ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 14 May 1919, Page 3

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OP PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of parishioner! of All 'Saints' Church, Otaki, held or Monday evening last at the Druids Hall took a somewhat different form to the usual annual gathering, a social gathering being combined with the routine business. Tire, result was so satisfactory in every way that it is highly probable that the innovation will become an established custom -in connection with the local church. The Vicar (Rev. G. "F. Pctrie, M.A.) presided, and there was a capital attendance of between thirty and forty persons, a goodly number of whom were ladies. : Musical Programme. The fust portion of the gathering was devoted to • musical items. Sony's were contributed by Mesdames Swabey and-J. R. Bills. Hiss Lvelyne Jones and Fearless, and'Mr C. Cumpsty; Mrs H. O. Jones and Mr . Waldyve - st - George gave pianoforte solos, while Mrs and Miss Jones sang a duet. All of the items were much appreciated, and the programme was an enjoyable one. Vicar's Report. The Rev. G. P. Pctrie, M.A., presented his annual report. In his opening remarks Mr Petric referred to the end of the great war, and relumed thanks to God for the signal way in which He had prospered and crowned with success our efforts. He trusted that the years of peace which they hoped to cniov might be marked by a great forward movement of Christ's kingdom

on earth. ' . Special reference was made to the great loss the church had sustained through the-death of the late Mr R. Booth, churchwarden. The vicar said he trusted the memory of his life would long remain with them as a stimulus, especially'to the young, to strive and emulate the splendid example Mr Booth had set. Deepest sympathy was expressed with deceased's loved ones. Sympathy was extended also to Mr Eii Allen, synodsman, who had recently lost his wife, while"touching.reference was made to the death of the late Archdeacon Faucourt, one of the pioneers, one who had, fifty years ago or more, carried the Gospel of Christ through the land in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties. Touching church life for the past year. Mr Pctrie noted a rather serious falling «ff in the number of communions made—269 less than for the previous year. This was largely accounted for, however, by the fact that the provious year had two Easters, and this year had none, thus accounting for a difference of over 200. The rest might reasonably bo attributed to the

fatal influenza epidemic. Mr Petrie said he hoped lor a marked increase at this, the greatest of their services, and he specially urged the desirability of attending the early celebration at S a.m. Reference was made to the splendid work done by the Ladies' Guild, through whose efforts a sum of over £IOO had been raised for the reduction of the debt on the vicarage. Miss Best

had resigned from the secretaryship of the Guild, after many years of yeoman service, and her place had been worthily filled by-Mrs Hodgson.

The year had been a calamitous one in connection with the lay readers' branch of ehur** work. Through illhealth and bereavement they had lost the services of Messrs C. V. Swabey, P. Simcox, P. A. D. Mickle, Eli Allen, and G M. Leihbriclge. The consequence was that thev were left for a time with only one lav reader in the parish (Mr Cumpsty).-and to him special thanks were due. Messrs Mickle, Lethbridge and Allen had recommenced duties, while Mr S. Norgrove had been enrolled as a lay reader and was doing useful work. Mr Petrie returned hearty thanks to the following:—Mesdames Swabey and Wootton and Misses Ruby Adsett and Granfield, Sunday school; Station school. Mr Kershaw; members of the choir;'organist. Mrs Blathwayt; assistant organists, Mesdames S. Simcox and Swabev; brass cleaners, Misses Neilanis and Webby and Mrs. A. Bright; the ladies who cleaned the church and attended to the flowers; Mrs Best, for attending to altar linen; Mrs Bassett. changing altar hangings; Mr W. Cook, lighting of the church; the bell-nngcrs and church decorators; Messrs St. George and Cumpsty for preparing the altar for celebrations of Holy Communion; Mr St. George, secretary of church funds; stipend collectors and other church workers; the press. The vicar also expressed his thanks for the parishioners' generous Easter, offering, and for their unfailing kindness to Mrs Petrie and-himself'. The-vicar said .that, though church finance was not his province, this matter called for the most serious consideration of the people, and he hoped the scheme for the purpose of meeting increased expenditure, to be submitted to them that evening, would receive their -support. Churchwardens' Report.

Mr L. St. George, people's churchwarden, presented the annual financial report, in which he and. Ms fellowwarden (Mr W. Best) - noted a serious falling off in the year's finances. The year's', offertories were £l9 10s 6d behind the previous year's, and what was more serious in the face of increased expenditure by way of stipend and £lO lei grant in aid, yearly subscriptions had fallen off bv the startling amount of £3l is 6d. Thus under these two Readings the GA «g **!;.***« Short hi last rear. , They urged that parishioners should try and realise their individual responsibility, and not leave it for the few regular subscribe <; r V . Fortunately there had been a crbdit balance "Of £SO 19s 6d brought . forward from last year. The credit in . hand, now stood at £ls ss. 3d. .... During the year the Central Parochial Committee had decided to increase the

. viearfs stipend ..assessment, 'so as ..to bring the stipend up to £250. ' During the year they had been able to wipe off the ban<k overdraft of £23, . 15s lid on the vicarage account; and they now had' a credit balance of £ll4 6s on this account. The mortgage on the vicarage now stood at £250. Thanks were extended to the Ladies' Guild, which had raised £lO2 17s lOd during the year. The Manakau and Te Horo subdistricts had met their stipend and .vicarage assessments splendidly, and Te Horo had paid 18 months in advance to the vicarage fund The poor fund stood at £ll 12s, organ j fund 10s, and the nucleus for new I church fund at £1 12s. There was £S7 j

0s lOd owing on the domain sections. There were three important matters which would require attention from the incoming vestry, viz., payment, of domain section interest, purchasing a supply of carbide, and arriving at SOHMV; decision as to a fixed g-rant to the vicar for fuel and upkeep of motor cycle. So far the parish had given nothing for travelling expenses. In conclusion, the churchwardens thanked the vicar for good work done, congratulated Mr and Mrs Pctrie on

the safe arrival of "another little parsou," and the. women on -securing the church franchise. Mr St. George also presented the various church balance-sheets, nil duly audited by Mr Hedditch. Following are the main itoms 'of the general church fund: Receipts: Cr. balance from 191 S, £SO .19s (id; general offertories, £.125 Is 3d; special ditto, £l9 12s 4d; stipend subscriptions, £45 17s (3d; Te Horo assessment, £34 12s 6d; Manakau, £44 12s 6d; various miscellaneous items, £2O 10s sd; total, £3JI 9s. Expenditure: Stipend, £236 ss; special offertory paid over, £.19 12s -Id; carbide and candles, £24 2s Sd; grass cutting, £3 lis Sd; advertising and printing, £S 10s; plumbing, etc., £3 10s; insurances, £4 12s 3d; rates,. £2 10s 4d; mis-' eollaneous items, £23 9s Gd. Credit balance in bank, £ls 5s 3d. Total, £341

The vicarage fund showed a credit balance of £l4 8s Id, and the honours board fund £S lis Od. Rev. Petric said that now the war was over they would be able to complete the honours board, for which they had a credit balance in hand. In reply to a question, Mr St. George stated they had only had one enquiry re purchase of the church section on Domain Road. Envelope System. Mr St. George reported that the Central Committee had recommended the adoption of the envelope system of collecting funds, and gave details of the proposed scheme. The Vicar also referred to the proposed scheme, and invited Mr Penn to state his experience of the working, of the system, to which Mr Penn complied, speaking favourably of the system. After some little discussion it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr Cumpsty, seconded by Mr J. R. Bills, that the envelope system bo adopted. Rev. Blathwayt and Mr Cumpsty both spoke favourably of their experience of Ihe working of the system. Mr S. Norgrove was elected envelope secretary. Correspondence. At this stage several letters were read. A notification was read to the effect that the parish's grant-in-aid was to-be reduced, fixing the minimum of clergymen's stipend at £236, plus travelling expenses.

A letter: was received, asking for donations towards a mcßtorial to the' late Archdeacon Fancourt. It was stated that those willing to contribute to this memorial might leave donations with Mr St. George by the middle of next month. The Diocesan Treasurer wrote re the ehurchroom and section at Otaki Railway. Mr St. George explained that the County Council had stated its iutention of taking the land for road purposes, while later on representation? had been made by the Wellington City Council's Milk Committee re the purchase of the section, they desiring to put a railway siding through the property. Mr St. George said there was every probability of the section being sold, but they would have to make provision for the shifting of the churchroom, as it was urgently needed, for Sunday school purpsses. Rev. Petrie pointed out that there wore some 60 children attending the Railway Sunday school, and they must consider these. If the section were sold or taken the building would hare iq be re-erected. The matter was left to the church officers. Election of Officers. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: — Vicar's warden, Mr W.'Best; people's churchwarden. Mr L. St. GeoTge; vestry, Messrs J. R. Bills. C. Cumpsty, C. V.' Swabey, W. Kershaw, W. Cook, A. Satherley, W. M. and P. S. Simcox, S. Norgrove; representative on- Central Parochial Committee, Messrs L. St. George, W. Best, and S. NorgTOye; auditor. Mr C. H. G. Hedditch: ladies'

auxiliary Vestry, Mesdames Hodgson. H. O. Jones, Stevens, J. R. Bills, Satherley, Swabey, Petrie, Norgrove, Pole, and Miss Best. Hearty votes-of tfonk? were accorded the churchwardens and auditor for their work in the past. A plentiful and - appetising supper was handed round, and brought to s, close a most successful and 'pleasant gathering,