ST. MARK'S CHURCH. TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 371, 25 May 1889, Page 2

ST. MARK'S CHURCH. TE AROHA.

On Wednesday evening last Church of England representatives from the various out-districts met the To Aroha Vestry in St. Mark's Church, for the purpose of deciding what steps should be. taken with respect to the appointment of a successor to Rev Mr Marshall. There were present : Messrs J. Winstone, J. A. Dobson, T. E, Clongli, T. M. Lawlor, C. S. Pyne, J. B. Heatbcote, and C. Ahier (members of Te Aroha Vestry); N. Baskeit, W. F. Hunt (Waiorongomai); F. Horrell (Morrinsville); "l\ Taylor (Waitoa); E. Y. Cox (Shafteshury); J Jackson (To Aroha West). Mr Hunt was voted to the Chair. A general discussion took place with respect to the appointment of .a minister. The Rev Mr McLean, of Hasting*, wa3 mentioned, but a doubt was expressed as to whether the district could afford to offer him sufficient inducement as regards j stipend, to leave where he is. It was \ stated that some members of the Church had spoken to Rev P. G. Evans on the matter, and elicited from him that he j would be willing to accept the charge of St. Mark's, provided a stipend of not less than £200 per nnnum and parsonage were guaranteed. (As already reported in these columns, Rev Mr Evans has recently resigned his position as resident minister of St. George's, Thmips; his medical adviser strongly nr^ins? him to leave Thames on account of hU healt'i). There appeared to be a very general desire amongst those present that Rev Mr Evans should be iuvil/ed, nivl after considerable discussion it wns unanimously resolved on the motion of Mr Cox, seconded by Mr Lawlor : Th»t the Bishop be wiitten to, requesting him to appoint Rev Mr Evan* as resident minister of St, Mark's, at a stipend of £200 per annum, with £30 a year added for house rent in lieu of parsonage. Of the amount guaranteed as above, Te Aroha will contribute £100. The question of amalgamating the several out-districts, and having one general fund, and a general secretary was also discussed, but it was ultimately agreed to allow the matter to stand over at present. The advisability of giving up services atWaitoa, on account of the few who attend, was also considered, and the opinion expressed that it would be better to substitute a monthly service at Waitoa, instead of a fortnightly one as at present ; as it was thought it would be better for the minister to preach more frequently at the larger centres of population, and Waitoa members of the Church could easily attend service at Te Aroha West or Te Aroha, when no service was held at Waitoa,