ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, THORNDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4774, 11 July 1876, Page 2

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, THORNDON.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's, Thorndon, was held in the Sydney - street schoolroom last evening. Theattendancea was larger than usual. The Rev. B. W. Harvey, incumbent, occupied the chair, and opened proceedings by prayer. PROGRESS OP THE YEAR. The Chairman, in a short address, referred to the progress made during the past year, and. expressed his great thankfulness that so many and great blessings had been vouchsafed to him. The financial position of the church he would leave to the churchwardens to deal with, merely saying that he believed the reports and balance-sheets to be submitted would prove satisfactory. The spiritual progress of the church had, he was happy to say, been marked. Taking first the he had to report that the nunjber on ' the books had increased, average attendance, especially that qf the elder children, was much better than before, and besides, teachers came forward more readily. Their Bible classes had increased fourfold, and the list of communicants also showed an increase. The average attendance had now reached thirty-nine per celebration, er an increase of two upon the average of last year. He referred to the additions to the church, which not only to the looks of the structure,' but had given much more sittingroom, and had improved the acoustic properties of the building. There was one matter to which he desired to ask attention, viz., he had an inclination, to avail himself of an offer made some time since by the congregation, and employ a curate. The parish wa3 becoming very large and important, and the work increasing, and he thought it Tery probable that as soon as he could meet with a gentleman of the same mind, as himself, and with whom he could work well, he would call the parishioners together and

ask them to authorise the employment of a curate. (Hear, hear.) He felt deeply thankful to the vestry, the choir, in fact, to the whole parish, for the aasistance which had been rendered him. THE REPORT. The following report was read by Mr. Henry T. Clarke : The churchwardens and vestry, in presenting their annual statement for the year ended • 30th June, ISiC, have once again the pleasure to inform the parishioners that the prosperous condition of the parish upon which they were congratulated last year still continues. The alterations and enlargement to the church, the contract for which was taken before the - close of last year have been completed, and the manner in which the operations have been carried out reflect great credit upon the builders and the architect who kindly undertook to supervise the works. "When the additions to the churoh were completed the re-arrangement of the seats became necessary, so as to make the most of the space available as well as render the internal arrangements uniform and more convenient. ... ~ f The ve»~/ would take this opportunity of thanking those seatholders who, to enablo the contractors to carry out this plan, consented to give up their longestablished sittings, and be moved to other parts of the church, in some cases, it is feared, at some inconvenience to themselves. , A handsome pulpit has been added to the fittings of the church, and supersedes the unsightly and not very safe temporary structure raised for the accommodation of the officiating elergyman. With respect to the new organ, the organ committee have much pleasure in reporting that since the last annual meeting of the parishioners satisfactory progress has been made by Messrs. Lewis and Co towaidsthe completion of the instrument. It is still more satisfactory to report that (owing to the high reputation enjoyed by those gentlemen a paid agent was rendered unnecessary; and it is to their liberality the committee have been able to add the hydraulic apparatus which only was required to render the organ perfect. ~ , .. The latest report from Mr. Barraiul leads the committee to believe that the organ will be turned out of hand within the time specified by the builders and before the end of December next it is expected that the instrument will be out and erected in its place in the church The committee have received other assurances of the good faith of Messrs. lewis and Co., and they consider it a subject for congratulation that those gentlemen were entrusted with the order. Your vestry desire to express their thanks to Mr. AV. 11. "Warren, the hon. secretary to the organ committee, for his indefatigable services, and also to record their sense of his liberality in instructing the builders to throw into the instrument the commission to which, by the rules of the profession, he is justly entitled. ~ _, Your vestry are also under obligations to Dr. Jsuller for his endeavors" to obtain a passage for the organ, freight free, from England to "Wellington. The stained-glass windows purchased by Mr. Barrand with the £2O placed by Mr WO. Davis of Mulgrave-street, at the disposal of the Key. "Mr Harvey for purposes of the church, have arrived, and have been put up in the north aisle as intended. The revenue of the church for the past year (including balance brought down) amounts to £1413 Ids. 3d The whole of this sum, with the exception of £3, has been raised from the ordinary sources of revenue. The general offertories have increased, and this year amounted to £642 2s. Bd., just £4l higher than last special offertories in the aggregate show a slight fallin" off The vestry are aware that good reasons can be assigned for this, but they would at the same time again venture to commend these offertories, especially those for diocesan and missionary purposes, to the special notice of those who desire to see other districts and other communities in the enjoyment of the same Christian privileges we possess. With regard to the church accounts, the churchwardens have thought it advisable and more convenient to keep the general account and the church enlargement and organ account separate ; and they are presented to you in that shape. It is with satisfaction the vestry draw your attention to the fact, that after meeting our engagements with our creditors, they have been able to pay the sum of £353 out of the general funds into the building account, and there is still a balance of over £47 in the bank. The churchwardens have drawn the attention of the vestry to the circumstance that the auditors report that for some year 3 there has been an amount of £1 2s. 2d. in the bank, in excess of the balance shown in the cashbook. This amount they recomment should be brought to credit of church account, which ha 3 accordingly been done. . The vestry desires to record its thanks to the choir for their valuable aid during the past year. It is also due to its members to state, that the marked improvement in the musical part of the services since the choir occupied the new seats provided for them on the floor of the church, is a subject of general remark. ~..,. ~ . , L The vestry feel that they would fail in their duty did they not testify to the efficient manner in which the verger, Mr. Thomas Carr, has carried out his onerous" and not always very agreeable office, and to inform the parishioners that as the enlargement of the church has considerably increased his labors, they recommend the incoming vestry to raise his salary, and allow him a gratuity for past services. The vestry also records its thanks to Messrs. D. Anderson, jun., and Barraud for their services in receiving seat rents. This was adopted unanimously. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. Mr. C. P. Powles then read the report of the Sunday school for the year. TM3 was of a very satisfactory character, showing that there had been a large increase in the number of scholars, the ordinary attendance now being upwards of 200 ; and there had been a great improvement in regard to regularity and punctuality. The staff of teachers, including superintendent and librarian, now numbered 21; and as showing the greater interest now being taken in the work, it wa3 mentioned that on a recent occasion no fewer than six gentlemen volunteered their services in answer to an appeal made in the church for further assistance. It was noted that nine of the elder scholars have this year presented themselves for confirmation. Fifty volumes have been added to the library during the year, and the weekly issue was now about 70. Thanks were returned to the choir and the congregation for assistance, and gratitude to God was expressed for blessings showered upon the undertaking.

POWER TO VOTE. A discussion arose as to whether persons present, who had not signed the usual declaration of membership, were entitled to vote.seeing that one of the sections of the Act of Synod expressly forbade that. The Chairman explained that the rules laid down by the Synod were passed with the object of building up a thorough system of church government in the colony, but it was recognised that to carry out strictly hard-and-fast rules which the people had not hitherto been used to would be injurious. The practice, therefore, in this respect had been to take the vote 3 of any person present unless challenged|; but if challenged, then the rule was made binding. Thus members were gradually falling into the desired course and signing the declaration ; but in the meantime no one was prevented from having a voice in the management .of affairs. A resolution had been proposed, urging on the Synod the desirableness of amending the rule ; but on this explanation being given and several members expressing themselves as favorable to the continuance of the rule, the resolution was withdiawn. A number of those present then signed the roll. ELECTION OF OFFICEBS. Mr. Henry T. Clarke was nominated and accepted the office of minister's churchwarden, and Mr. F. W. Riemenschneider, parishioners' churchwarden. The following gentlemen were elected a vestry :—Dr. Kemp, Col. Gorton, Messrs. Powleß, K. Lee, J. E. Smith, Anderson, McKellar, Marchant, Garrard, and Govett. CHANGE IN THE HYMNAL. Mr. Lee brought before the meeting the question of changing the Hymnal, and substituting, in place of that at present in use, "Hymns Ancient and Modern." He said he did not lay claim to any special knowledge in the matter of church music ; but as one of those who last year suggested a change, he again brought the matter forward. If in order he should move a resolution. The Chairman said he would be quite in order, and explained that in conversation a_ day or two since, the Bishop seemed to indicate that if a change were asked for he might not be disposed to veto it. However, he should not like to see the meeting commit itself strongly to any course, because the General Assembly would meet in January, when very probably the whole matter would be fully discussed. Mr. Lee then moved a resolution, expressing the opinion that a change would be desirable. He Bpoke in favor of the new edition of " Hymns Ancient and Modern " being adopted, and said although he was aware that Mr. Clarke and others were opposed to that book, he was not afraid of its beiDg introduced. It was very generally used in England, and in Borne parts of New Zealand. This was seconded. Mr. Claeke said as he had been referred to he would at once express his opinion. Last year he had opposed the substitution of " Hymns Ancient and Modern" for the hymnal now in use, and his opposition had only been strengthened during the past year. The reason why he had not liked the book was because of the very objectionable teaching in Bomo of the hymns. The 37Cth, for instance, was an illustration, for he considered that were

such a hymn admitted into an English church it would be so admitted in direct contravention of the twenty-second article. Mr. A. M. Smith, Mr. Warren, and others supported the resolution, but eventually an amendment appointing a committee to consider the matter was carried. This terminated the business of the meeting.