ST. LUKE’S CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1905, 2 April 1880, Page 3

ST. LUKE’S CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Luke’s was held yesterday evening, the Rev. B. A. Lingard occupying the chair. There was a good attendance, a number of ladies being present. A statement of accounts for the past year was read, of which the following is a summary :—Bank overdraft, £llO3 Is 48 ; due sick and needy account, £2O 5s 9d; due Church Property Trustees loans, £650, less cash in hand 9s lid ; seat rents outstanding, 1879, £l9, ditto 1880, £lll—total, £1642 17s 2d. Credit account—Stipend account, £126 Us 4d ; general expenses account: f-'t. Luke’s, £455 18s [3d, and St. Matthew’s, £55 5i 10s ; St. Matthew’s church building account, £200; St. Matthew’s school building account, £7B 4s lid; St. Luke’s building fund account, £7 11s 7d ; school and parsonage building account, £199 5s 3d ; Church Property Trustees loans, £650 ; less seat rents outstanding, £l30 —total, £1642 17s 2d.

The Chairman then offered some remarks upon the work of the church during the year. As would be seen by the report, copies of which had been distributed, the offertories for the year at St. Luke’s amounted to £661 13s 4d, being an increase of £SO on the collection of previous years. The offertories at St. Matthew’s during the year were less than those of the previous year, but this was to be accounted for by the fact that the congregation, composed as it was chiefly of the working classes, were not able to contribute through the winter as they had formerly done. He next alluded to the church bell procured from England, and then spoke of the satisfactory results attending the entertainment given on behalf of the building account, in connection with which ho mentioned that Mr Alexander Lean had contributed thereto by refunding his architect’s foes. A now harmonium had been presented to St. Matthew’s, and proved of great service in the church. The rev. gentleman next adverted to the proposal made to raise money on the church parsonage reserve, and then referred to the day school which had been established in connection with the church, under the superintendence of Mr Gueritz, showing that the first quarter gave results of a most satisfactory character, the average attendance being exceedingly good. After speaking of some alterations in the church arrangements, as connected with matters financial, &e., he concluded by thanking the churchwardens, the vestry and those parishioners who had come forward with subscriptions for special purposes, for the assistance they had rendered during the past year. After several questions had been put and satisfactorily replied to by the chairman, as to matters referred to in the financial statement, Mr Mclntyre moved, Mr Knapman seconded, and it was carried—" That the annual statement, as read, be adopted.” Some discussion took place in relation to the question of renting the seats of the church, arising out of a proposal by Mr Mclntyre to adopt measures for securing payment of arrears.

Ultimately the following resolution was passed : —“ That in the opinion of this meeting the churchwarden should decline to allot sittings for the in-coming year to those persons whose seat rents remain unpaid for last year, until such arrears shall have been paid.” The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers. Messrs Parker and Blakiston were appointed incumbent’s and parishioners’ churchwardens respectively for the ensuing term. The following gentlemen wore elected the vestry : —Messrs Mclntyre, Wyatt, Withnell, Crooks, Lake, Stewart, Bose, Appleby, Boulton, and Papperell. Votes of thanks were then passed to the church officers of the past year, and to the organist and choir. At this stage the chairman drew attention to the question of tfce day school, in reference to the conduct of which, for the year to come, it would be desirable to make some definite arrangements. After some discussion, the following resolution was passed—“ That the day school be continued as a parochial school, under the supervision of the vestry as a school committee.”

This concluded the business, and the meeting adjourned.