Church Meeting.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 23, 31 July 1883, Page 2

Church Meeting.

Ihe annual meeting of the parishioners of St. John's Church was held in tha barracks last evening. There was a good attendance, and those present fairly represented the whole of the parishioners. The Rev. Joshua Jones presided, and - opened the meeting with prayer. He then read the report and balance sheet of the retiring vestry, which' will be published in our next issue. Mr Kirton proposed and Mr Hammond seconded, That the balance sheet and report as read be adopted. — Carried.Mr Rutherford asked if the fallii_fo_F from the offertory was due to the Feilding or Halcombe district. The Chairman explained thatthe falling off had been chiefly at Halcombe, that congregation having promised rather moro than they found themselves able to v perform. He then said that the duties of the retiring Churchwardens having ended the next duty of the meeting was to elect new ones. He very highly complimented VI r Sherwill as Clergymans' Churchwarden, and was happy to inform the meeting . that Mr Sherwill had consented to act for another year. Mr H. Worsfold proposed and Mr Kirton seconded, That Mr Dawson be appointed Parishioners' Churchwarden. This was carried unanimously. The Chairman said the next duty of the meeting was to nominate the vestrymen. Mr Worsfold proposed and Mr Kirton seconded, That the number of vestrymen be seven. This was put to the meeting nnd carried. Mr Kirton proposed and Mr Seaton seconded, That the following gentlemen form the vestry: — Messrs Wright, H. Worsfold, Young. S. Goodbehere, Bray, Hammond and Rutherford. — Carried. Messrs Fitzherhert and Goodbehere were elected auditors. The Chairman said that the formal business of the meeting was now ended, and that then was the time for tho open discussion of any matter of interest connected with the Church. Mr Worsfold asked what was the number of Church members, to which the Chairman replied that there were 5S members' names on. t'»e register, but that the register was by no means a complete one, as he believed lhat there were some members whose names were not recorded. . ■_>/ Mr Sherwill said he would like to say a word with reference to the collection of the Church subscriptions. He wished the members would take the -trouble of leaving their subscriptions at his house or office, as it would save a' great Ideal of trou ble. He further said that.he thought many more persons might subscribe than did so. The burden of keeping up the Church funds fell heavily on the "few, and if all th congregation did what they should there would be more money than was actually reqnired. T Mr Hammond said that this" would be. a very singular thing in the history of Churches. He never yet knew a Church that had more money than it knew: what to do with. There were many places in the district whe' c there was no religious service, and if the Feilding Church had more money than it knew what to do with, this ought to be contributed to the providing of . Church service which were now destitute of the same. Mr Sherwill said he was sure fche Feilding Church would, if it had funds to spare, be only too glad to contribute towards services being "held, in those places where as yet there were none. Mr Seaton moved a vote of thanks to Mr Sherwill for his services as. Lay Reader. This was .seconded by Mr Rutherford, supported by the Chairman, and carried. Mr Wright proposed, and -Mr Bray seconded, That the best thanks of the meeting be presented to Messrs SherwiU and Dawson for their past duties as collectors of the General Church Fund. — Carried. The Chairman' spoke in complimentary terms of the services rendered by the retiring vestry. Mr Fitzherhert proposed, and Mr A. Diamond seconded, A rote of thanks to the retiring vestry.— 'Carried. Mr Seaton returned thanks. Mr Sherwill proposed thanks to Mrs Clere for hei; services as organist, during the past year. This was seconded by Mr Kirton and carried unanimously. Mr Kir-on^propbse'd a Vote of thanks to the Chairman, which the latter acknowledged, and after pronouncing tho benediction, the meeting dispersed.