ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 6, 21 September 1880, Page 2

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

A meeting of the members of All Saints' Church was Ijd1(1 ou Sunday evening, after the close of the service. The Yen. Arch deacon Thorpe presided, and entered into a lengthy explanation of the views he held as t<> the future conduct of the affairs of the Church He regretted Mr Flower's departure from the district, and wished he had been able to reach Foxton before he left, so that lie might huvo ben made more familiar thir. he was at present with various matters connected with the past history and present position of the Church, lie trusted, however, the laity would help in the work, so (hat the services could be inaintnitiuJ at least once a day. Fortunately, the liturgical portion did not depend upo'i the person conducting 1 tho service, hence if souio gentleman who possessed the confidence of the members were non.innted by them, there would bo no difficulty in keeping the Church opnn. As regarded the future provision for the spiritual wants of the district, he had come to the conclusion that Foxton and Pulmerston could not be satisfactorily worked together. Past expnrenco had proved this. Yet it was found necessary in this Colony, where the Church depended upon the voluntary offerings of i'a member?, to group together districts which unitedly could support a clergyman, but which individually could not. Palmerston of it9elf certainly could not support a olorgyman, as, including a rfdius of three milts around tho township, there were ouly 40 families belonging to (he Church. He therefore thought of attaching Sandon to l'nlmerston, and believed thoso two districts would work well together. Foxton, he believed, would have to depend upon itself and the district immediately surrounding it, because of its comparative isolution. As regarded its future, three courses were open : Either to obtain the services of an unmarried minister who would accept v low salary, or joiu it to another district, or temporarily carry on the services by means of lay readers. The latter he thought the most practicable, and in every way tbo best. He would prefer the members nominating lay readers for his approval as he thought all church work of that class should be done by pusons in whom the members had the fullest confidence He learned, however, that they wished him to make tho appointment, and he would therefore arrange for the services to be maintained until his return from Diocesan Synod, which would be about tho end of i October. With rojrard to the General Church Fund, Koxtou had shown a lack of faith in tho Church authorities which he niucn resetted. He presumed the Foxton people formed a bad impression by seeing that no reference was made in the reports of tho Synod proceedings of uny effort being made to provide them with a deigyiuau. Ho would assure them, however, that the cuso of Foxton was fully considered, but it was felt that owing to tho dearth of funds aud of men, it would bo better not to attempt too imioh, and thercforo no notion was taken. Still, the Foxton Church c.oinhora might rest assured that both tho Bishop and himself had their interests at hourt, and woul<i do all in their power to provide- for their spiritual wants Ho therefore hoped they would not lose heart in tho General Church Fund schemes but would assist to make it a success. His own appointment as Arohdeacon ox the diatriot north of the iHunuwalu river was the outcome of the General Church Fund scheme, and his especial duties wero to attond to the wauts of places like Foxton whioh were without a minister, and to wuporvise young clergymen. They would thus see that the General Church Fund had a claim upon them on this account, tie would like them to determine whether the

services should be continued only once a day, or twice, so that he could arrange that double worlc would not be placed upjn tho shoulders of oui lay reader. The members present briefly consulted, and it was decided to maintain the services both morning anl evcnin,',%he appointment of the lay readers being left to the Archdeacon. The meeting then closed.