ST. PAUL’S VESTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 4019, 13 January 1876, Page 2

ST. PAUL’S VESTRY.

The annual meeting of St, Paul’s Vestry was hel l iu the Temperance Hall building last evening, the Kev. Archdeacon Edwards presiding After th*s balance sheet had been submitted, Hie Chairman remarked that notwithstanding that the pariah had been divided into two part*, the Church was well attended, an I the offertories, instead of having fallen off. as was expected.this year, had increased, and therefore the division had not been detrimental, from a pccunmry point of view. He thought the financial s’ate of the parish would continue unsatisfactory as long as St, Pad's Church rerauned us it was. Sr. Paul’s only held 400 people, while other churches held 600, and they should seriously contemplate its enlargement. At present, the congregation was far too small for the necessary expenses of the Church. Mr Quick read the report as follows : The Churchwardens and Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish, in presenting their annual statement of accounts, regret that they have again to call the attention of members of the congregation to the large amount of debt which is still unpaid. As th parishioners are aware, a statement of accounts was presented to them in August last, and a special nppetd made to enable the debt to be paid off. From a variety of circumstances the gentlemen who undertook to solicit subscriptions have as yet been uuabl o to see more than a few of the members of the congregation, but in nearly every case they were met in a very generous spirit, and the sum of LI 57 was contributed, and promises -nude by eleven persons. One reason for this measure was that the subscription would be very general, and also that a sufficient sum would ba raised to make it final. The Vestry have no doubt that their successors will meet with equal liberality if t ey cany out the collection with spirit. They, however, take this opportunity of stating their opinion tha! the parish will always be iu financial difficulties until the church is enlarged, and they recommend the subject to the serious consideration of the incoming Vestry During the year a vcy handsome memorial window has been given to the Church by Dr Buchanan and members of his family, and it is to bo hoped that t. is good example will be very generally followed. The Parochial School is now nearly completed, and is well a opted to its intended purpose. It is proposed to open it with a concert on St. Paul’s Day. The best thanks of the parish are due to Messrs Ho worth and Ureut for the very large amount of trouble which they have taken iu connection with the Stuart street aud Gaol street properties. The rep rt haring been adopted, the election of officers was then proc eded with. Messrs Butterworth and Quick were appointed churchwaideus. On the motion of Mr Butterworth, the following were elected vestrymen : Messrs Howorth, Hardy, Hawkins, Brent, Kitmv, •bpence, J. li Anderson, G. .Stevenson, E. B. Smith, and Wheeler.