ST. LUKE’S PARISH.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 575, 22 April 1876, Page 2

ST. LUKE’S PARISH.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St Luke’s was held last evening in the schoolroom adjoining the Church, the Rev the incumbent occupying the chair. There was a very good attendance, among those present being several ladies. The following annual report was laid before the meeting ; “ The vestry, on submitting the annual report and balance sheet, may congratulate the parishioners upon the satisfactory progress which has been made during the past year. That the receipts from offertories are less than last year, is due to the fact that there have been no appeals made for any special object, as was the case last year, for the liquidation of the debt upon the church enlargement account, and also to the prevalence of wet Sundays. In the early part of the year the vestry received with regret Rev C. J. Merton’s resignation, owing to the state of his health, of the office of assistant curate, and they at once applied to the Bishop to obtain a curate for them from England to fill his place. The result has been that Mr Scott was sent out, and was ordained by the Bishop upon his arrival, and has now been for some weeks working in the parish. The vestry have also taken steps to obtain from England a person to fill the office of organist and choirmaster, and by the last mail news was received from Mr Edward Strange, of whose visit to England advantage was taken to obtain applications from candidates for the appointment, that a gentleman of considerable musical ability, who had been selected by Dr Stainer, organist of St Paul’s Cathedral, would shortly leave England under an engagement for one year. The thanks of the parishioners are due to Mr Strange and Dr Stainer for the services rendered by them in this matter. The parish is to be congratulated upon the erection of the Church of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, in the Caledonian road. The services in that church have been regularly performed twice on the Sunday since its opening, and have been well attended. It will be seen that a considerable debt remains on the building, and a further considerable expenditure mustsooner orlater bereccssarily incurred in fencing and improving the ground. The vestry desire to thank Mr Webb for his kindness in presenting kneelers for the altar step in this church. In the course of the year application was made to the Church Property Trustees for a grant of £350 towards the enlargement and repairs of the parsonage. This application was favorably received and recommended by the Standing Committee on two separate occasions, but it was finally rejected by the Church Property Trustees. “ A. F. N. Blakiston, “ W. G. Meddings, “ Churchwardens.” The following is a summary of the detailed balance sheet laid before the meeting : —Dr. To stipend account, £574; 18s Id ; general expenses account, £3ll 9s 6d ; bell fund, £ls ; missions, £B6 Os lOd ; sick and needy, £45 4s fid ; gas fitting, £72 ; church enlargement, £57 4s Id ; balance (overdrawn at Bank), £B7 7s 5d ; total, £1249 4s 4d. Cr By balance due Bank N.S.W., Easter, 1874, on general expenses account, £44 15s ; do, church enlargement account, £72 Os9J; total. £ll6 15s 9d. Stipend account, £600; general expenses account, £309 17s lOd ; missions account, £B6 Os lOd; sick and needy account, £45 4s 6d ; gas fitting, £9l 5s 5d ; total, £1249 4s 4d. On the motion of Mr Bishop, seconded by Mr M‘lntyre, the report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted. The rev chairman nominated Mr Douglas as incumbent’s warden for the ensuing year, and Mr A. F. N. Blakiston was appointed parishioners’ warden for the same period. The following gentlemen were elected on the vestry:—o, R, Blakiston, T. Gordon, C. H. Crookes, C. W. Bishop, Wyatt, J. J. Fitz Gibbon, Knapman, and Parsons. Considerable discussion took place on the subject of the balance in hand from the day school account, and it was ultimately resolved that it, as well as the moneys accruing from the reserve on the North town belt, should be dealt with by the vestry. Some discussion took place on the subject of ladies forming a portion of the choir, and a motion was brought forward on the subject by Mr Crookes, but was subsequently withdrawn. The chairman said he was opposed to the principle of ladies being in the choir at all. He thought greater inducements should be held out to boys. Some other matters of minor importance, but of no general interest, were discussed. Votes of thanks were passed to the following : —Dr Stainer and Mr B. Strange for procuring an organist and choirmaster ; to the out-going churchwardens and vestrymen ; and to the organist and choir.