CHURCH MEETINGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 3

CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. PETER'S PARISH, The annual meeting of St. Peter's parishioners was presided over by tho vicar, the Veil, Archdeacon Harper. The report and balance-sheet (already published) were adopted, as were those •of the Choir, Sunday School, Ladies' Working .Party, .St. Peter's Mission, tho School Society, ami .Missionary Guild. The churchwardens- (Messrs. R. Wilberfois and Cf. G. llodgkins) wero heartily thanked for their services. In his address to the parishioners, tho vicar said that so far as he could judge by outward signs he believed that they looked back on a year of steady progress in nearly all parts of tho parish.. The Sunday schools were larger and better attended; there wero 72 communicants moro on- Easter Sunday tlmn last year; the congregations, except in very wet weather, had certainly not fallen off; and on the w'holo there was nothing to be distrc- .1 about in tho finances, though heavy liabilities for assessment and salaries made it oniv just possible to make both ends meet. Liabilities would increase in the futuro as the work of the parish would have to be extended. The vicar proceeded to :e----view -the work of the parish. He referred in special terms of praise to the work of the Qj'ganist and choir. In other societies the work of members was commended, but it was suggested that greater support should be forthcoming. The following officers were chosen:— Churchwardens (vicar's), Mr. Albert Richards; (parishioners'). Mr. R. Wilberfoss; vestry, Dr. Pollen, Messrs. E. Anderson, H. F. Allen, H. W. Lloyd, G. Didsbury, G. Lawrence, G. W. Robinson, J. M. Butt, G. G. llodgkins, and Dudley Tripe; audito.'s, Messrs. S. G. Hamerton and T. S. Jameson. Votes of thanks, were accorded to the principal church officers. ST, MARY'S, KARORI. - The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Mary's, Ifarovi, was held on Wednesday evening, the vicar (the Rev. A. L. Hansell) in the chair. .The churchwardens and vestry in their report stated that instead of being able to announce a considerable increase in the general offertories which tho greatly increased attendance at all services and the abolition of pew rents would lead the .vestry to expect, that important source of parish revenue showed a falling-o/F. Compared with last year the failing-off was ,£3 Bs. id. The offertories for the year were tho smallest for four years, the general offertories for 1003-10, in tho old church with pew rents in addition, being iC-1 7s. lOd. more. This continued shrfnkage of what was the main source of revenue had caused tho vestry some concern as to its ability to meet tho increased expenditure which a larger church involved. The vestry hoped to be able to chronicle a substantial increase- in theso offertories for- the coming year.. Tho vestry noted an increase in tho amount received from tho subscriptions and donations which somewhat relieved its anxiety and warranted the progressive step the parish took when it made all seats free. The appeal for donations to the organ fund and the efforts of Mr. S. B. Shortt met with a hearty response and had enabled the vestry to all but pay tho builders. The sum of .£ls still remained due on the organ. The vestry hoped to pay off the balance of the borrowed to meet ■ the contract for tile new church, at the rate of £75 per annum, but only £87 was available for . that purpose thisi year. At tho of the year, on the general parish fund, there remained unpaid accounts amounting to .£l6 2s. Bd. These liabilities would have been much larger, but • the vestry had donations of .£25 from St. Mary's Guild and £li from the Flower Show Committee, both of which tho vestry gratefully acknowledge. In addition to that donation, -Mary's Guild contributed £12 16s. Gd. to tho new church fundduring the year. There had been a considerable Increase in the receipts at St. Matthias's Church, and there is now nearly -C2OO towards the cost of a new church. The churchwardens thanked the many churcn 'workers who hove assisted in the work of the parish during thn year. Theso thanks are "specially due to tho lay-readers, choir and choirmaster, tho organists, St. Mary's Guild, the C.E.jr.S.,' the auditor, superintendent, and teachers of the Sumlnj School, and the guild of church decorators.

The following are the officers of the church for the ensuing year:—Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. Jas. W. Henderson; people's churchwarden, Mr. Thos. D. Beliett.; vestry, Messrs. H. Cook, H. Caldwell, A. G. Henderson, S. B. Shortt, A. W. Smith,. Andrews, Hamortmt, R.. M. ■Smiley, W. F. Newcombe; auditor, Mr. C. I. Dnsent.

A motion was carried unanimously pledging the meeting to support the objective of the Bible-in-Schools League, and requesting a referendum of the whole people of the Dominion to dccide the question: Mr. Newcombe wa's clected secretary and treasurer to the vestrj'.

NORTHLAND & WADESTOWN

The Rev. Cr..S'. Bartlctt (vicar) presided at the annual meeting of the parishioners of Northland and Wadestown, held on Wednesday evening. The report of the vestry shewed a fall-ing-off in the ordinary offertories, due ro doubt to tho large number of wet Sundays, while on the ot'ie? hand there was a. small increase in the special offertories. Subscriptions to the assessment fund also showed an increase. The balance-shcet showed total receipts amounting to JC322 15s. 9d., and after providing for liabilities there was a. slight deficiency. After a short discussion the ropsrt and balance-sheet wore adopted. Tho reports of the\ C.E.M. Society and Sunday scnool show a healthy slate of affairs in. respect to these institutions. The following are tho officers for tiva ensuing year Vicar's churchwarden, 3lr. B. S. Withers; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. l'\ J. Halip; vestry, Messrs. W. J. Less, D. M'Vicar, E. Cook, J. H. Goyder, A. 11. Stuart, P. J. "Wilkinson, and L. J. Pankhurst; auditor, Mr. W. R. Morris. < Votes of thanks were passed to tho outgoing churchwardens and vestry, and also to the lay readers, Sunday school teachers, choir, organist, cleaners, bellringers, and decorators. A special voto of thanks was accorded the Ladies' Guild and collectors. ST. JAMES, ANGLICAN. The annual general meeting of parishioners of St. James's Church, Lower Hutt, was held on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted and the following officers were elected:—Vic/r's churchwarden, Mr. F. de J. Clero; parishioners' churchwarden,-- Mr. D. M. Yeats; vestry, Messrs. Evans, House, Aldous. Anson, Roots, Staples I ,' Natiisch, Tosswill, Russell, and Woodward; auditors, Messrs. Gordon and Wilkins; treasurer, Mr. Woodward. A motion was carried to the effect that the meeting favoured the question of liible-in-Schools being submitted to a referendum.