho desire. This meant the appointment of a permanent resident vicar, the bishop's selection for the position being the Rev. E. I. Sola, whose induction took place on December 12. Subsequently a meeting of parishioners was held to plaee. the machinery of the management in proper operation. If was decided that the vestry consist of seven members, in addition to the churchwardens. A vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing committee and other workers, especially the ladies, and the spiritual services of the ex-vicar, Mr. Jones, were not forgotten. . . . The advent of the vicar to the district has given an undoubted stimulus to church life, and we would here take (lie opportunity of expressing our appreciation of his efforts in that direction.. The good attendances of the congregations are cause for gratification, and help to prove the confidence that prompted those who advocated the change. So far as the church building is concerned, there is little at the present time that calls for comment. Mr. W. F. Shortt has, as previously, acted as organist, and the Church is still indebted to him for the uso of his orgin. Tho question of purchasing a church organ is one that will require consideration in the near future. The Sunday School is in a very satisfactorv condition, being very well attended. . ."The future of St. Alban's is very promising, and the retiring vestry wishes the incoming officers a year even more successful than anticipated." ST. MARK'S. SUNDAY MORNING ATTENDANCES. The annual meeting of St. Mark's parishioners was held last evening, Hie Rev. C F. Askew, 8.A., presiding over a gathering of about, fifty parishioners. In moving the adoption'of the report

unci. balance-sheet, a precis of which lias been published, the chairman expressed his gratification, as a new vicar, at finding such a live parish as his charge. Continuing, ho remarked (hat the position in New Zealand whereby the vicar was relieved of oil responsibility in regard to financial matters was an excellent one, and, in his opinion, the Church at Home might well take a leaf out of the New Zealand's book. After referring to various other matters, the chairman remarked that there was plenty of room for improvement in the Sunday morning attendances, but the Sunday evening services were well attended, and there was not much room for improvement in this respect. The parish, said (ho chairman, had two groat needs at present:. The first was an additional assistant curate, and this was urgently needed, as the work was quite beyond the powers of one man. The second need was for a forward movement in reference to tho Tioseneath church. The great nope of a strong Church at. Ttosoneath depended upon its formation into a parochial'district in the near future. The adoption of the. report and balance-sheet was agroVd to without discussion. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as under-.—Clergyman's churchwarden, Mr. AV. J. Hueston; parisliioners' churchwarden, Mr. G. AV. Morgan; vestry, Messrs. G. AV. Barllrop, J. Besant, AV. Madelev, T. AV. Pilcher, 11. S. Hawker, C. It. 'Chatwin. AV. J. Gnudin, P. J. Caterer, E. J. Hvlton, and F. Amsden. Parish Trust Booi'd, Kov. C. V. Askew, AV. J. Hueston, and G.. AV. Barllrop j auditors. Messrs. H. AV. Pilcher and A. L. Goldfinch; nominators, Messrs. AV. ,1. Gnudin, AV. ,1. Hneston, and K, E. Kawns-

lev. 'Votes of thanks were passed to tho churchwardens, the Sunday School superintendent (Mr. If. V. Bray), teachers and helpers, tho choir, lay-helpers, Ladies' Sewing Bee, and St. Matthew's Guild, and other church workers. •