CHURCE OF ENGLAND ANNUAL MEETING.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 11, 22 July 1882, Page 2

CHURCE OF ENGLAND ANNUAL MEETING.

.V '■ A meeting- of the paris'ioners of Si John's Church, Feildinjr, was held at the Corporation Barracks on Thursday evening-. The Rev. ,J. Jones, I curate, occupied the chair.

The me<!tin<>- -was opened with pravcr, after which the Chairman stnted t.fie o'-jeots for which the parish oners were culled together.

Mr Haultain read the following report and balance-sheet, which were adopted, on the motion of Mr Seaton, seconded by .Mr W. D." Nicholas : —

llei»qkt of the Vestry of the Parochial District of Feilding for theyear ending 30th June, 1882. ' : ■ ' . s

In layinsr before you their Annual Keport, your Vestry beg to congratulate the parishioners upon a very decided improvement in Church affairs during the

year. Tbe income from offertory has considerably increased, and since the opening of, the new Church, the average; has been nearly £2 each Sunday, whereas the average last year was £1 7s, and .there is ' good reason to hope for s til further improvement. Special calls made for ■ hurch furniture and other purposes have also been liber.lly responded to. The one great feature of the year, in our local Church history, is the erection '_pff a beautiful and commodious Church/atfa cost, all things included, of aobut £7«X) ; the fnnds which had been accumulating for this purpose for the previous two years were, however, far . below the requirements of the case, and it'was found necessary to incur a debt of $400 at "8 per cent' per annum, 'for which two members of the Vestry hare become responsible, their own interests being secured by the mortgage of a lease of 21 years on ■ the parsonage, and Church property. Your Vestry venture to hope that their successors may see their way to a reduction of this debt, which now forms a drain of £32 per annum upon our local income.

The Church urgently needs painting, and some subscriptions have been obtained for this purpose, but as the amounts are not yet paid in to the Church Wardens, no statement of this fund appears in the present balance sheet ...-.{ A difference of opinion as to the disposal of the, seats in the [Church having arisen between the Vestry and certain parishioners, the matter .was referred to the Bishop of the Diocese for 'solution, and was by him referred to the judgement of this meeting. The Vestry do not press their own view of the matter; so as to prejudice the free actions of the parishioners at this meeting, and they nope that the experience, gai tied by fqur months use of the < burch, without alteration of seats, will piove to be an assistance to the parishioners in forming! a more correct judgement than at the time of the, opening of the Church. , • . >}

The general fund of the Diocese has hardly met with the support whicl* ,was anticipated in this district, during the year, and your Vestry have to discount their otherwise congratulatory report by this statement, that_io general the deficiency of Diocesan funds in this district is hot faultless. But the local deficit arises chiefly from the absence of' two large subscribers, who, it is believed, will yet meet their arrears. Meanwhile, exclusive of these absentees, the future prospect is very hopeful, as the number of small subscribers, upon which class the fund in this district must mainly depend, is continually increasing. The united districts are now assessed at £220 per nririom, nnd' of this . the Halcombe portion has been fixed at £45.

Jtyr the coming year the ordinary expenses for this district, exclusive of Halco.iibe, and without any provision for sinking fund on Church debt, may bo calculated at about £260, which, allowing £100 for offertory, leaves £160 togbe raised by subscription of otherwise, surely not too great a burden, when the number of church members in the district and th'e recent 'improvemedlts in local prosperity are considered. It is probable that circumstances will create an urgent necessitj for the erection of a Churoh-room for Sunday School and other purposes, at an early date, and with this, the Church debt, and the desire which every well-disposed churchman must feel to reduce the call made by this district upon the Diocesan Resources General Fund, it will be seen thai the incoming Vestry w'fll need" th»"nisst energetic support of' every churchman in the district. A recent large increase of membership in the choir promises well for the heartiness and decorum of the worship during the coming year* / Your Vestry desire to mention the high appreciation of the efficient help-rendered in the past "by Mr W. D.' Nicholas as choirmaster, and Miss Nicholas as organist. The Sunday School which during' the prevalence of an epidemic, and for some time after was verj small, is now regaining its strength, and is very satisfactorily managed by a stuff of excellent teachers, under the superintendence of Mr Clere. It is, however, satisfactory numerically only, by comparison with its own previous circumstances, and is by •no me >ns what it should be in proportion to the membership of the Church in the district. The attention of the parishioners is urgently directed to the; necessary conclusion that there must be a very large number of children belonging to the Church in the district who are receiving no Church training. ' l ; , An order has been" seat to a well-known Birmingham' house for lamps, so that the beautiful interior of the Church may not continue to be disfigured by the present unsightly and incongruous arrangement for lighting.

Joshua Jones, Curate.

St. John's Church Building Account, ■ to July 20th, 1882. BECEIPTS.

Mr rVnttie 'riiade some enquires as to the absorbing" of the offertories by the Diocesan' , Syiiod- ' arid wai ruled out of or deK ' ' " ' ' -.-. i he, ,f h/urm.an/teA'i the, roll of Chiirch, 'to wjiiicu .'Mr Fj How ley's name was'adcl'ed by request., Mr" Seafon pro'pbse'd; and Mr Allo-j way second, d, a. ,ote. of thanks to the; retiring v stry. : — Csirried. \ \r everted to the: quWioii of the offertori'-s. " which, should be, ill' hi* opinion, fetained by! the V'o^try to. pay the liubilitiea of thet Church for interest Mr Sli**rwilJ, one of the g-uarantees ot the Church loan. stated he was j.erJVcily satisfied with the security he h«.'ld. null the mode io which the (."hurch finances were managed Alter, a discussion raised by Mr Haultain, it was arranged that all quesrions at that meeting should be settle-* by- open rating. ' Mr Beat. tie was about to address the meeting, but was again ruhdour of order. Mr E, H. Wright was oppoied to ■any unkind feeling being introduced into the Church <ir the conduct of its iueetingSt . Mr Haul tain stated he won.ld appeal to the . Standing .Committee' on tho subject of voting by ballot. , Air Bfeatcie spoke at some length * ou. the following resolution : — '• 'Jhar (. hucuh. -kUtiugs he aiiotted to all rnemhers of the Church, who ma' aj.ply for the'in, 1 and the remainder of the. eeat» to -o^ .free " c Mr AruoU seconded In speaking to his resolution :Y:r Beatt.ie exoressed strori» views iii favor of' it, and objected to the decided opposition which had l)e°,n made by the Curate, who should only attend to th^"sjriritual, and not the secular, affairsi yf tlj ; e [tatish. .Pew rents would i»ddf to tlin r^venue^of M. Julius, which was like any other Vbuich, supported i by voluntary con trioutiuus. lie always utiderstood. pews t or ,fau»ilies w«re, to be. provided in the new ('hurch. We were getting into H^h Chu,rqh/:pri triples. He had not been to Church for a long time,; as he was disgusted. Many people; voted for tre/e seals jusjt tp|>l^*seth)e Curate. * Mr Rutherford sujtpurtfed Mr Beattie in part of b:a addre s.. The Church did not start fair. Mr . v h rwill .suggested that, the re6<ilurioii hliouhl he put at once, as in th« hp/rt ol'a disciisaioh iV was hiore that probable s??» / me, l .re.marHs would' lip m:id« tliar the Npoakers would be gorry ior on the-«H»rrow. „Mr r Saxqnj S4»d when he came.to (liuich lit always roiinif a difficulty ior findiojf <» S^at. j #e-wouUi » money payment hx-ing ma.ie for iwelvi 1 .inonthis occupa.tioj» ,of a seat-; « / „,^lr £la?ilt.wii naod« some renlafks about; the noise at the back (Mr Wright ohjected,.^s it, was. interfering with the prerogative of the chair.) He noticed, people w ho wanted a free Church) wijth. unallotted pews, but who brought hassocks and books which they* lett in their seats, to ogtabiish a ri^ht to occupy — from custom Alloted seats would increase the revenue of the Church Money came in »X, present very slowly. People were leaving the place, and he did not see. any conaiiig to, fill the vacancies. Al--loted seats would be decorated with cushions and hassocks, and thus b»autify ttie Church. He objected to kneel and pro? on hrfrd toards— be wjinrrd sonjetldng, 'soft. He hoped' when this burning gu^ion was set tied they w-ouH^utt xosrether — be Abl'ieJ -''it' 'piitit' 'ih'e <DhurcHj butid? a school, give entertainments, and pay their-debts'j' 1 ! •.-.' :.-.-t.,- „') ! Mr Wright came, hoping there 1 -would -'be ( ilo 'discussion^ but an others •"were 1 rtC it,'><rtiy o'n-ef. who 'kn^w him t-xp- (itecl'he wodld have'ii word -or two to 'soyi, ■ whotever -was ! th3 sVi |ect. ,}{^ was'ope 1 of-ithe first hffiier.-s of the ¥..-•& >'■&.'■ Aid Cotpdration, 'and was i awArc Hunt t rriatiy promises' had boen made ana left unfufilled $ t»ut those ahout Churoh:aiat»eM had be'pn'Amply carried 1 tout. The Corporation and; iheir friends as Home had contrib ted' "lnrgely .towards the property.: of the Church.l ColoueL Ffiilding: had sentj ■*- s: filver .communion .s< r'vjc^ an d' others h'ad: forwarded iargei quantitie!?' 'o f an tf dea for i the ! Buxuun heir in aid ot the Cb.urch-ißuildi:i g iFund. A t the. . same- 'time/evtfry -wan in Keildihsr had .aright liu'tite ChuTobj >(.4\lr Wrigh^i .uiudeian eieeHdmispeecbynnd" we re-pretduT-spaceiprßven^sl u« giving it in ( full!) He ojiposedthe anorion. .iilr...<Jier^.- l inj i prnPieH. thjv, meetin« .tUgre were. pOP.j Church; of England , r,v s i^ ents ; n. Q g- ' ' • The Chairman spoke ,vn defence ot : his : acMpus; ia,. ( the,mftV!»r ot opposing! allotted ,pewa i ; and .quoted, authorities in support of thejin, .and gave an able, resume/;^ (thje-qutjstJpir tin;|del)Mte. JJlr^j^eatfieiibifieißy repid, and the : resolution, put and l t st—l4jf|j>pajhj^gjajrainstjt. J_^.4i"«_ v " ftr.r' M»enrwil"l was appointed Cl rgy.i ipan% ChurcUwarden, and, Mr'Haultain. tor.the.'pari^honers. .■ Ihe Jollowiuu iVestryinen were elected : — -Messrs Gobdbeherei, Olere,

Writrlr, Young-, 11. Worsfold, j,nd M.e.t-ry Dawsi-n and M'Dou^all 1 were ii;ipnint< ii auditors. ; The meeting then cldsed wit!] \ prayer and the usual vote of thanks i to- the Chairman.

£ s. d. Subscriptions and. proceeds of Loan and Bazaar 720 12 5 Interest on Fixed Deposit ... 13 2 Overdraft at Bank 116 £722 7 0 EXP2XDITITHE. £ s. d. Nicholas (seats in Barracks) 4 6 6 -[Nicholas (building Church)... 583 3 11

Clere (Architect), .... .Y.i 2S t n Advertising ... ... -■- 10 0 !J ; Goods for Bazaar »nd Church furnishing ... ... 35 15 3 Public, Hall (Bazaar)... .., 515 0 Timber for Bazaar ... ... 211 3 Mills, Churcli bell •... < ... 28 10 0 Freight for Church bell ... 9 0 Draft for Loudon (purchase of lamps) ... ... • ... 20 73' r iking paths... •■.■:■ ... 215 PI cque book (stamped) ... 3 1 £722 7 0