ST. LUKE’S PARISH MEETING.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1616, 25 April 1879, Page 3

ST. LUKE’S PARISH MEETING.

The annual meeeing of parishioners of St. Luke’s was held at the parsonage last evening. There was a very good attendance, and the chair was occupied by the incumbent, the Rev. E. A. Lingard. The meeting was opened with prayer. The Chairman expressed the great pleasure which he felt at meeting his parishioners once more after being absent from one of their annual parish meetings; He was very pleased at the manner in which things had gone on during his absence. He was glad to see that there was an increase in the offertories of £llO over those of the previous year. Application had been made to have an offertory for the Kaitangata Relief Fund, but the request was not complied with, as it was against the rules of the Church, and the case was one for individual charity. In the Mayor’s list the sum of 10s was mentioned as coming from St. Luke’s offertory. This was a mistake, as the sum in question was granted out of the Ohtirch parsonage fund. He was very glad that they had been able to secure the services of the Rev. Mr Mortimer as assistant curate. He was doing a large amount of good, particularly in the northern portion of the district. The parish of St. Luke’s was a very large one, comprising half the town, and there was consequently a very large amount of work to be done. On this account he was not able to go among them so often as he -would desire to do. Referring to the cemetery, which was about to be closed, he stated it would be available for those persons who had sections of land in it in which their friends or relatives were buried, as it could only be closed altogether by an Order in Council of the Governor. Referring to the churchwardens, he had great pleasure in testifying to the harmonious way in which both these gentlemen had worked. He should nominate Mr Strange as clergyman’s warden for the ensuing year, Mr Strange said he would have great pleasure in accepting the office. Mr Meddings was then elected people’s warden. The balance sheet was then read and adopted. The following gentlemen were elected on the vestry :—Messrs Knapman, Mclntyre, A. Blakiston, Ellisdon, Beatson, Newall, Wyatt, Crooks, Napper, and Tipple. It was announced by Mr Strange that Messrs Meddings and Blakiston had been appointed to represent the parish in the Synod. In answer to a question from Mr Mclntyre, The chairman said he was certainly of opinion that the congregations should stand while the offertories were being made. Mr Lingard then referred to the absence of a Sunday school, and, after some discussion, it was resolved to make application for a room at the Normal School for the use of the children until the new school is finished The Chairman congratulated the meeting on having secured the services of Mr Barnett as organist and choir-master. Some discussion then took place on the subject of a bell for the church, and, on the motion of Mr Blakiston, it was resolved —“That steps be taken to procure a bell.” A very long discussion then took place on the subject of free seats, in the course of which it was stated that St. Michael’s Church held accommodation for 640 persons, St. John’s for 532, and St. Luke’s for GOO. During the last quarter, the average attendance had been at this latter place 625. Some steps would shortly have to be taken with a view of enlarging the church. Probably the sitting accommodation could then be increased by 200. There would he an early sitting of the Synod this year, at which, probably, a proposal to borrow £50,000 would be brought forward for the purpose of completing the Cathedral and assisting the various parishes. If this were done, they might be able to obtain a grant to enlarge their church. Mr Henderson moved—“ That there be a redistribution of the paid sittings, so as to let all sittings from the chancel down to the cross aisles from east to west, and that all the rest be free.” The motion was seconded pro forma, but on being put was only voted for by the mover. Mr Mclntyre moved—“ That whenever a whole bench of sittings become vacant they shall not bo re-allotted.” Mr Bllisdon moved as an amendment—- “ That the seats remain as they are at present.” A very considerable amount of discussion followed, and ultimately the amendment was carried by 18 to 14. Votes of thanks were then accorded to the retiring officers, the organist, the choirmaster, the choir, to the ladies and gentlemen of the committee, who had succeeded in reducing the debt on the church by £3OO, to the organist and choir of St. Matthew’s, to Mr Withnell for his presentation of stained window frames to the church, and to Mr Lingard and Mr Strange for their presentations to the church.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.