HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 94, 23 April 1915, Page 8

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

The annual mooting of pa rishionerp ot Holy Trinity" Church, Stratford, was hold in the Parish Hall hist evening, a fair number attending. .1 dm Vicar (llcv. C, Howard) presided. The Vestry reported as follows:Void' Vestry again present to you for your consideration the annual report'and balance-sheet for the year ending Hist March, 1913. In reviewing the finances of the Church for the past year, your \ ostry regret that there is a considerable falling-df. ill the offerings in Stratford, while the subscriptions are below that of last year, We believe, the reason of this I* the present war and the high Cost of living. The new Vestry will require to formulate a scheme whereby the offertories will ho maintained, and would recommend the envelope '.system as adopted ht other centres as New Pllymouth, Wanganui, and Mnilgawpka, whore people whether they attended church or not, will still contribute.

Vicar.— During the past year, the !{cy'. Howard was appointed to the vlcarato of Stratford, vice Mr liutlcr and «:e inis, we feel sine, jiotni a great help to us as ’i iear. The i?ev. Harvio was ordained Driest during Advent, and lias since taken up work at Franktoh. Mr Smith has 1)0(011 appointed hy tlio Bishop as Ftipondary Lay Header, and will he found a-great .help in the country districts.'

;v .Sunday • School.—This branch of {'l in roll work suffered a loss in the vacancy caused by Mr E. Kivell; who left for the front, and was untiring in Ids duties as superintendent, Ids place being filled by Mi Barnett, who has since left and gone to the country. Tho ' Vestry remind the Parishioners that more adult teachers are refinirod, as some of the classes aie too largo- for one person to manage with advantage. The profits derived from the Sunday School are devoted to the Melanlsian Mission. C.E.M.S.— During the year the C.E.M.S. have helped to look after the Church grounds and other matters, and a scheme of Federation of Taranaki has now taken definite form. S Mary’s.—S. Mary’s School has been opened during tho past yeui under tho management of a Board of (iovernors. We foci gratolul having .Miss Marchant to he the first head teacher of the school, as she has the interests of the Church at heart, and has already been a valuable help in tho district.

The special thanks of the Vestry are clue to the faithful band of lady workers who stick manfully to their posts with untiHng energy and zeal. The lady collectors, the cleaners, the Ladies’ Guild, and members of the choir, also the Lay Headers. Your Vestry retire, but are eligible for re-clectioh.

Let us hope that, fclic now financial year will see a 'growth 'in the progress of the work of the Church, and we feel sure a corresponding' increase in the'voluntary offerings of the people. A vote,of thank's I 'is due to Mr Thompson, who Has kindly audited the hooks. IULAXGE-SHEET. The balance-sheet for the year ended 31st March, 19Jo", showed that the offertories totalled £2(11 9s"sd, whereas iu the previous year the amount was £270 19s; subscriptions being £l.Ol 13s 8d (£ll fos in 1914). The amount paid to various funds totalled £39 lGs Id. The hank overdraft was £77 Is 7d. The assets (£IO9O ex ceeded the liabilities by £lso' Is 5d The balance-sheet, after some discussion, was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election 1 of officers resulted as follows:—Vicar's Warden :'Mr A. C. Bell. People's Warden: Mr E, C. Mi'tjiHeton. 'Vestry (which it was decided should contain eleven members): Messrs W. ; H. H. Young, T. C. Fookes, A. F. Grant, A. E. Gorton, A. IX Stanley, G. W. Mills', T. Fartlidge, F. \V. Fletcher, J. W. Rogers,' T. V. Miunsoll, J. Baker. ' The Vicar said he had received a letter from Mr A.d). Stanley in which Ik; desired to resign' the position of secretary. Mr Stanley knew the work of the Church, and ho was extremely pleased with the work which he) done. He was sure the meeting did pot want Mr Stanley to resign.

Mr Young said ho wished to add his tribute to Mr Stanley for the work lie had done. The secretary had a good deal of work to do, and lie thought if Mr Stanley could be relieved of some of this • they might induce him to keep the position.

Mr Grant regretted that Mr Stanley had handed in Ids resignation. Ho had done exceptionally well. Mr Fletcher also spoke in similar terms.

Mr Stanley explained 'that lie had heard a lot of remarks to the effect that the was running the Church, which he did not like. A change would, ])rohai)ly do good. Mr Fletcher said it was very fortunate they had a man who' could run the Church, which the secretary had to do in many cases.

A hearty vote of thanks, on tlie motion of Messrs Fletcher and Mills wa.s accorded Mr Stanley for t«e good work lie had donA for trio f’lmrcli. The Vicar, in moving a vote of sympathy with Mr and Mrs It. Marfell and-'family ,'in their recent hereavement. said that' the late Mr Mavfell was hue of a fa mil v whom they looked nj) to as a good Christian family.. The motion was carried In silence. The Vicar, in the course of a few remarks, said that in eoneetionn with the Illhle-in-Schonls League, he was not in sympathy with the movement, and would not support it in any wnv.j lie thanked the lay vestry for their.

work durig the vein', and also all those who had done their best loi too Church. There had been a great increase of support from the country districts, to widen was owing, to a great extent, the success of the Church’s sales of work. At a recent clerical meeting lie had asked that the boundaries of the Taranaki bishopric ho redefined. With regard to the envelope system, lie had heard that it worked very well in Mew Plymouth, and parishioners' did not think it a hardship. He hoped the incoming Vestry would adopt the .system. Mr Mills: I have been in two districts where, the system has been m vogue, and it has , always worked splendidly. It is very easily worked, and if wo adopt it, our finances will be greatly improved. The passing of a vote of thanks to all those who had helped in doing work for the Church closed the meeting. _ _ . . ,