ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 277, 15 April 1913, Page 8

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING) OF PARISH-

lONERS.

The annual meeting of Parishioners of St. Mary's Church was held in the Parish Hall last evening, when a fair attendance of parishioners of both sexes gathered to discuss the year's work. The Vicar took the chair, Mr. l'aton, the treasurer, in the absence of Mr. Stocker, ' for whom lie tendered an apology, read the minutes of the previous meeting, and rend the report and balance-sheet. The report was us follows: In presenting the accounts for the your ending March 31, the Vestry regret to show a small debit balance, ! which, however, is less than that at the beginning of the year. This is largely due to their being faced with the payment of the stipend for an extra clergyman for five months of the year, and also to the fact that two Easters occurred in the financial year just closed. The Vestry, however, consider that they have good grounds for satisfaction, in that the financial stability of the parish is so well maintained. Debentures to the amount of £OO have been paid off during the year, reducing the parish j'debt to £250. It is confidently hoped that the whole, or a large portion of I this sum will be paid off during the J ensuing year. The Church property is i in good order, and the grounds are well kept bv ilr. A. T. Cole. The heavy north door ha* been renovated and rehung, and there can be no doubt that it is a vast improvement on the doors that have been removed. The Omata Church has recently been re-roofed with shingles, and other repairs of a minor description were found necessary. The local committee are raisins; funds for repainting that building. The Motttroa Church has lately been repainted. The question of continuing the iron and con-" crete fence round the Brougham Street boundary of St. Mary's churchyard will probably receive early consideration. The cost of carrying out this work, the Vestry have good reason to believe, will be largely defrayed by donations which have been generously promised for the purpose. The Rev. J. Wilkinson resigned his curacy in this Parish at the end of last August, in , order to accept the position of Vicar of 'St. Andrew's, Epsom. The Vestry, while congratulating him upon his preferment, desire to place on record their appreciation of the • valuable, and faithful services he render- , ed, both during his temporary charge of the Parish, and in his capacity as curate. His good work will be long and gratefully remembered. The question of building a Sundav School at Vogeltown has not been lost sight of, and a committee consisting of the Rev. G. Robson, Messrs. Shaw, Dabb, Butler, and Sandford have the matter in hand. The Vestry decided that the building should not be commenced until at least 50 per cent, of the sum required was obtained. An appeal for donations was recently made to the congregations. The Girls' Friendly Society have recently entered into occupation of the old vicarage in Robe Street, which thev have leased at a I reduced rental. Thousrh the rooms are

all let. it is felt that the institution is not being made as much use of by the girls of the Parish as it was hoped it would be. The Vestry decided to hand the offertories on the last two Easter Sundays to the Vicar, and this, practice, which obtains in many of the larger parishes in the Dominion, will be followed in future.

The sum of £25 per annum for one year was recently voted by the Vestry towards an honorarium to be paid to the Ven. Archdeacon Evans. A resolution from the Vestry will be brought before the annual general meeting of parishioners, recommending that the sittings in St. Mary's Church, at the evening services at least, should be free, as from October 1 next, and that, if this is agreed to, only half the present pew rent should be collected from seatholders from the date named. It is hoped that any deficiency in revenue arising from the adoption of this scheme will be more than covered by an increase in contributions to the offertories through an extension of the envelope system. It is felt that the Clutreh will never really and truly become a Church for the People until pew rents arc abolished. The Vestry commend this matter to parishioners for their earnest and sympathetic consideration. Messrs. A. Crooke and H. {Stocker were elepted to jtlie Vestry to fill vacancies, and the latter lias also undertaken the duties of Hon. Secretary to the Vestry. By the death of Messrs. E. T. Morshead and J. C. Legg the Parish has lost two faithful Church workers. Botli acted as Lav Readers, and the former, on many occasions, as deputy-organist in St. Mary's Church. lie pointed out that,since the balancesheet was struck the sum of £2 shown as a liability by Te Ilenui had been paid in, and he had received £45 as proceeds >of the bazaar mid from sundry sources, so that the debenture debt would be further reduced bv £SO.

Sir. Fookes, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, congratulated the vestry on the health}' state of the finances, which, he said, was particularly commendable, seeing the amount of special expenditure tliev had had to face.

The balance-sheet and report were adopted. Reference was made in this connection by several parishioners to the short time elapsing between the issue of these and the general meeting, the two being practically simultaneous. Reports and balance-sheets of the '.Govett-Brown Memorial Fund and the Govett-Ballaud Memorial Fund were also read by Mr. Paton and adopted. Mr. S. W. Shaw, Superintendent of the Sunday School, then read a comprehenI Bive report of the year's work, which he said had been well maintained throughout the year, the attendance showing a gratifying increase over last year. He made reference to the loss by resignation of Mrs. Dockrill, for 40 | years a valued worker and organiser in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the school. The school children this year ■had voluntarily denoted their prize money of £lO to the Vogeltown Sunday School building fund. The report expressed disappointment at the lack of interest displayed in the bulb show ill September. which, on its merits, was worthy of better support. The nniiual picnic "•lis held in Mr, Frethvv's grounds, and the school owed him its hearty thanks, t he \ ogeltown school fund now stood at £Ol 10s and only £IOO would be needed to enable a start to he made. Mention was made of the regretted retirement from school work of Mrs. Dabb

and Miss Devcnish, and the report concluded with an appeal for more teachers.—The report us read was adopted. The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year. Mr. Colvile intimated his extreme gratification at the fact that Mr. Paton was again willing to.act as his warden, and paid a tribute to the work done by Mr. Paton in that capacity during the past year. The election of people's warden presented greater difficulty. Mr. Shaw proposed that Mr. Fookea should again undertake office making special reference to what he termed the "nerve racking'' duties at evening service. Mr. Bedford then proposed Mr. Baker, junr., who, he said, would introduce a desirable element of young blood into the work. Mr. Raker, however, declined nomination, stating that he "wouldn't d,o it for £IOO per annum." Mr. Shaw, seconded by Mr. Whitcombe, then nominated Mr. Butler, who accepted nomination, and was duly elected. t It was decided "that the vestry should number ten, and the following gentlemen were nominated:—Messrs. Stoeker, Lash, Shaw, G. T. Robinson, G .Moverley, Skelton, Harvey, Crooke, H. C. Baker, C. E. Baker, Kyngdon, Hirst, Rossiter, J. Taylor and Lush. In the ensuing ballot the vestry elected was as follows: —Messrs. Stoeker, Shaw, Robinfeon, Harvey, Crooke, C. E. Baker, Kyngdon, Hirst, J. Taylor and Lush. The vestry was empowered to fill any vacancy created during the year by death i qv resignation. I Mr. P. C. Morton was elected lion. ' auditor. On the motion of Messrs. Shaw and Bedford it was decided that it be a re-1 commendation to the Vestry that infuture reports and balance-sheets be printed in pamphlet form. This would, it was thought, be an improvement on what Mr. Shaw described as the present "beggarly publication." The Vicar made some pointed remarks on the subject of the choir, which, he said, was causing him considerable anxiety. He paid a tribute to the loyalty of the present members in their difficult work, and regretted his own lack of musical knowledge. He appealed to those members of the congregation who possessed this great gift to sink all petty feelings and come forward and assist the choir in what he termed their present critical position. Mr. Sandford asked the treasurer why no report was in evidence as to the affairs of the choir. Mr. Paton said that as treasurer he was not responsible. This, said Mr. Sandford, seemed to bo the trouble. The choir was not made a congregational matter. Mr. C. E. Baker touched on the question of the Bible in Schools. In pursui anee of a request from Canon Garland, ! he moved: "That this meeting pledges itself to further the movement and to vote for a referendum throughout New Zealand, and that each parishioner further pledges his own personal assistance." Mr. Sandford seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr. Shaw, seconded by Mr. Lush, moved a hearty vote of thanks to those ladies who had assisted at the recent successful bazaar.

Votes of thanks to retiring officers concluding the meeting.