ALL SAINTS' CHURCHH

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 96, 1 August 1879, Page 2

ALL SAINTS' CHURCHH

The annual meeting of tho Parishioners of All Saints' Church was held on Saturday evonin j last, at 7 p.m. The attendance was very small.

His Loidship Bishop Hadflald presided, and in opening tho meeting stated that it gave him groat pleasure to bo present. He was there to represent MrNowth,whr.se place it was to preside at such meetings. He might say that ho had received a note from Mr NbWth, iv which he stated that having consulted at Nelson his medical adviser. Dr. Boer, he had learned that his illness arose from no serioua cause, and hoped shortly to return to his parish. Ho (the Bishop J had, however, come to Foxton to supply Air Newth's place on the following day, and he also intended to officiate at Palmerston on Sunday, August 10. Meantime, he had requested the Key. Mr Jones, of Keilding, to perform any special work iv the FoxtonPalmerston district, — such as marriage, baptisu, &c. — until Mr Newth's return.

Mr Flower then read the Churchwardens' report and balance-sheet as follows:—

To the parishioners of All Saints' Church, Foxton, —

In putting before you the annual statement of the affairs of this parochial district, as required by the Synod, we have to report that, as you are aware, the services of the Church have been conducted by layreaders, until within the last two months, when Mr Newtb. was appointed by the Bishop to take charge of this place jointly with Palmerston.

The understanding arrived at with regard to this appointment was, that this district should contribute £liiO a-year, and should receive the services of a clergyman every other Snuday. It appears, however, that in addition to the £100, a room will have to be provided, and half railway fares borne. This, together with oxpenses for interest, insurance, cleaning and lighting church, &c , will rcquiro an income of no less than £160 per annum, the raising of which will bo a matter for your earnest consideration, .as the scheme for providing a General Diocesan Fund, is for the present in abeyance. There is l.iid before you a statement of income and expenditure for the past year. J. N". Flowed \ Provisional C ! miles Hulke j Churchwardens. • Statement of "Receipts and Expenditure July 1, 1878, to Juno 30, 18^9. £ a. d. £ s. d. To balance from Juro 30, 187S .. .. 2 7 0 „ collections for year . . 20 5 0 „ seat rents and guaranteo .« .. 21 0 0 „ donation collected by H. Dawson, Esq. .. 12 10 0 59 19 5 £62 6 11 ExPENDITUnt. — — — By interest to June 00, 1878 .. .. 12 0 0 „ insurance to Dec. 25, 1879 .. ..400 „ blinds .. ..263 „ lamp and to Building Account . . 4 010 „ cleaning & lighting 7 8 4 „ Church of England Cemetery Fund ..130 „ Lid ell's account ..116 „ advertising.. .. (I 16 0 „ Mr Newth's hotel expenses — .May . . 2 4 0 „ Telegram to Palmerston . . ..029 35 2 8 „ Liddell's aciount . . 12 6 „ advertising- Diocesan Fund . . . . 015 0 1 17 V „ balanco at 30th June, 1879 .. .. 25 6 9 £02 0 11 J. N. Flower \ Provisional Ojiakles HuiKE J Churchwardens. Upan the motion of .Mr Mauleaa, the repjrt uud balance sheet were adopteJ, subject to audit. His Lordship thon said it woald be neces sary for those present to look into the future and arrange as to their pastor's maintenance. When lust amongst tkazn, he had advocated the starting of a Diosesan Fund, which would have removed from the shoulders of parishioners par; of the financial burden thsy now carried. He was glad to tell them that scheme had throughout the Diocese met with genersl approval. Keon m^n of busiuess had expressed thomsolves strongly in favour of it 7Ho regretted, however, to tell them that owing to the present financial depression there was no probability of the scheme being got into working order before January. Gentlemen who six months ago were in a good position, and hid piomised liberally, had since told hi:n that owing to the depression they could not fulfil their promises. This had not destroyed his faith in the scheme, for the more he studied it, the mor.3 convinced he was that it would be of great service to the Dioce3e. Ho might also say tli£.t he had received a letter from Bishop Abrams, who for nine years presided over this Diocese, in which he (Bishop Abrams) stated his conviction that the scheme w.is an excellent one, and thut it would eventually be adopted throughout the whole of the Colonial Dioceses. This, in conjunction with the high opinions of business men he had met with, who favoured tiie scheme, led him to persevere in it. He also regretted to inform them thac he had received a letter from the Socieiy, for the Proposition of thj Gospel, stating that at the close of the year tho grant in ids to New Zealand would be stopped. He I'egrettad this, because from the Funi he had p:iid £'5.t pjr annum towards Mr Newth's salary. This amount would therefore hava to bo raised in tho district, in addition to the amount subscribed at present. He thought that at present tho best arrangement possible was made, ia the uaion of Koxton and Cahnerston for support of the clergyman. Wo doubt in the future a division would become necessary. P.iltnerston was growing rapidly, and a clergyman would soon be supported by that place. He hoped the same for Foxton. Until then, he thought the present the bastpo3sible arrangement. It was better to have a good, reliable, trustworthy clergyman, than one taken at random, but who might not be so good, though paid a smaller salary. Ho wis obliged to both Mr Flower and Mr Hulko for tho energy they had displayed in Church work, acting as lay readers, and hopod that though the latter gontleman had temporarily retired, he would soon be able to assist again. Mi- Hulke explained that Isis resignation had been necessitated by the arduous nature of his dutios. When the idea was first spoken of, that each district should pay half Mr Newth's salary, he cordially endorsed it, but he found that instead of I ham paying £lOU, they paid nearly £150. A. glance at the balance-sheet showed that tho Fox ton people had to pay £12 for interest, £4 for insurance, £10 for lighting and cleaning, and several other pounds por annum for incidental expenses. Then there was £!00 towards Mr Newth's salary, and abouh another £'20 or £30 for bedroom, accommodation, railway fares, &c. Thia large amount he felt tho people could not raise. They might reach £130, bat they could not geb

beyond that, having tho clergyman only on alternate Sundays. He had gone ifcrtff the matter carefully, and thought tho highest Foxton could raise under the present arrangemeut was £130. He thought that Mr Xewth would require to pay for his <iwn board at F.octon, tne people here paying for his room?. This would relievo them a good deal.

Mr Flower said he would not be a party to have a clergyman whoso salary was not met when due. He would do Ins best to the end of tho year, and then if the prospect wns not improved, he would prefer to shut up tho Church. At present they paid a maximum amount for a minimum of narochial accommodation.

His Lordship said Foxton was not singular in this. Grey town and Patea wr re both in the same position. Mr liussell suggested that the Palmerston people might fairly be asked to add another £25 per annum to their share. True, they were providing a pursonage, but that property would always remain there. At present, Foxton actually had to pay considerably more than Palnierston for the clergyman's support, for aocomodation, &c , ia addition to the one-half of tho Bulary. Besides, the very fact of the clergyman residing at Pulmerston gave him an influence there which tended largely to increase the congregation, aucl, as a consequence, the income, The suggestion was accepted, and His Lordship kindly consented to bring the matter before the Fnlmerstonohurchwardens on the occasion of his next visit.

Mr Hulke remarked that the people of Palmerston should remember tuat unless they gave the extra amount Foxton would be reluctantly compelled to withdraw from the arrangement, leaving to Palmerston the whole onus.

His Lordship was afraid this might sound like a threat.

Mr Hulkke did not intend it as such. X wus simply a plain fact.

Mr John Kussell suggested that money might be appropriately raised by means of a sacred concert.

His Lordship thought the suggestion a very excellent one. There was a certain feeling against going out of the regular lines for raising money for Church purposes, but he thought such a plan would prove highly intonst.rg, as it would bp amusement of an intellectual character.

Mr Flower remaiked it was intended to call up the seat rents for the year. The amounts should by right have been collected at the beginning of the year, but they intended to collect the seat rents lor the whole year during thu next week or two. This would assist to keep things going till the end of the year. Mr Russell thought the attempt to unite Foxton and Pulmerston would not succeed. The people did not see enough of the clergyman to leain to esteem him as their pastor and spiritual adviser. Yet the pastoral work, when properly attended to, would do moie to fill ihu Church than eloquent serset'inons. Tncre was a population of seven or eight hundred people in and around Foxton, and of these tlie greater part wore churchmen. Surely from so many, that small Church should be crowded each Sunday, if the people were properly looked after. Ho thought Foxton and Saudou shouhl-fe^/r united. The distance was only 1 8 miles/i*" and it would not be hard work for a clergyman to hold service at Sandon in the morns ing, and at Foxton at night, which could not be done between Foxton and Pulmerston. A congregation might also be obtained at tho Douglas {station, or in the Carnarvon district, where »i small Church might be erected. Then the Clergyman could reside at Foxlon, and it would be more easy to raise i'lso than it now was to raise £100, whilst the other parts of the district would make up the remainder. His Lordship said he proposed in the future to make Bulls and Sandon a separate parish, lie understood the Sandou offertories averaged neirly £1 per week. He thought Foxton did not need to bear the whole expunge of Air .Newtli's visit. If the people provided the rooms, Mr Newth might himself pay for his board, The matter then dropped, Mr Flower wished to propose a voto of thanks to Mr J. Russell for his services as . organist. In the face of considerable discouragement, owing to a very small choir, he h id rendered great assistance in tho inu« sieal part of the service. His Lordship, in conveying tho thanks, referred to the pleasure he felt in hearing of persona having clone what they could to support tho Church. He hoped they would not be disheartened, but would do what they could to keep things going, He frequently experienced great discouragement. For 34 ■years he had laboured in the « !olony, and yet he often thought how small lvsu'ts had accrued. However, it was their duty to work, and leave the re-«t. The following officei'3 were elected : — Clergyman's Churchwarden, Mr Flower; parishioners' Churchwarden, Mr Hulkej Vestry— Messrs Maclcau, Easton, Goley, and Russell. The meeting then closed.