CHURCH MEETINGS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 2

CHURCH MEETINGS

ST. PETER'S

The annual meeting of parishioners or fat. Peter's Church was held last evening, the vicar, the Row H. Watson, presiding. ' In moving the adoption of the annual report, Mr. R. Wilbcrfoss said that on account of it having been decided to obtain the services of a Church Army" Uiptam Irom England to work in Taranaki Street and surrounding districts, the finances of the church would bo heavier this year than last. Although tlie parish had a deacon and three P n 6 fi ts ' '' was fouml impossible to cover all the work satisfactorily. At present tile work of the parish was proceeding along as well as possible under the circumstances, and praise was due to the vicar and his throe assistants for the way it was carried out. Touching on the question of finance, Mr. Wilberfoss said that although the offertories for the past year had been a record, he hoped that they would be larger this year. Seeing that extra expenditure would be involved, he hoped that parishlonors would be more, liberal with their donations.

The, report was adopted. Votes of thanks were passed to the trustees of St. Peter's Mission (TaraJiaki Street) for the good work accomplished during the past ten years. A vote of thanks was also pasßed to Mr. Ed. Anderson, who has done great service in connection with the work of St. Peter's School Society.

The Rev. H. Watson thanked the parishioners for the welcome they had given him and his wife. He spoke of the future of Si. Peter's Parish, and said that the opportunities for work in the parish were enormous. There was much missionary, work to be done. The members of this parish were a moving population, and it was the duty of the resident parishioners to see that each of the new arrivals was welcomed. The difficulties of slum \wS in the area contained in the parish wero very great. He was sure that some of the people living on the hillside of Willis Street did not know how the people on the other side of Cuba Street\ lived. Arrangements had been made for a missioner to come out from England to take charge of that part of the parish. In conclusion, Mr. Watson said that, in his opinion, the work of the Church iu Wellington's slum area (which happened to be in the parish of St. Peter's) should be a diocesan undertaking, and steps would bo taken in that direction.

The election of officers resulted as follows : —Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. A. Richards; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. It. Wilberfoss;, vestrymen, Messrs. D. W. Anderson, fl. F. Allen, H. W. Lloyd, S. G. Hamerton, G. Lawrence, G. W. Robinson, G. Didsbury, W. Bothune, G. C. Hodgkuis, and Dr. Pollen; secretary, Mr. G. G. Hodgkins; auditors, Messrs. Morrah and Hollis. PARISH OF ST. PAUL. About fifteen, people ' attended the annual meeting of tit. Paul's parishioners, held at tli'e Diocesan Library. The vicar, tho Kev. A. il. Johnson, presided. Tho vicar congratulated, tho vestrymen and the pansli generally on the, excellent position shown in- the balance-sheet. Thoy had not only been able to wipe out a small debit balance, but now they had a credit of £101. The present state of the finances was duo to. the generosity of the parishioners. He congratulated tho iadios on the excellent result of the sale-of work. '. That ;they should be able to raise £260 in, war time was surprising. The finances were now in a sound condition. As the result of a special appeal £103 was collected. More tnan that, the offertories were now averaging £15 per Sunday. Four years ago they stood at £10 per Sunday. The speaker took occasion to thank; the parishioners for their hand-, some Easter offering. It was only one of tHo many kindnesses which he had had evidence of. Officers were elected as follow:—' Parishioners' warden, Mr. R. B. Rigg (re-elected); vestry, Professor Easterfield, Messrs. L. Stowe, C.M.G., D. M.Veafcs, G. G. Bridges, K. S. Farmer, S. Firminger, J. W. A. Marchant, G. Shirtclift'o, T.'W-. Stace, and J. D. Tripe; auditors, Messrs. O. 1\ Powles and G. 11. N. Wright,, ■■.'■■■■• ST. MARY'S, KARORI. At the annual meeting of tho parishioners of St. Mary's, Karori, the churchwardens and vestry, in their re-, port, noted with .pleasure the increase of £14 in the general offertories as compared with the previous year, but the subscriptions and donations are practically the same. The special offertories, owing to the large offertory of £27 ss. for the Belgian Relief Fund and the Burmah Court offertery. of £6 last year not being repeated this year, show a great falling off, but deleting these two items the special offertories -would lie the same as on the previous year. Through the instrumentality of St Mary's Guild, whose assistance -the churchwardens gratefully acknowledge and much appreciate, they were abla to liquidate the last £100 owing on the •new church. Being now free of debt, tho Bishop purposes consecrating it in conjunction with the Jubilee Festival of the parish in August next. ) On the expenditure' side of the accounts the items are all mflch tho same as in previous years, 'so ifar as tho Parish Fund is v concerned. The churchwardens beg to-remind parishioners that the mortgage on the vicarage falls due this year. It will be necessary to venew_ it after paying., off at least £50, leaving £400 still to pay. Some special effort will require to be made to raise this sum. iThe Parochial Hall, which Berved a very useful purpose for many years, has now fallen into disuse, and become a burden on the parish funds. Last year the net loss was £26.' The vestry recommends the passing of a resolution at the annual meeting authorising the vestry to dispose of it either by sale or on a lease for a period of years, as opportunity may occur. The net revenue of the parish from purely voluntary efforts last year was, offertories £191, subscriptions £114, and Makara £25, or £330 in all, which the churchwardens are pleased to note .maintains the services, but extra efforts are stil/ necessary for other expenditure. The officers elected were as follow:— Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. James W. Honderson; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. T. D. Belief:: vestrymen, Messrs. Caldwell, Cook, Ncwcombe, A. G. Henderson, Harper, Osborne, Porter, Shortt, Holden, and Andrews. ST. ALDAN'S. The Rev. E. I. Sola, vicar, presided at tho annual meeting of St. Alban's parishioners, Eastbourne. There wero about thirty present. The annual report and balance-sheet showed the parish to be in a satisfactory condition, and the majority of those present considered the outlook very promising. The vicar remarked that teachers were required for tho Sunday School, ■ and that it was becoming more and moro necessary to open a school at Day's Bay. '

'.i'lierc was some objection to the vicar's arrangement of separating Matins from the Holy Communion. Mr. Sola explained that ho considered lie was conforming with the intentions of the Prayer Book. He did not like the idea of combining the two, and mnkin" the greatest service in the ' Church's liturgy an appendage to a lesser service; and there.was the objection that people not ;intending to communicate left the church part way through the Communion service, and that caused disturbance to otiiers. To his mind it was irreverent, and could'be prevented onli ks. sajaratiije jhe, .two services.

lhe report and balance-sheet showing a credit balance of £44 lis. 9d., were unanimously adopted. Nominations for the churchwardens and vestry reaching the required number only, no ballot was necessary. Following are those elected:—Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. T. Ballinger; people s churchwarden, Mr. T. W. Pilcher • Vestry, Messrs. 11, L. Button. B G F-' Zohrab S. F. Wright, C. A. Baker, Richards, Knox Gilmer, P. Atkinson, A. G. Balhnger, H. Uownes and W. R. C. Macpherson; auditor, Mr. T. W. f! Marsden. UPPER HUTT. The annual parishioners meeting was held at Upper Hutt on Thursday. The vicar (Rev. A. D. Stratford) occupied ' the chair, and about twenty parishioners wero present. The vicar nominated Mr. I<\ W.'Connell as his warden, and the meeting elected Mr. J. Kemp as parishioners' warden, and the following vestrymen. Messrs. J. White- ■ man, H. M. "Williams, H. W. Chapman. H. J. Parker, H. Williams (Kaitoke), and Norman Russell (White- . man's Valley). Mr. Connell presented the report and balance-sheet, the lat» tor showing a small balance in hani.- v The vicar also read n report touching, on church work generally j and alluded, to the sale of work to be held in November, which will have for its objective a building at Upper Hutt suitable for Sunday school and social purposes. Votes of thanks were accorded to the organist, Sunday School teachers, choir, and other church workers. A report' on the St. Hilda's Sunday School, presented by Mrs. Bakombe Brown, was read by the vicar. Atfer the meeting, refreshments were handed round, which had been, provided by. the ladies of the parish.