ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8813, 15 May 1907, Page 3

ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

Meeting of Parishionei s

The annual meeting of parishioners was hold at St. Stephens Schoolroom, Martou, last evening, the Vcu. Archdeacon Towgood, 8.A., presiding. The Vicar’s report, which will appaar in our next issue, was read. The Archdeacon dwelt at some length on the loss of church observance. He gave some reasons for the growing .neglect of the Lord’s Bay, and went on to say 1 ‘ that one can but observe that outward observances are the husk that preserves the kernel, and when outward observances are neglected religion decays. ’ ’ He urged all to he punctual ia attendance at church, to give some time to private devotion and self recollection, and to give children some religious teaching, or at least to send them to Sunday school.The Churchwardens’ report showed that the receipts from all sources for the year amounted to £406 17s. The offertories were £155 15s Id, an increase of £2O 12s above those of last year; special offertories particularly showing anadvauce. Subscriptions and seat rents produced £238 13s Bd, while contributions to the Building Fund wore £6 7s 9d only. No work of importance was undertaken during the year, hence the satisfactory state of the Vestry Account, which shows a credit balance of £4O 5s lOd. Subscriptions to the Assessment have increased during the year and have been -fairly satisfactory, hut wo .would urge upon parishioners the necessity of keeping their subscriptions paid up, as the Vicar’s stipend is always three mouths in arrear and parishioners should do their utmost to bring it up to date. The Churchwardens will be glad it any parishioners who have not been asked to subscribe will do so and hand their subscriptions to the Parishioners’ Churchwarden.

■ In discussing the accounts, Mr W. W. Hedges spoke in support of liquidating the debt on the general church fund before special offc rtories were sent away. The Vicar’s stipend was always three months in arrears, and they should use their best efforts to bring it up to date. He suggested that the_ incoming vestry transfer the credit on the vestry account to the general church fund account. He recommended that seat rents be fixed at 10s, and that no allowance bo made for a / whole pew. The accounts were adopted as read. On the motion of Mr Hedges, seconded by Mr Wilde, it was resolved that seat rents be 10s a sitting throughout, and that no reduction be made excepting to those taking more than one pew. Mr W. R. Suellgrove was opposed to any alteration in charges, and moved- an amendment that fees remain as at present, bpt was not -seconded. The election of”officers resulted : Yicar’a churchwarden, Mr A. Alloway; people’s churchwarden, Mr W. W. Hedges; vestrymen, Dr. Skerman, Messrs W. J. Birch, A. W. Fullerton-Smith, W. R. Snellgrove, R. Young, E. J. Wilde, and P. P. White. Mr A. J. Sicely was re-elected auditor, and appreciation of his past services was recorded. The Archdeacon expressed his indebtedness to a number of parishioners who had done so much towards paying off the debt on the church. He was especially indebted to Dr. Skerman, who had de voted much of his time and trouble to promote entertainments. There was still a debt on the church of some £l-10 odd. He would like to see some younger members of the congregation giving their help by a series of socials and entertainments.

NEW PAROCHIAL DISTRICTS.” A letter -was read from the Standing Committee (Wellington) stating that alterations are proposed affecting the boundaries of the Martou, Foxton, Rongotea, Bulls, Sanson, and Greatford districts. The proposed alterations are—All that portion of Bnlls-Sandon parochial district west of Rangitikei River to be added to Marton parochial district and served by Archdeacon Towgood, with the help of an assistant Curate, whose stipend was not to be a charge on the old portion of the district thus formed. All that portion of -the Bnlls-Sandon parochial district east of Rangitikei River to bo added to the Rongotea district. All that part of the present district of Rongotea known as the Oroua Bridge district to bo joined to the Foxton district. E The Archdeacon asked for an expression of opinion as regards that part of the alteration affecting their district.

The meeting was against the proposed alterations, and a motion was pssed as follows: —“That this meeting considers the proposed alterations of boundaries of St. Stephen’s parochial district undesirable, unless a Curate in priest’s orders, with an assured stipend, is guaranteed by Bulls and Greatford parishioners.