CATHEDRAL GUILD.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 393, 15 September 1875, Page 3

CATHEDRAL GUILD.

The second annual meeting of the members of the Cathedral Guild was held last evening at the College Library, the Very Rev the Dean, vice-president, in the chair. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the Very Rev the Chairman congratulated the meeting on the increased interest taken in the object of the society during the past year, and also the increase of members. He also referred to the work of the Cathedral doorway, which was now assuming a very imposing appearance. He regretted the absence of the Cathedral Guild choir that evening, but they had given a great deal of time and work to the rehearsals for St Michael’s choir concert. The chairman then called upon the secretary, Mr A. W. Bennett, who read the following “ Report of the Committee of the Cathedral Guild, at the annual meeting, Tuesday, 14th September, 1875. “Your committee have much pleasure in submitting the following report for the past year, which they think will, in the main, be deemed satisfactory by the members of the Cathedral Guild. The society, having been established in Sept., 1873, has now completed its second year. The number of members on the register is 220, being an increase of fifty since the last annual meeting. Of these 187 are subscribers of Is per month, twenty-four of sums varying from 2s to ss, and the remainder have given donations amounting to £4O 15s, The total amount raised by the Guild is £215 6s 7d, of which £9O 11s 6d has been contributed this year. The special work of the Guild being at present the erection of the western doorway of the Cathedral, the treasurer has from time to time paid over to the Cathedral Commission sums amounting to £BB 10s sd, and your committee have reason to believe that a further sum of about £4OO will be required to complete that work. “ During the past year an increased interest appears to have been taken in the general meetings, and your committee have used their best endeavors to sustain that interest by providing attractive programmes for those occasions; various original papers have been read and discussed, interspersed with other readings, and enlivened by the pleasing performances of the Guild choir, under the direction of Mr Parker. A paper by the Rev C. Bowen, and the subsequent discussion upon it, originated the idea of the Diocesan Choral Association, which has since been successfully established. From the beginning of the year, the general meetings have been thrown open to the public, and a liturgy has been used, prepared for those occasions by the Very Reverend the Dean of Christchurch.

“ At the last general meeting, aletter fromMr Mountfort was read, containing suggestions for holding a festival service within the Cathedral walls on the next anniversary of the province, and for presenting on that occasion a crosier and pastoral staff to the Most Reverend the Primate, The general features of the proposal were adopted by the meeting, and your committee were instructed to make arrangements for carrying them out. This they have done by appointing a sub-committee, consisting of the Very Reverend the Dean, Messrs Mountfort and Bennett, with power to add to their number from outside the Guild.

“ At the next meeting a resolution was passed in favor of the adoption of a banner as a badge of the society. Considerable objection to it having been raised since by various members of the Guild, your committee have deemed it advisable to take no take no further steps in the matter unless instructed by the general meeting. “ It is a matter for regret that a larger increase in the number of members of the society has not taken place, and your com-

mittee would remind them that the cause lies entirely with themselves. It is their duty not only to subscribe, but also to induce others to do so. “ A balance sheet has been prepared by the treasurer, and is now submitted by your committee, as showing the financial position of the society.” [Applause.] The balance sheet showed the receipts to have been £216 6s 7d, and expenditure, including draft to Sir G. Scott, payment to Cathedral Commission, and sundry accounts, £lO2 13s 9d, leaving a credit balance in hand of £ll2 12s lOd. A note was attached to the balance sheet, stating that out of the credit balance a sum of £IOO had been lodged in the Union Bank, for six months at 6 per cent. The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. The following gentlemen were elected : Vice-Presidents—The Very Rev the Dean, and Mr H. B. Gresson,

Hon Treasurer —Mr Alfred Thompson, Hon Secretary—Mr A. W. Bennett. Committee —Revs E. A. Lingard, De Berdt Hovell, J. W. Stack, and Canon Cotterill; and Messrs G. Mclntyre, Clinton, Mountfort, Holloway, J, S, Jameson, and Worthy. Mr Parker gave notice of motion for next meeting—“ That a banner be procured for the Guild, to be used on occasions when they meet in their corporate capacity, Contingent on the resolution being carried that a subcommittee be appointed to carry it into effect.”

The rev chairman pointed out that this had been referred to in the report which had been unanimously adopted, and he must say that he quite approved of the action taken by the committee, in the face of the objection that had been raised by so many members of the Guild.

Several of the rules were amended as suggested by the late committee. On the motion of the Rev J. H, Wills, the meeting approved of a short form of prayer, written by the Very Rev the Dean, to be used once a week by the members of the Guild.

An interesting paper, on “ Music and Art —their Connection with the Church’s Worship,” was read by the Rev J. H. Wills, and after a short discussion thereon, the meeting closed, as it had been opened, with singing and prayer,