HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 482, 23 July 1902, Page 3

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

ANN CAL MEETING OF PAIUSHIONEKS.

TJie annual meeting of parishioners of the Holy Trinity Church was held in the Schoolroom last evening- There was a large attendance, the Rev. W. Welsh presiding. The report showed that the year opened with the parish being absolutely free from debt, which position would have been maintained had it not been for the immediate necessity of expending a considerable sum in rnpaperiug and otherwise repairing the parsonage on the assumption of the Rev, Mr Welsh us Incumbent of the parish after the resignation of the Kev. Canon Webb. Notwithstanding this outlay of XGG all liabilities bad either been met or a sufficient sum was available I to clear oil all excepting a sum of /11 jGs sd, which represented the total indebtedness of the parish. The general offertories amounted to Xk3B lls -id, as against £228 os fid for the previous year, whilst the pew rents wore XIG9, as against XIOB ns tid. The special offertories amounted to X'3o 11s 10s compared with .£2B os Id for 1901 ; the choir fund Xll 17s ‘Jd ns against X 9 9s for the previous year. The thanks of the Vestry were tendered to Mr and .Mrs Humphreys for I the use of their grounds for the Garden Fete, as well as the ladies and others who so kindly ussisted in carrying it out, and to the ladies who devoted their time in collecting subscriptions. The Vestry had I seriously been considering the desirability ; of improving and beautifying the Church I grounds, but owing to the want of funds only what was absolutely necessary had been undertaken during the past year. ; Mr Taylor still retained his position as I Organist, and was giving general satisfaction. Mr Parker had lately rcsignod the 1 office of Choirmaster, and the appointment of a successor! was now under consideration. During tho past year it was found advisable to have the organ overhauled, and the matter was placed in I tho hands of Mr A. Bcero ; tho result of his labors aro not yet apparent, as the work is not quite completed, but a decided improvement so far has been attained. The report continues: “ During tho past year the Kev. Canon Webb, who held tho Incumbency of tho parish for 10 years, rosigned liis cure, and tho parishioners hade him farewell at a garden party hold in To Rau grounds, kindly lent by the Kev. 11. Williams for the occasion. Tho Kev. Canon Wobb loft tho Parish at the end of October last, and arranged with the I Kov. Mr Welsh to tako his place until a [ successor was appointed. Several nominations having been received for tho vacancy, two of tho nominators, Messrs Perris and Winter, attended a meeting of the Board of Nominators in January last in Napier, when after tho several nominations had been carefully considered, tho Rev. W. Welsh was unanimously appointed to tho Cure, and was inducted by tho Bishop of Waiapu on tho 9th March. On the 11th March the Bishop was invited to moot tho Parishioners at a social gathering in McFarlano’s Hall, which was numerously attended, and a very pleasant evening resulted. The thanks of the Vestry aro due to the Choir for tho many services rendered, to tho Kev. H. Williams and tho Rev. P. W. Chatterton for their kind assistance on many occasions. Attendance at Vestries : During the past year there were 11 meetings of the Vestry. The following wero tho attendances—C. W. Ferris 11, G. J, Winter 11, G. A. Beere 10, H. A. King 10, F. T. Morgan 9, J. E. Foster 5, Dr. J. W. Williams 0, W. J. P. Gaudin 5, W. G. Sherratt 3.” A report on Sunday-school work was furnished by the Superintendent, Mr G. Lysnar, and was of an extremely satisfactory character. When tho present Superintendent took office in November last, the average attendance was about 35, with 85 names on the roll. Tho number now on tho roll was 148, with an average attendance of about 85. Tho general conduct of tbo children had improved. It was hoped that tho number of scholars would keep on increasing until the attendance was from three to four hundred. . The report urged that members of tho Church should co-operate in bringing about a better stato of matters in connection with the Sunday-school. In tho course of an earnest and appropriate address, the Vicar expressed his deep gratitude to Almighty God for His mercies during the months he had boen appointed to the charge of the Parish. He regretted that there was not cvidonce of a deeper spiritual result of his ministry, and hoped that Church members would bo more alive to their responsibilities. Tbo rev. gentleman urged that parishioners would bo moro regular in their attendance at Church, and that they should attend not for tho sake of the preacher, but with I tho object of rendering thanks to Almighty God. |

Mr W. Morgan proposed and Mr 11. A, King seconded that the report should bo adopted. Mr L. T. Symcs took exception to tho roport being presented with his signature as auditor. He considered that it was not right to add his signature to it, as ho had not yet completed tho audit. Ho had asked to see certain vouchers, and those were not forthcoming on account of one of the churchwardens being out of Gisborne. Captain Ferris said that in the absence of Major Winter from Gisborne ho had undertaken to sco that the balance-sheet was audited and printed, and Mr Symes’ name had been been included by tho printers by mistake. There were some few accounts that Mr Symcs wanted information about, tho receipts in connection with which had been sent out of the district. Mr Symes did not lead him to understand that thoro was anything wrong with tho accounts, but only stated that he wanted certain receipts. Major Winter ondorsed the remarks of tho previous speaker, and stated that thoro were soveral receipts which Mr Symes required to sec, and he was obtaining duplicates of them. Mr Gaudin said tho easiest way out of tho difficulty was to refer the accounts back to tho churchwardens. He moved accordingly. Mr E. D. Smith seconded tho resolution, which was agreed to. Tho election of officers for tho ensuing year was then proceeded with, the Vicar nominating Captain Ferris as his warden, whilst Major Winter was re-elected parishioners’ churchwarden. The following were elected members of tho Vestry:—Messrs A, 11. Wallis, H. King, W. J. P. Gaudin, C. I’. Davies , G. A. Deere, G. Humphreys, G. Lysnar, and Dr. Williams. The last-named subsequently withdrew his name, as ho had not signed tho church register, but at a meeting of the Vestry he was re-appointed. Discussion took place in regard to the parishioners signing tho church register, tho question being asked as to whether members of the church had asked for the book and it was not forthcoming. Major Winter stated that upon no occasion had application been made to him for the register. He would have been only too willing to assist in enrolling parishioners. Tho Rev. W. Welsh spoke in tho same strain. He believed that one or two persons had called upon him at the parsonage whilst ho was out, and asked for the register. He had really nothing whatever to do with tho book. For the information of the meeting, however, ho pointed out that it was necessary to enter one’s name two months prior to the meeting before you were allowed to vote or take part in tho proceedings. Mr E. N. Sidebottom asked why this fact hud not been made known in time to allow parishioners to sign tho register. He had himself rung up the vicar of the parish on the telephone, but could not get a satisfactory reply as to where the register was kept or where could sign it. Mr G. K. Pasley thought that it would bo as well for the vestry to put an advertisement in the daily papers two or three months prior to the meeting notifying parishioners of tho church that they could sigu the register. Major Winter considered that this would only bo a waste of money. He thought that the difficulty could be got over by the minister giving out a notice from the pulpit from time to time. Mr G. Wilson urged that one of the churchwardens should attend for a month or so on Sundays for the purpose of enrolling members. Mr G. A. Beere undertook to do this, and it was also decided that the Minister should from time to time give notice from

tho pulpit informing parishoners whero they could sign the register. The question of Bible reading in schools was raised by Mr G. Wilson, who strongly urged the neossity of the Church of England taking a more prominent part in endeavoring to secure this reform. The Chairman said the present meeting was not the place to discuss the Ululttr. seeing it formed no part of the business of the evening. On the motion of Mr E. L>. Smith a vote of thanks was accorded to Dir Finneran, architect, for work which he bud done in connection with the proposed enlargement of the vestry, in the matter of drawing plans, etc. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the Sunday school teachers, especially Mr G. Lysaar, superintendent of the school, and also to tho retiring vestry. The question of women having a voice in Church affairs was introduced by Mr Gaudiri, and a motion in favor of the same was carried by a large majority. I The meeting terminated with the singing of a hymn and the pronouncing of the I Benediction by the Vicar.