CONGREGATIONAL TEA-MEETING

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 56, 27 January 1868, Page 23

CONGREGATIONAL TEA-MEETING

On Tuesday evening, 21st January, at halfpast six o’clook, a tearmeeting of the congregation of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church was held in the school-room, which was ra their thinly attended, in consequence, no doubt, of the unfavorable state of the weather, the evening being bleak, with slightshowers. An excellent tea was provided in the school-room, at the conclusion of which the party adjourned to the church, his Honor the Superintendent taking the chair. The Chairman briefly explained the object of the meeting—which was intended to be an annual one—to fully acquaint the congregation with their position, financially or otherwise. It was three years since such a meeting Had been held, but he hoped that in future they would be held at shorter intervals.

The choir sang “St. George’s, Edinburgh.” Mr Stables then read the report of the Kirk Session, as follows:

The Kirk Session was, as yon are aware, constituted on Sunday, 12th May, 1867, by the ordination and admission to the office of eldership of those persons who had previously been elected to that responsible trust by the voice ofthe congregation.

. Since the commencement, the business of the session has been more or less necessarily of a routine nature. The session would take this opportunity of publicly expressing their grateful acknowledgment of the services of Mr Orr, whose long experience as an elder of the Church in the home country rendered his advice at the outset of peculiar value; and, nlthongh his removal to a considerable distance prevents his taking that active part in the work of the session which it is his inclinatinn to do, he still remains a member of the court, and continues to take a warm interest in everything connected with the welfare of the congregation and of the Church at large. - Immediately on the establishment of the session, a division was made of the parish into districts, with the view of appointing an elder to each; and a systematic visitation of the congregation was undertaken by the Rev. Mr Morice, along _ with the respective elders. Although unavoidably detained from various causes, the visitation is now nearly completed. The session desire to express their thanks for the kindness and consideration with which they have everywhere been received;

The weekly prayer-meeting has been resumed as formerly, and the session have great pleasure in recording their satisfaction at the manner in which it continues to be attended.

A special collection, made on Sunday, 6th Oct. last, being the day set apart for the celebration of the communion, was kindly placed by the managers at the disposal of the session, to form a fund for the relief of any sudden and unforeseen cases of distress that might arise. The congregation will learn with thankfulnese that no call has, as yet, been made on the fund.

The Rev. Mr Morice takes this opportunity of thanking anonymous friends who have sent him several sums of money to be applied to the support of the various missionary undertakings of the Church, and for the relief of cases of distress; and he also takes this opportunity of stating that these sums have heen applied as directed. The session regret to announce that, through the resignation of Mr Martin, the office of conduc tor of the psalmody is at present vacant; and would beg to express publicly, on behalf of the congregation, the thanks which are due to Mr Martin for his long and zealous discharge of the duties devolving upon him in conducting this department of „ the religious services. A committee of the “ Kirk Session ” and “ Court of Managers ” has been appointed to take steps for filling up the vacancy. It has been under consideration to obtain a suitable Tune Book for the use of the congregation. A copy of the English Presbyterian Church Hymn and Tune Book, recommended by the last General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, has been sent for; and, if approved of, a sufficient supply will be procured without delay.

In conclusion, the session desire to express their thanks to the Sunday School teachers for their earnestness and untiring zeal in the discharge of their arduous and responsible duties. It must he peculiarly gratifying to all to observe, from the flourishing condition of the schools, that the labors of the teachers are duly appreciated by the congregation.

Mr Lawson read the report of the Managers and Treasurer, as follows :

The present managers of St. Paul’s Church were elected to office on the 23rd day of June last, and since that time they have held eleven meetings for the transaction of business.

The most important subject on which the managers have to report is the present financial position of the Church, and it will he necessary to go back as far as Pebruary, 1865, np to which date the last financial .statement that was made to the congregation was brought. Daring this period of nearly three years, the total receipts, including a loan of £2OO, and a balance in hand on the 9th Pebruary, 1865, of £9 18s fi, have been £1761 9s lid, and the total expenditure has heen £1757 12s 7d, — leaving the cash in the hands of the Treasurer £3 17s 4d.

Bat to show the actual financial position of the Church on the 31st‘December last, reference must be made to the Asset and Liability Sheet, from which it appears that our liabilities amounted to £334 15s 2d, and our assets to £5817s 4d, leaving a balance of £275 17s lOd, which of course represents the actual debt on the church at that date.

It is, of course, most desirable that this debt should be cleared off as soou as possible. The only question is, whether a special effort must be made for this purpose, or whether the ordinary revenue of the Church is in such a satisfactory state as to afford a surplus, by means of which it. may be gradually cleared off without the necessity for special effort. That it is not so will be seen at once by a glance'at the estimated income and expenditure for next year:—

' Itvml be observed that, in the above estimate, thejiew rents have been : calculated at £1 a, sitting; whereas hitherto .the pews have all been: rated at

£1 10s a sitting. In explanation of this, it is necessary to state that soon after the entrance of the present managers on office, the sittings in some of less advantageously situated pews were reduced to 15s per annum, and that, more recently, all the other sittings in the Church, with the exception of five pews, were reduced to £1 each per annum* T is reduction was made in deference to a widelyexpressed opinion that the pew rents were too high —an opinion in which your committee confess they could not but share; and if they be asked how, in the view of a probable deficiency of income during the coming year, , they could make up their minds to cut off at one strokfe so large a sum from the revenue, they have to say, in reply, that they hope the revenue will not suffer to so great an extent as some might imagine, for they have reason to believe that many were deterred from taking sittings in the church by the high rate charged for them, and that others, for the same reason; tusk fewer sittings than they really required. They have received mauy assurances that more sittings woold' be taken if the sum charged for them were reduced, and they earnestly trust that these assurances will he verified. At the same time it most be remembered that the estimated deficiency is not entirely caused by this reduction. Even if the old rate had been continued, the income would still have fallen short of the expenditure by £63 Bs. But if the same number of sittings now let—viz., 160—were to be let throughout the coming year at the reduced rate of £l, and if the present average of the ordinary church door collections were to be maintained, the excess of expenditure over income would, as has already been stated, be no less than £143 Bs. It becomes a very serions question how thislarge deficiency is to be met. In past years it has been met by special efforts, in the shape of loans* donations, &c.; bat yonr committee caimot recoin mend that such precarious sources of revenue be. relied on for the future. They believe the church cannot be regarded as in a sound state financially, until the necessary current expenditure is covered by the ordinary income. H this financially sound and healthy position is to be readied, either the revenue from the weekly offerings must he largely increased, or an Aimlliary Fund must be formed. Several cases have lately beeu brought under, the notice of your committee where the weekly offerings have been more than doubled by the simple plan of collecting them from the pews at the close of the service instead of by means of plates placed at the church doors. This plan, to which many of us were accustomed’ at home, is now generally practiced throughout the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and it has heen suggested that it he tried here. Yonr committee have endeavoured to lay before yon a statement of the present financial position, of the Church as full as it seemed possible to do without entering into those details which may best be gathered from the- treasurer’s balance-sheet, which will be printed and circulated with as little delay as possible; aud they would now desire to express their conviction that if our financial condition is not in all respeets so satisfactory as might be wished, this only requires to he made known to the congregation in order to he remedied; and they pledge themselves to administer the finances of the congregation with the strictest economy which is consistent with an honorable discharge of its obligations. In concluding this part of the report, it is pleasant to he able to state that the published proceedings of last General Assembly show that St. Paul’s Church, Napier, has. contribute a larger sum tothe general schemes of the Church than any other congregation whatever in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

Your committee are glad to say that the church aud school buildings are in good repair, although certain improvements are no doubt desirable. For instance, complaints are frequently made as to the-, ventilation, and it is believed that by a comparatively small outlay it might be considerably improved. The removal of the bell from the tower to the top of the hill behind the church has also heen contemplated, as the stability of the spire is endangered by the ringing of the bell, and the bell itself is not so well heard as it would be in a higher position; hut no allowance has heen made for these improvements in the estimate already given of next year’s expenditure: The Congregational Library is aboutto be largely increased. It was formed in 1863 with 323 volumes, and has since been much enlarged and improved. Many of the books suitable for the young have been taken out to form a Sunday School. Library, and their plaee3 have been supplied by others. A box containing a large number of volumes, selected and purchased at home by the Rev. Mr Barclay on behalf of the congregation, has arrived in Wellington, and may soon be expected here. Thethanks of the congregation are due to those ladies who have exerted themselves in' this matter,.andwho have attended in the school-room every Monday afternoon for the last four years for the purpose of giving out hooks. When the new books arrive the Library will probably be reorganised, and your committee would take this opportunity of calling the attention of the congregation to the hitherto, too much neglected Library. The Week-day school in the Port Church is in a flourishing state. This building owes its existence, as most of you are aware, to the exertions, of a lady respected by all amongst us for her zeal; and earnestness in every good work. It is to be regretted that as yet it lias not been found possible to have Divine* Service regularly conducted, but the Sunday School and Week-day School are both prosperous. The latter was opened in May last, and, under the able superintendence of Miss Mitchell, rose from very small beginnings to an. attendance of 30 on the roll at the recent examination. Miss Mitchell has accepted an important situation in another province, hut Miss M'Gowan has heen appointed to the school, and from her wellknown success in teaching in Scotland, there is every hope that it will prosper. under her Before leaving this subject, your committee desire to acknowledge with gratitude the kindness of the Bishop ofWaiapn, who, at a time when the attendance at the school Ivas very small, and its ultimate success seemed doubtful, raised by subscription a sum of £2O, for the purpose of enabling the School Committee to Miss Mitchell's, services. y

The managers avail themselves of this'publicopportunity of conveying the thanks of the congregation to the Indies and other .friends to whose kina and energetic exertions the success of the;, recent Bazaar was owing, and of stating that, after , payment of expenses, donations to- the amount of £25 were made to the New Hebrides Misaoh and, the Sunday Schools, and the surplus was handed V over to the treasurer for general Church purposes; ; and it must he remembered that blit for the timely aid derived from the proceeds of this Bazaar, and ' ofthe concert that took'place in February last; ‘ the debt on, the Chnrch would have been mueh V greater than it is. . ~ Our thanks as a congregation are also due, to. 1 onr former ppstor, the Rev. (Peter Barclay, for his' .( most appropriate and generohs giftpf Coihmunioh ;' Plate; tor the use of St. Paul’s chtirch as well as for: the' handsome Bulim. Bqok which he ;has:sihce^^presented?« 1. agers cannot forbear making: somAAllnsiohilhera;:;^

■ • warmniatrtesfc/whiclj M r k" a T o^a y -,takesn.in: -ths7people,;amongst Jwhioh in. s^Jeqting fi bnyingi catalqgmng, and -.papldng ;,witbi thpimewi boolffiTfor; thg/librarjr, { nowf ; expectqd.', . .r v^-.he ; glad:to learn that the i monument i; to the /late; Mrs] ..(whose nataral sweetnesß : of : .cHaracter ; and truly, Christian life* endeared heir ,to all who Iqae/w her, and especmUy todihe mepabars of this',Congregation), is exTOcted4o ’areive-vesry^shortly;,land' juill, without further delay, be erected in the./Napier Cemetery. Itimay .thatithis .burying ground,/under the management of thenewtrustees, onp.ofiwhom will be appointed by .his Honor! the Superintendent,, ; firom,tniscongregation, is..likely soon to. present, a, more seemly and pleasing ap- . The : Rev!.. MriMosiOE saidpie did not believe that at-any time St. Paul’s church Had a/more energetic and efficient} court of managers than at present. He then rer ferred to the debt, and/said that he highly approved of the plan of-sending the. plate round the i church,as he knew of - cases where the system had been attended with very pleasing results. He found, that in the English church, where this plan was followed, the average weekly receipts were £4, just double those atthis church. A still more striking4'nstance ( pf.the value ( of this plan was shown atWanganui, where there is a flourishing; Presbyterian congregation. Theinoney. was originally collected at the door,' and 15s was'-then considered a good collection// The plan of' taking round the plate was then adopted, and the receipts at once rose to between £8 and £9, and had ephbinued atAhat rate! It. wpuld .be seen from the estimate of receipts whioh had been read that the seat-rents had been redhced, being estimated at £1; This was nowtherate of the greater-number, the committee considering that it was a bad system tip raise funds by high'seat-rents, for two reasons—-that it deterred many from taking sittings who. otherwise would do io,. and that it was ,an unfair tax, falling equallyon rich and poor. The. other plan Which had. been suggested was that of a committee of ladies to visitin districts, making collections. * 1 This plan also had its advantages, as it brought the congregation closer'together, and more into communication. The Treasurer had- suggested that £IOO might; be .collected in thisimanner, aiid £75 from the wealthier members of the congregation .in large contributions, such as £8 or £lO, reducing the debt to £IOO. Judging-from the liberality of the congregation. he did not thinkthis idea was an-extravagant one, and he felt confident that, the, deficiency had only to be made known to bereinedied.,! He} might say tliat this large debt, which appeared so formidable, :waa;qot,. incurred -in building or enlarging the- church,—these expenses being defrayed'by large subscriptions at the time. It had been contracted simply by falling a little in arrear year/by'year. He hoped that iat future meetings this question of debt would not arise, but that .the congregation would be enabled to give their attention to subjects ,of a higher and more-important character. . Mr Wood said that this meeting was a striking contrast to one which he remembered being held just ten years ago, in January, 1858, in Munn’s hotel, to see if something could not .be done to .establish a church,’at which Mr Alexander, occupied the chair, and a sum of £B3 was collected. He then gave an interesting history of the Presbyterian Church in Napier from that date, speaking highly of the exertions of the'Rev: David Bruce and the Rev. Peter Barclay. He then spoke }of the reports which had been read,, saying that he considered them highly satisfactory documents, * giving a very clear idea of the state of the church. He approved of the idea of collecting: from the pews. He moved that the reports-be adopted. The motion was unanimously assented to. Tlie-choir then sang the anthem. “ I was glad.” '

Mr s; T. Gbeentobld .then read,the report ofthe; Superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday, School, as follows: The Superintendent of the Sabbath. School in connection with St. Paul’s church takes this opportunity'of reporting upon the position and progress of, this important branch of the Christian work:/' . ' During the two years, he has, held office, the school has fully maintained, the numerical strength that-existed .'dnring the ..term of his predecessor, Mr /Thompson; but, latterly, : the want of an . adequate. supply : of teachers has been mnch felt. The staff consists at present of the Superintendent, five female and five male teachers. The number of scholars on , the books. is. 109, in the Hortipn pf 59 girls} and 60 boys,.as,against a , pf 97, in December, 1865. The average attendance in 1867 lias been 62, as, against 551during the year 1866,' .These figures'show that a large, numher attend yery/irregularly—the disproportion between 109./^d' great. To /correct . this evil/one . of .the teachers ...was deputed to visit the parents of absentees and ascercause,of the} children’s, .absence.. Doubtless this plan if/continned,/would have-- been successful',;' put it was found/,that' the services of the teacher . could not be dispensejd with' o.a Sabbath afternoons. and that the system could not. be carriedout./,,. .7 ; The/funds' of /the school are in a satisfactory Btate./' l /§pme.time einbe theliandsome sum of £25 was ' contributed/ by,/. Mr. Edward Dickson of Gotbenbprgh;(a;bpptbevJh r Barclay) to" belhyesfediat. interest for thp benefit «f S fc vl¥ a ift , s*'sqhbpi: i / 3-His/amount is at present inverted' ip interest, £2 10s -I® ■ J^ff! Jay. over for school purposes. ■ With this incpmp/'app £lO granted from .theproand /all l^d.a/inuffibalance. / / ~ . The scltooLlibrary contains /over 200, /.volumes. at/.thC edmihenoe-. ygarj/seyeralj /fHends,/wrneb; -have a

io>by the. ohildien, i. The sum colleb'tbd last year W -'i was agreed, to ,;be equally divided'between the Melanesian mission, and the ««r. extending the s church in New Zealand.' ! . •To stimulate 1 the' scholars to take a . greater interest in the Sunday School work, *"a J system' of giving tickets as rewards-has lately been intrpdncdj upon: the number of which.- held by any one child will depend the/ value -, of- the prize to be 1 given./ But all . plans -this' kind, however good,- will fail to . some; extent ~if parents. dex; not cdoperate with tlie, teachers in- this matter, by -seeing that the appointed lessons are committed, to/memory, and that punctuality of attendance Is observed. • Notwithstanding l little difficulties’ and.- .'discouragements, however/ the -Supermtendbnt ’is hot without confidence that, under the Divine blessing, the school has been instnimental in diffusing Scriptural knowledge, and in laying the foundation of religious principle in the minds of the rising, generation of this town. ,r/

Mr Morioe made a few remarks relative to the Port Sunday School, held, in the church at the Spit, which had been inadvertently ignored! in: the 1 report. This school was in a flourishing condition, 'the number on,the.roll being 39, and the average attendance 37.

The choir sang the 39th Scripture paraphrase. The Rev. Mr. Maomtchabd them ad, dressed the meeting at considerable length. He said that it was a pity they could not get angels to do the work of the gospel, as while it was done by men there would be always debt or difficulty of some; kind. The great Whitfield had found that though the gospel was “without money'and without price,” yet. pitchers were necessary to carry it in, and tney had to be paid for. He believed the congregation might free itself by a good effort; let them give a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together, and away would go the"debt. He expressed his gratitude to Mr/ Wood and a few other friends who had, only a few months ago, done this for his .church at Meanee. He referred to a visit he had lately made to the southern parts of the colony, and the missions of the church, noticing that a gentleman had offered £LOO to the church to extend their operations among the Maoris.. l ih ,connection with this offer he would refer to the of the Manawatu district in Wellington. A minister had spent 20 years among them, laboring well and zealously, instructing them in their religion, in their Bible, and their Shorter Catechism ; they were universally considered the best reli-giously-educated natives in New Zealand, and their good teacher hoped that some lasting benefit had, under Divine Providence, been effected. But he was disappointed. The war broke out, and his 20 years’ instruction and counsel vanished—the, Maoris discontinued attending Divine service, and relapsed into a state as bad as ever. When this minister wa3 telling him of this—as he thought of his 20 years’ labor—-his life’s work—thus being swept away in a moment, it was too much for him, and he could not speak. He (Mr M.) was glad that they were to get a Hymnal for the ohuveh, as there were many who would,like hymns to whom the old metre psalms were not endeared by their associations, as they were to others. In suohcaseß as this they. must bear and forbear; What was now wanted was a spirit of universal love, which would.combine all Christiane into; one great body, withoubdistinction of sect or belief. Unity of spirit did not enforce unity in external ceremonies, or in belief, but simply the one grand foundation of all Christianity— love of Christ. He was. proud of thefact that the congregation of St. Paul’s had contributed more to the general objects of the church than any other in the colony. He had. been told out of the Province that the people of Hawke’s Bay considered their Province the Colony. He had asked them to show him such another Superintendent as Mr M'Lean; and they had been unable to do so; he had asked them- to show- him another paper-like' the Hawke’s Bay Herald, and they could not say anything. . . The . Rev. Mr Mobice said that in his address there was one subject which he had forgotten, and the remarks of the last speaker about forbearance had reminded him. The voluntary played at tlie close of the service had-for some time, been discontinued, in consequence, of its being distasteful; to a portion of the congregation/This discontinuance had given another portion some pain, as they considered that it was a decorous and seeraiy way of ending the worship. He should like the question to be now put to the congregation. V The Chairman put the question, and. it was decided in favor of the voluntary by a large show of bands. ; ' Choir: “Marvbahk.” ; Mr Stabbes was sorry that through, .the absence of some gentlemen ,who had • been expected to address the meeting, he was called upon to speak. He had a kind of dread of again speaking before such a meeting, from some strictures he had, heard, on a few remarks of his, made on a similar occasion some months ago—that -they; were toojnarrowr-minded, too Scotch, andunsuite’d to the Colony.' ! There vvas no more fervent admirer of uhsectariaiiism than liimself, and he was prepared to hold out the right hand of fellowship to any member of the Church of Christ,; no matter what his • denomination. vTHere would always be" diversity of opinion among churches, as t here would be in congregations, and lie hoped there would ahvays bo. /a keen rivalry ’ between the churches in ©very good cause. He believed that this had been qt such a meeting as- the ; jand He,/always took the iq subh gatherings.' He; whs,; deeplyjsensibie ; honbr-they had done him by eleoting him.to/thelre'spqnsibie ppsiiioh-manelder; He was-much plea Bed at the account given ' by MrWßod D£Hhe,firßt meeting held .for ' we 7 estai>flßhmrat;olf>/Bfeßby£hrilHdKu^h; distinctly, Ihotigh not in th«

-district at the time. He considered that a deep debt of, gratitude was; owing to those who had borne the "burden and the heat of tHe daybut l thought none more deserving • of the gratitude; of' the congregation/ than the Rev. .Peter Barclay, who, .wherever he was, was still working heartily for the good iof the church in /New Zealand. He, (Mr S.) had been the second person to welcome • hitnl to'the Bhores pf New Zealand, and .a"' lasting friendship then~comineqced ! between them. He thought the debt of the .church was not very frightful; and might be easily wiped off by tbe congregation. It had. been, considered unlucky, for a church to be out of debt, as if they had no debt to .attend to they would quarrel amongst themselves ; but:he thought the congregation would- clear off the debt and risk the quarrelling;' He hadnot come prepared to speak, but addressed his few! remarks to them in the way that Professor Wilson presented his daughter to Professor Aytoun, “ with the author’s compliments.” Mr Lawson proposed a,vote of thanks to the ladies . who had. so. kindly given; their services to the tea-meeting; to the choir, and to Mr Martin. Carried by acclamation! Mr Morioe proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried.

■ Mr M‘LEAN/ietifrned thanks for the honor and the flattering manner in. which he had” been spoken .of, and drew an ingenious comparison between the early settlers and the Pilgrim Fathers. The-choir then sang the anthem, €t Thine, P Lord,” Mr Macmiohael pronounced the benediction,' and. the meeting separated shortly after IO p.m.

Approximate Expenditure for 1868. Stipend Organist’s salary. Church officer’s salary ... ... Lighting and insurance:.. ... .. Sundries ... ... ... ... £300 0 0 30 0 0 25 0 0 82 0 0 13 0 0 £400 0 0 Approximate Income for 1868. Pew rents— 160, at £1;.. .. . Ordinary collections— 46, at ■■■ •; £2l2s. ... ... ... ; £160 0 O S6 12 O Total income ... £258 12: 0. / Balance .... ... £143 ,8 ; . !0 ;