St. Mary's, Levin.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 April 1914, Page 4

St. Mary's, Levin.

"The Church Men's Society is simply holding its own. Two new members were admitted during the year, but they subsequently left the district. Our choir has certainly more members than it had a year ago ,but for the lack of someone to take the tenor part, the music has been of the simplest kind. Is there none who can help us out of this difficulty? My hearty thanks are due to all who have helped to forward the work for Christ and His Church in any way during the last twelve months: The churchwardens (Major Burlinson and Mr Hold a way) also the vestrymen (Messrs Butt, Cut-field, Gapper, H. Horrobin, Howell, Dr. Kennedy and Mr Saxon) for their kind help. Mr Outfield deserves special mention amongst the vestrymen for looking after the finances of the church, paying the accounts and preparing the monthly balance-sheet. 1 take this opportunity of thanking the | churchwardens and vestrymen, who in response to n resolution of tho Synod, have raised my stipend ,£75 per annum. T wish it to he clearly understood in the parish that. T did not ask for the increase. Personallv I hope that the subject will be discussed by the new vestry and an amendment will be added to_ the motion already passed, which will have the effect of deferring the increase until the debt is paid off S Mary's schoolroom, and tKe borrowed from Weraroa church room building fund is refunded. "The honorary lay readers (Mr T. Brown, Major Burlinson, Mr A. Horrobin and Mr J. Kebbell) deserve special praise. On Sundays, they sometimes travel ;is far as fourteen miles to keep the services going in the various outdistricts.

"Thanks are also due to the members of the choir for their services. I will not attempt to mention each one by name lest T should omit someone, but our gratitude is specially due to Mr Smith, our choirmaster, and Mrs Matthews, the organist. T should like to thank Miss McNickle. Mrs Stealer and Mrs Wallace, who at various times during the year have acted as organist in the absence of Mrs Matthews.

''The Sunday School teachers who have helped us during the past year or are still teaching deserve special thanks. Mesdames Gapper, Hansen, Malcolm, Matthews, Pyke, Stealer -and Stockwell. Mi sees Bowen, Clarke, Gardener, Malcolm, McNickle, Palmer and Toucher: also Mr Foss. "The district visitors (Mesdames Outfield, Clarke, Duckworth. Gapper, Holdaway, Liddie, Lodge, Marriott, McKenzie and Wallace; also Miss Hitehings have done .good work for which we are most grateful. The members of the Ladies' Work Ouild — to numerous to mention individually—have done valuable work in helping to raise funds for wiping off the debt on S. Mary s Church room and erecting a church room at Weraroa, also towards the current expenses of the church. As the balance-sheet shows, their efforts were crowned with success. This year, I trust, _will see the extinction of all debts on this parish. They will, I feel sure, raise some .£6O for this purpose. I thank the ladies for the work which they did last year, and trust that, with the blessing of God on their labours, tliev will meet, with as good success in the future as they have done m the past. May I, in conclusion, take this opportunity of thanking all the parishioners who have in any way helped forward the work ot the church by their prayers and their offerings. Possibly owed more than we thougntof our success last year to some sick <\r aged saint, whose prayers and intercessions went up before' God on our behalf. < We were the members on active service; he or she helped to supply the spiritual force which enabled us to produce the visible results. "Let us all work together for the good of our fellowmen and the extension of God's Kingdom on earth. As individuals we_ may accomplish something, but it is when the church collectively, as a might giant, rouses herself for the fray and makes her influence felt, that she accomplishes the good her Divine Master desires. "That God may bless and help us all during the next twelve months is the earnest prayer of vcur friend and vicar, H. T. STEALEY.