ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Otaki Mail, 17 May 1922, Page 3

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

PARISHIONERS' MEETING. The annual meeting of parishioners in connection with the above was held in the Druids' Hall on Monday night, but the atendance, probubly due to the rain, was not large. The Rev. G. F. Petrie, M.A:, occupied (he chair. VICAR'S REPORT. The Yiear rcperted as follows: "It is my happy lot io again report ;, year of quiet, even, steady progress in the life of our church. Attendance tit divine services, it is true, has onlymaintained practically the same level ns the former years, and although it is to be regretted that the level has not risen, still, in view of the fact that, throughout the Empire generally, congregations are reported to have sadly fallen away, ami we must lie thankful to be able to state that in our (ran ease they have remained very much the same. It is a cheering and heartening sight in days such as we are passing through, of' unrest, religious indifference, and frenzied pursuit of pleasure, to see in their pews i" church Sunday after Sunday the same loyal faithful disciples of "the Master, wearying ™* in well-doing, and setting a strik- . ing example—an example which must be surelv making itself felt—of man's duty to "what is highest and best. To

the"little band of faithful ones who keep cheering me on my way, and holding the flag of Christ's cause aloft, I earnestly desire to extend my deepest thanks. May we. under God's grace, be privileged during the coining year to see Christ's kingdom greatly extended in this little corner of His vineyard, and His court- erowded with, worshippers. Our Needs.— Turning to our needs i wish to refer first of all to the necessity that exists for making provision for accommodating those who wish Io ioin h , our services at the great festivals of the Church, e.g.. -Xmas ami Easter Day. and also al special services «uch as confirmations, etc. A church Should always be a little larger than is sufficient to seat the ordinary congregation comfortably, and it is n \ci> "rent pitv when intending worshippers, after coming to the building, have to be told that there is no room tor them. Who can tell whether it may not be the turning point in their lives.' On Easter Dav of this year, and also on

the occasion of our last confirmation service we unfortunately found ourselves in the position of having to cause people to turn away. That ought not to be. and probably at the coming confirmation on Sunday, June 18th, wo •n-ilt either have 10 risk the almost certainty Of a similar state of things, or ■mittrd against it by leaving our own spiritual home and asking our Maori brethren to extend to us the hospitality of their more spacious building. A temporary way out of our difficulty, and one that would not involve much expense, has already received the consideration or the vestry, and I think the time is now quite ripe for having it carried out. Church Hall.—Another and very pressing need is that of a Church hall in which we can have an opportunity for carrving out the social activities of the Church. The lack of this has all along seriously crippled the work we ought' to be doing. Our Church, during its short existence of 15 years, has

made its appeal fo the people purely on the spiritual side, and it is a striking testimonial to the power of the Holy Spirit that it has prospered so well a' it has done. Our church should ben prominent factor in the people's lives not on Sunday only, but on every day of the week. We should have the means at hand as a necessary part of our equipment for bringing happiness, and invigorating exercises to men and women's minds and. bodies as well as to their souls. We ought <-o be in a nosition to show to them conclusively that both in time and for eternity the church's sole aim is to bring happiness to them and to glorify God. If we fail in our duty on the mental and bodily side, we stand a risk of failing also on the spiritual, for the three go

together, and if one suffers the others must suffer also. I earnestly commend t.hisi matter to parishioners, and T hope that a concrete response in the shnp<» of a church hall, which will in time hecome the centre of the church's social work and activities, may result. -At present in the minds of many, especiallv of the young men. the church stands as an agent simply for prayer and almsgiving. Let us make an effort to see it standing al=o in their hearts as. a source of mental and bodily health. Sunday School?.—The attendance of -cholars'at these continues to be highlv satisfactory and the regularity of attendance leaves very little to be desired About a dozen children last year never missed a Sunday—a splendid re-

cord. There is urgent need. however, for more help on the teaching staff. 1 am able to give personal assistance at \ll Paints' Sunday SchonT on alternate weeks, but it is necessary that someone be found to take my place when T cannot attend. The si7e of the comhined classes makes it quite impossible to do more than hear the children n home-work, and leaves no time for teaching. To carry on the work efficiently two more teacher? are required. Two special services —a flower service and a harvest one—were held during the yeaT. and these added considerably to the value of the work done in connection with the school. The religious training of the young received ~Teat moral and practical assistance through the offer of the Wellington Education Board to allow the clergy or their representatives to go »to the State schools, under their |on, and impart religious £•*««£ under what is known as the Nelson pyatem. The Board's offer was conditional on two things: (D the eon, n of the loc f .l *ehool committee, and tte conies of the children's, parenß. 2» (.ommittee readily gave &£* C<»»

.sunt, and about 200 children out of •220 on the roll were allowed by their parents to attend the scripture lessons. The work is now being carried on for one half hour once a -week by the Rev. R. P. Keall, Miss Lee, and myself. Station Sunday School. —Once again I have to record our church's indebtedness to Mr Kershaw for his splendid self-sacrificing work as sole teacher in this school. 1 have made continual appeals for some one to come forward to assist him in the work of caving for the lambs of Christ's flock, but so far there has been no response. I desire to express my admiration for the loyal

and unwearying way he holds on to hi self-appointed task, and to express th hope that while health and strengt are given him he will continue to do hi besl to instruct the little ones abou the way that leads to salvation. The Ladies' Guild. —Another year o quiet, successful work by the member: of this Guild has to be recorded, am acknowledged with grateful thanks The Guild, during its session, lost th( services through departure from th< district of its capable and energetic secretary, Mrs J. W. Hodgson, but c worthy and live successor has beer found in Mrs Macdonnld. Under hei care we feel sure the Guild will continue to prosper, and we hope a happy and successful session is in store. Mission Work. —Our two Missionary Guilds —the senior and the junior—have, worked energetically during the year, and. as the result of their labors the stigma formerly attached to our church of being too parochial, has now been removed. Both Guilds were successful in raising considerable amounts for the extension of Christ's kingdem. We u ish them both prosperity in the coming year. Thanks to Church Workers.—l desire to express my sincere thanks to all who. during the past year, have assisted in church work, viz., Lay Readers, Messrs Norgrovc, Dunn, Lethbridge. and Mickle; Sunday School teachers, Mrs Swabey, Mr Kershaw, Miss Adsctt, Miss Winnie Granfield; Members of Choir: the honorary organists, Mestlaines Swabey, Petrie, and I'ritcbard; Miss Neilands for keeping the brasses clean; the ladies who have looked after the altar flowers, and Mrs Macslouald for tending the Honour's Board and vases; Mrs Best for preparing the altar linen: Miss Scaly for changing the altar hangings; Mr Best for lighting the church and ringing the bell, and Mr Ray Bills for attending to the aeetrline plant; church decorators; Stipend collectors; secretary of thy envelope system (Mr Best): lastly. Mr L. St. George, our secretary and treasurer, for the perfect way in which he has looked after the finances of the church, and for the time and energy he has devoted to this most important work. Women in the Church.—l have to call your attention to a resolution passed a few days ago at the meeting of the general Synod in Auckland, viz.. that in the canons of the church, the terms layman, vestryman, Synodsman. parishioner and man, shall now include persons of either sex. This means that in future women may be elected to a position on our vestries, and may also represent us in Synod. The resolution is an important one and cannot fail to have far-reaching effects upon our future work. I heartily congratulate the ladies on having at last attained their goal. Statistics. —Baptisms, 31 '2l*l; marriages. 5 (12); deaths, 13 (17). Last year's figures in brackets. I wish to express my sincere thanks to parishioners for their very generous Easter offering, and for their great loyalty, kindness, and hospitality to Mrs Petrie and myself and family.— G. P. Petrie, Vicar." Church School. The report was considered highly satisfactory, and Mr Davies. in moving their adaption, extended congratulations to those who had worked so kstrd. Touching on the Church school he regretted more had not been done, no progress having been made because the Bishop himself had damped the Chureh people's enthusiasm. It "as hopeless, he said, to make progress as long ris the "heads" were up against them. He did not favor sending out grants for other schools while Otaki was needing one. The Rev. Petrie said Mr Dayies' remarks were true, and thought an effort should be made te> get a school at Otaki. especially as they had received such a. lot of loftfrl encouragement. He, however, had no objection to making a grant of £lO for outside schools. I* was suggested that the Bishop be waited on during his visit to Otaki. A Donation. Mr W. H. Simcox wrote forwarding a donation of £5 5s to lie used for various objects.—Accepted with thanks. Station School-Boom. A letter was read from the Wellington City Council, stating it could not see its way to purchase the school section at Otaki Railway. The Rev. Petrie stated that the nuisance—noise of machinery during school hours —had been abated. He addec that it was proposed to remove th« building to Otaki township where it would serve a very useful purpose However, a suitable building could 1101 be found at the railway in which t< hold services, and therefore nothing had been done. Mrs Swabey, - Miss Neilands, an< others spoke strongly of the need of 1 room at Otaki, pointing out that vari ous classes had now to be held at pri vate houses. On tLc motion of Mr Davies, second ed by Miss Lee, it was decided to re commend to the incoming vestry th need of a room, and to ask that th erection of a suitable building be con sidered. 1 Election of Officers. 1 The election of officers resulted a l follows: —Vicar's Warden,, Mr Walte , Best (re-elected); Church Warden, M , L. St. George (re-elected); Vestn ' Messrs W. M. and F. 6, Simeox, F. C

if j Davies, J. P. Brandon, H. Nicolson, S. ir Norgrovc, W. P. Kershaw, i'. Askew, s. E. 2s". Lanchcster, and A. McDougall; r Central Committee. Messrs Best, St. \ George, and Norgrovc; auditor, Mr H. C. Stahle. 1 A hearty vote of thanks was accord- - ed to Mr St. George for the capable 1 I manner in which he had carried out 1 I his duties.