ST. PAUL’S PARISH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4466, 13 July 1875, Page 3

ST. PAUL’S PARISH.

The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Paul’s took place last night *in the Schoolroom, Sydney-stx*eet, to receive the report for the past year, and to elect office• bearers for the ensuing twelve months, &c. The Rev. B. W. Harvey, incumbent of the church, occupied the chair. In his opening remarks the chairman referred to the interest this meeting had, being held on the anniversary of his first coming into the parish. It was four years since he became minister of St. Paul s, and he had no hesitation in saying that his work here had been the happiest he. had ever undertaken. His best thanks were due to the parishioners for the great assistance they had rendered him in his work. At the last annual meeting they had just completed some, improvements to the church by adding an arilk’knd transept. The wisdom of this' step,, would be evident from the report that would' be laid before them by the churchwardens. After referring to the small amount of the offertories compared with the size of the congregation, he stated that their progress during the past year had been very satisfactory. He had started two Bible classes, one for girls and the other for boys. Of the former he could report very favorably, both as to numbers and effects. The boys’ class, he was sorry to say, was not so well attended. During the past year he had had 139 baptisms, as against .85 for the previous term. The number of weddings was 27. He was sorry to say that there had been more deaths during the past than in the year before. The sacrament of holy communion had been held weekly instead of fortnightly, and he was happy to be able to state there had been an increase of at least fifty per cent in the attendance. After referring to the departure of two of the office-bearers, and expressiug regret at the loss of two such earnest workers, he introduced Mr. Clarke, who read the churchwarden’s report, as follows ;

ghuechwardrk’s report. In presenting their annual report for the year ended 30th of June, 1875, the churchwardens and vestry have again to congratulate the parishioners on the prosperous condition of the parish. The balance in hand—including the amount transferred to the Thorndon Church Fund (an account opened with the Bank of New Zealand, into which all moneys received towards cost of organ and enlargement are paid), after making due allowance for liabilities, which; with the exception of the cost of the Futter tablet, consist only of the current expenses—is larger this year than on any previous year. This prosperity is mainly due to the increased accommodation provided by the addition of the north aisle, but especially to the arrangement so cordially agreed to by a large majority of the seatholders, of throwing open to the public their sittings in the evening after the bell has ceased to ring. 1 The question of further enlarging the church, as well as providing a new and complete organ more befitting the Cathedral Church of this city, has for a considerable time engaged the attention of the vestry, and under all the circumstances they have felt themselves justified in advising the parishioners to raise £SSO in £lO debentures, bearing interest at S per cent. The vestry since then have carefully gone into the matter, and do not consider that it will be necessary for them to raise more than £SOO in this manner. It is considered that the. remainder of the funds required may be provided out 'of the current income of the parish, augmented by donations, hy the proceeds of musical entertainments to be given by the choir, and by the sale of the present organ. £SOO of debentures have been issued, and the money accruing therefrom, with a further sum of £2OO, placed in the Bank of New Zealand as a fixed deposit for twelve months. It was necessary to lodge the money in some bank, as a guarantee to the organ builders that the money would he forthcoming when required. Mr. Tolhurst, the manager of the bank, has kindly undertaken to make the necessary arrangements for the payment of the money in London.. By making this money a deposit for twelve tli o interest on the debentures for six months certain will be more than covered. ■ The organ has been ordered from the celebrated firm of Messrs. Thomas Lewis and Co., and with the assistance of Mr. C. B. Earraud (who will in all probability be in England while the organ is in course of construction), and the other precautions taken by the organ committee; the vestry feel confident that the parishioners’ interests will be well guarded, and an instrument second to none in New Zealand procured. . The contract for the additions andaiterations to the church has. after careful consideration, been given hy the vestry to Messj-s." Gascoine and Parsons, at a cost of £627. Every care has l 'been taken in the specifications to secure the parishioners against any after charge. The plans and specifications have been gratuitously supplied by Mr. George Fannin, who has also kindly undertaken to supervise the works, and see that the contract is faithfully carried out. The vestry would take this opportunity of expressing their great obligations to Mr. Fannin for his services. by which the cost of the alterations and additions has been greatly reduced. By the additions and alterations contemplated, seventy fresh sittings will be obtained, exclusive of those that will be required hy the choir. The total revenue of the church for the past year has been derived from ordinary sources only, and

amounts to £1728145. 2(1. The ordinary offertories for the year amount to £OOI 2s. Bd. as against £405 Is. 3d. of last year. The seat rents collected, £498 Is. 10d., as against £330 15s. of last year. The scat rents outstanding this year amount to £6O Cs. Cd., as against £IOO 10s. of last year. The vestry regret to point to the fact that the special offertories do not bear the marked improvement observable in the ordinary offertories. The Melanesian Mission fund this year only shows £24 Is. 3d., as against £29 ss. 31d. The Maori Mission fund, £l4 18s. 6d., as againit £l7 14s. s£d. The diocesan fund shows a slight improvement —£29 Os. 3d., as against £24 ss. 9d. ; and the pension fund shows a falling off. This year it stands at £l3 os. 2d., as against £l4 17s. Ud- It is, however, due to state that some of the Sundays, the offertories of which were set apart for special purposes, were exceptionally wet. Notwithstanding this, the vestry feel it their duty tojeommend these special offerings to the notice of parishioners. The diocesan and missionary funds particularly are deserving of their liberal donations. The expenditure for the year, amounting to £1468 6s. 7d. (excepting the sum of £IOO transferred to the Thorndon Church fund) has been confined to the ordinary objects, and in paying off liabilities of the previous year, wliich reduced the large balance then shown of £382 6s. 7kh, and of £4B 11s. Bcl to the credit of the debt found (both inclusive), to £Bl Is. Did- The balance to credit this year, including the £IOO transferred as above, amounts to £260 7s. 7*Vcl. The church debt has, according to arrangement, been reduced by £IOO, in addition to which £SO have been paid to the trustees for investment, so that the debt under this head is reduced to £OSO. The interest upon the debt has been paid punctually. The vestry would again Call the attention of the parishioners’to the great inconvenience felt from the seat rents not being paid within the time arranged. They would beg to draw the attention of the seatholders to the fact, that it was in the interests of the parish and to economise its funds, that the services of a collector were dispensed with, and it was hoped that this, would have enlisted the sympathy of the parishioners, and ensured a more'punctualpayment of the rents. They trust that this appeal will be favorably considered by the; soatholders, and that their cooperation in this, matter will be secured for the future. Mr. Barraud, of Lambton-quay, and Mr. T). Anderson, jun., of Moic«Worth-street, have kindly undertaken to receive rents. The churchwardens will also be glad to give their services in this direction. The vestry have the pleasure of informing the parishioners that, after, some delay, the tablet In memory of James Futter h*is at length been erected in the cemetery. , o u.f The vestry desires again to record its thanks to the choir for their services, ami to express its sense of the importance of the duty they render to the parish. The vestry would also take this opportunity to congratulate the choir on the prospect of having a complete and more suitable instrument to assist them, and hope the arrangements made will in every way prove satisfactory to them. The vestry wishes to record its thanks to the parishioners for the practical mark of their approval of the recommendation made last year, that the Easter Sunday offerings should be given to the incumbent,-. , , . Mr. A. Smith moved that the report be adopted and printed for circulation amongst the parishioners. Mr. Maginity seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman then called upon Mr. C. P, Bowles, the Superintendent of the Sunday-school, to read his report, which was as follows : nnroiiT st; Paul's .Sunday-school. The committee of St. Paul s Church Sunday-school report, with much satisfaction and thankfulness, that the school has made considerable progress during the past twelve mouths, and that its present condition is full of promise. The number of scholars has largely increased. There are now about 200 on the roll, and the ordinary attendance is upwards of 150, which number would probably have been much exceeded but for the bad weather of the lost two months, and the sickness that has been so prevalent among children. The general order and efficiency of the school is also, the committee think, decidedly improving. They hope and quite anticipate that, with the return of finer weather, a still further Improvement will bo observed both in the number of scholars and in the regularity of attendance. They would .particularly urge upon parents to endeavor to send their children as regularly and punctually as possible, and to encourage them to come with their lessons previously prepared.

There has been no difficulty of late in securing the services of willing and able teachers, and the attendance of teachers has been more regular than in former years. Bible classes for elder scholars have been started and are now held in connection with the school: that for boys by Mr. Hullett in the church, that for girls by Mrs. Win. Pharazyn at her residence, Hobson-street. The latter has been well attended and is doing good work. It is much to be regretted that the boys do not show so much anxiety to avail themselves of the valuable opportunity which is thus offered to them. The committee desire to thank the members of the choir for the very kind and important help rendered by them to the school, in procuring funds for the purchase of books for the library. By this means about eighty new volumes have been obtained, and there is still a balance in hand to buy more as occasion may arise. The total number of volumes in the library at present is about 800. The books have a large circulation, and aro greatly prized by the children and their friends. The committee desire also to thank the ladies and gentlemen who so liberally helped to provide the annual treat for the children attending the school, and also the vestry for the contribution by means of which they have been enabled to purchase prizes and and obtain other tilings needful for the good working of the school. ■ They would close this report with the earnest hope that a still greater blessing may attend the work of the school during the year which is now begun. They append a list of the present staff of teachers, and a statement of receipts and expenditure connected with the school for tho past year :—Mr. C. P. Towles, superintendent; Mr. O. If. Davies, librarian; Mr. 11.. Hullett, teacher Bible class ; Mr. E. W. Lowe, Ist oli£Ss; Mr. E. F. Norris, 2nd class ; Mr. F. W. Riemenschneider, 3rd class; Mr, Alport, 4th class ; Mr. 11. T. Clarke, sth class: Mr. G. Lowe, 7th class; Mrs. W. Pharazyn, girls’ Bible class; Miss E. Greenwood, Ist class girls : Miss J. Anderson, 2nd class ; Miss Toomath, 3rd class; Miss Haultain, 4th class; Miss Bannister, sth class ; Miss Baker, Cth class; Miss M. Park, 7th class ; Miss Davies, Sth class; Miss Hadfield, Cth class boys. Account of Receipts and Expenditure for Year Emdino June 30, 1575.

Mr. Lee, in moving the adoption of the report, said he was glad to see there were so many teachers who he knew were well qualified for the work. He was strongly of opinion, that religion -was best taught by some one teacher properly qualified, or by the minister. In England they had Sunday-schools for grown np people, and he hoped the day was not far distant when they would have the same in New Zealand. Talking of religious education in the ordinary schools, he was of opinion that education worthy of the name of religious could only be imparted either by the clergy or by some teacher duly set apart for this work. Colonel Gorton seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. The Chairman intimated to the meeting that the next business was the election of churchwardens. He stated that Mr. Clarke had consented to be re-elected as a minister’s warden, and it now remained for them to nominate parishioner’s churchwarden. The Hon. C. J. Phakazyn proposed Mr. P. Powles, who was declared elected. Mr. Harvey thanked the retiring warden, the Hon. C. J. Pharazyu. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen for the present year :—Messrs. Eobect Lee, Wilson Heaps, D. Anderson, J. J. Cherritt, A. M. Smith, J. E. Smith, W. Eiemenschneider, G. S. Tolhurst, H. S. McKellar, and the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn.

INCREASE IN MINISTER’S STIPEND. Mr. Stowe moved • that the clergyman s stipend by increased by £SO. This would bring the minister’s salary np to £4OO, which he considered quite little enough. Mr. C. J. Pharazyn seconded the motion. It was put by the seconder, and carried with acclamation. The Bev. Mr. Harvey said they would require all the funds they possessed, and he did not wish to take it from the church. CHANGE IN THE HYMNAL. Mr. Lee, in order to create a little discussion on the matter, moved the following resolution ; —That it is the opinion of this meeting that as soon as the new organ was put in position there should be a change in the hymnal, and that it is desirable that copies of hymnals be sent for, that the vestrymen may select one for the Bishop’s sanction. He said they were behind the age in respect to their singing. We lived in an age when we expected more choral services. Blest with a good ministry, the sermons and liturgy were well attended to, but such was not the case with the singing. Colonel Gorton seconded the motion, and said he was sorry Mr. Lee did not further propose that we take into use “Hymng Ancient and Modern.” A clergyman in Christchurch had told him his congregation had improved very much since these hymns were adopted.

After some little discussion, the motion was withdrawn at the suggestion of the Rev. B. W. Harvey, who said it would be better to bring this up before the parishioners on a future occasion. He would undertake to bring the matter before the Bishop. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting was closed by pronouncing the benediction.

Dr. £ s. d. Proceeds of concert .. 10 c 0 Subscriptions to treat— Rev. H. W. St; Hill 17 0 Collected by Miss Lewis .. .. 1 12 0 Collected by Miss Johnston .. 2 13 0 Collected by Miss Hadlield .,4 0 0 Contributed by vestry 0 Subscriptions and donations to library 2 11 0 Total ..£30 9 0 Cr. A s. d. Press for library ..8 0 0 New books .. 0 2 0 Repairs, &c .. IS 9 Prizes and conduct cards .. 5 10 0 Printing, &c ..14 8 Expenses of treat 9 Labor in preparing room for school.. .. 1 10 0 Balance .. 3 14 2 Total ..£30 9 0