HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3, 1 May 1912, Page 5

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

Tho Parish Hall was well filled last evening, whoa the animal meeting of parishioners of the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, was held. There was an attendance of some eighty members of the church, inducing a number from the surrounding districts. The Vicar, the Rev. W. A. Butler, in his address, referred to the nonfinancial aspect of the parish during the last twelve months. During that period, he said, considerable progress had been made. The number of the in the Sunday-school had increased by sixty. The Vicar paid a tribute to the work of the late and the present superintendents, and of the teachers of this institution. The Saints' Day services for children were attended by them far better than the other services were attended by adults. A Children's Guild had been formed with a view te building up the morning service, and there were 34 members at

present. Since the last annual meeting, tin Vicar went on to state, 65 candidate'; had been confirmed, and on the whole they were going on well. Only three o: four could be said to be neglecting their communions, although h© though! the average number of regular communicants on Sunday was too low, many of the older members of the congregation being unduly irregular. With regard to Sunday observance, tho Rev. Butler said that taking the church as a whole, the members of tho Church of England were setting ■the town a bad example, and he would condemn this laxity of Sunday observance in the strongest possible terms. His sermon to them a few weeks ago had made somo impression, but therewas not the slightest necessity for golf, tennis, riding, motoring, gardening during service hours, especially at tho time of morning service, ii these things must be, there was time for them in the afternoon. At least, the service hours belonged to God, ana it was the duty of every Christian to give them to Cod. The church had been, in the speaker's opinion, doing very little to help the young people together, outside the services. Fifteen months ago he offered the use, free of rent, of a portion of the vicarage land for the use of a Church Tennis Club. No one, however, had yet appeared to have sufficient energy to take the matter ■up, and see it through. He referred to work. he, himself, had done, and considered that there was no reason why they might not have the courts and a bowling green as well. The time was ripe for action to be taken in the ■matter. The C.E.M.S. had done steady work during the year, and he hoped that they would make good progress, as many of the members reahscd thai they had not been sufficiently definite hitherto, and intended to be more so in the future. "No one," continued the Rev. Butler, 'mas the interests of temperance at heart more than myself. Some of our church people resent the fact that I do not openly advocate Prohibition and No-license. I think the time has come for me to make a statement. Ladies and gentlemen, personally, but only personally, I do not think that Prohibition and No-license are the, true remedy for the existing evils', and, right or wrong, my conscience prohibits me advocating and 'supporting "these measures publicly. Acting as I do, I obey my conscience,, and I claim that I have a right to my conscience ; therefore, I object to, ana resent, the uncharitable attitude of those who in the past, have, acted unjustly and dishonourably towards me, because I will not violate the dictates of my conscience. Again, our church people are divided in opinion, on this matter, and I, as your parish priest, by taking one side or another, might hinder the work of Christ in many of its branches, by allowing myself to be looked upon as a party man. God forbid. I may bo right or I may be wrong, but I. am prepared to entrust the judgment-to Almighty God." The speaker said tnat as Vicar of the parish he was faced with an impossible task. At; every turn there was more .work to do than he was cap 7 able of doing or had time to do. Sin-gle-handed he had to let opportunities pass—do the best he could and leave the rest. The time had come when he must have help for the services, and visiting. The last few months had shown him that he could not continue at the,pace he adopted when he first came, and lately he had been forced to do less work and take more leisure. He therefore appealed to the parishioners to authorise how to take steps to obtain an assistant priest so that the parish may be better worked. The Rev. Butler, in alluding to the Boy Scouts, said: "I find there is misunderstanding in the minds of many with regard to my connection with the Boy Scout movement. I consider that tlie parish loses nothing through my work with the boys.' I give my own time—one evening a week—to the boys, and in Saturdays, when I can do no visiting I go out with them. 1 ■spent my Easter holidays, taking them to New Plymouth. This is an entire change of work, and is recreation to me, and were I riot to do this, 1 should most certainly spend the time in tennis or golf, so that the parish loses nothing by my having accepted the position of Scoutmaster. The movement deserves all the support church people can give it, while the Bishop, having sanctioned the formation of Diocesan Scouts, is a certain indication that the church recognises the value of scouting for our younger lads." Another matter referred to by the Vicar was tho church accommodation. When they considered the size of the town, it was certainly no credit to them that their church was so small, and to his way. of thinking was most inadequate. Father Treacy had given him this opinion when he had approached him with regard to the seating accommodation of his (Father Treacy's). The Father had added, "Your people are richer than mine, but they don't give so well." The Vicar, in conclusion, announced that he had been" offered the position of honorary chaplain to the Bishop of the Diocese, and ho had accepted. This would, of course, not entail his leaving the parish. The annual report and balance-sheet were then read. The annual report was as follows: —Your committee have pleasure in laying before you for your consideration their annual report and a balance-sheet, for the year ending 81st I March, 1912. Tho year has been an . eventful one in every respect, undoubtedly the most satisfactory in the history of the church. Tho Parish Hall is now an accomplished fact, and will not be again referred to as a pressing need unfulfilled, in the annual report after the manner of former years. The Special committee, set up by the parish'pners, at the last annual meeting, ; purchased a section with a cottage, ' adjoining the church, at a most reasonable price, and wore to raise the whole of the purchase money from the Taramiki Church Trustees. The rent from the cottage, pays the interest on the loan. In this manner a most high,ly suitable site was secured for the erection of the Parish Hall. The work

i of building \vh3 carried out bj Mr. N. J. Kinu;, in :i most commendable manner, 'ine thanks of toe parishioners aro due to the JialJ 'lrustees— Messrs. S. ii. James, M. J. King, and T. 11. I'enn—the arcniteet (Mr. b. M. Porritt), and the solicitor (Mr. T. C. Fookes), whoso services in each instance were given gratuitously, there-j by saving much expense. Your committee are pleased to lie able to report that tne choir is at its full strength, notwithstanding the fact i

that many cf the old members have left the district, and are making steady progress under the direction 01 Mr. \Y. \. Wilson. Tnc comfort 01 tiie choir has been much improved by toe ante-rooms cf the l'arish Hall being used as vestries. S.nce cne erection of the l'arish Hall your committee is happy to bo able to report an increase in the number of fcundayschool scholars, the number now being about 170, a feature of which is the infant class, numbering about 56. Much regret will be felt at the loss of three most assiduous Sunday-school j

workers, who have left the parish;—j Mr M. Templer (superintendent), Miss Ella Jones, and Miss J. Butler. The superintendahcy is ably idled at present by Mr. Erie Kivell. The finances of the church are in _a satisfactory condition, notwithstanding the fact \that so much extra money has been found for special purposes. The church enlargement debt has been paid oif, but only a small sum has been set aside for tne payment of vicarage enlargement fund. Possibly tne incoming vestry, with a clearer year before bttem, will be able to extinguish this debt. The Church of England Men's Society is still doing good work in the parish', the most indefatigable | workers being found in its ranks. Several new members have been admitted this

past year. Your committee have to record with much regret the death oi one of Stratford's oldest and most energetic church workers, in the person of Air. C. E. Lloyd, wiio died at sea. He will long be remembered with affection and esteem by his feliow-work-ers in the parish. Undoubtedly tne time has arr.ved when the enlargement of the church should be seriously considered, as many people are unable to attend Divine worship owing to the discomfort occasioned by the lack oi adequate seating s accommodation. Many people have been unable to jam admittance from time to time. This, your committee thinks, should not bo permitted to continue*. It is highly desirous that some scheme be formulated whereby the present structure may be enlarged. Too much cannot be said for the faithful band cf lady workers who from year to year do so much to keep the church in the most satisfactory condition it is at present found. This year's results being considerably augmented by a very successful sale of work held in the Parish Hall. A vote of thanks is due to Mr.

C. Potts, who has kindly undertaken tho duties of honorary auditor to some years past. (.Signed on behalf of the committee), Ernest W. Lewis (Vicar's Warden), W. Vaughan Wdson (Parishioners' Warden). The balance-sheet snowed .. credit balance of £79 5s 6d, of which £3l 6k 4d was the balance on March 31st, 1911. The liabilities included vicarage enlargement loan £165, Parish Hall, cottage, and section mortgage £6OO. The excess of assets over liabilities was £135 7'S 'ld.

The report and balance-sheet, after a short discussion, were adopted. Tho Rev W. A. Butler appointed Air A. C. Bell as vicar's warden, and Air.

A. P. Grant, for several years a vestryman, w : as appointed people's war-

Tho vestry was elected, as follows: — Messrs. E. W. Lewi3, T. Partridge, A. P. Staples, O. W. ALUs, W. V. Wilson, W. H. H. Young, Air. J. E. Belcher at Cardiff ;. a representative for Toko was not appointed. • The question of procuring the services, of ian assistant to the Vicar was fully discussed. The Rev. Butler said it was absolutely necessary that they should get a man from England, but he had a man in view in that country. Mr. W. V. Wilson moved, and Air. E. W. Lewis seconded, that this meeting approves of the project of appointing an assistant vicar, and empowers the Vicar to take the necessary steps to gain such an end. Carried. The enlargement of the church was left in the hands of the vestry to report at a later meeting. \ An amendment was moved "That the vestry go into the matter and repart at the -next general meeting of parishioners. ' This was finally carried.

" Mr. T. C. Fookes moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the outgoing vestrymen and the various other church workers, for the good work they had done during the year. Mr. Crawshaw seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.

Mr. C. H. Potts was re-elected honorary auditor.