ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1293, 22 January 1885, Page 3

ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

A general meeting of the congregation of the above Chinch was held in the Church last evening, to take into considenilion matters connected with it. The Rev. the Incumbent presided, and, after having offered up prayers, road the minutes of the previous meeting. He said they had met to receive the report of the * canvassers who bad canvassed forsubsenptions, and see what arrangements could be made to carry on the work of tho Church. He would call upon Mr O’Halloran to furnish tho meeting with a report of v/luit tho Commissioners had done. Mr O’Halloran said be had a list, but he did not know whether it would be well to read the names. Mr Davey moved, and Mr Windebank seconded—“ That the names and amounts of subscriptions be read.” Mr O’Halloran moved as an amendment public.” Same people had not been canvassed yet, and it would not bo fair to these (o have the list published at present. Mr Barker sal I l.e know the rain had kept many away \\ho would have been present, tho amendment on being put was carried. Mr O’Halloran said the total amount, not including Waitohi or Winchester, was £127 4s, and the number of subscribers were 02. Mr In wood said be believed they would bo able to send £4O a year from Winchester. They would not be far wrong in putting them down at £4O a year. The Rev. Chairman said there were 200 families in the district exclusive of young men. As the number of subscribers was only C2 there was a large number yet unaccounted for, so that the list was far from complete. He suggested that they aljourn the meeting, as the lists had not been completed. Mr Bolton suggested to get forms with “ I promise to pay ” on them, and give them with addressed envelopes to Church members, so that those at a distance might send (hem by post. In reply to tho Chairman, Mr O’Halloran sai'l the annual expenditure was about £4OO. Mr Wills proposed—“ That the whole of Hie finance revert to the old system in existence three years ago ; namely, stipend fund, and offertories for general expenses.” —Mr Pilhrow seconded it. Mr Lee spoke in favor of this, and said the envelope system was not suitable for a rural district, ns the people could not attend regularly. He suggested that the district should be cut up into wards and persons appointed to collect the money. After some further discussion the Chairman said under the old system offertories used to be £5 and £6 on Sunday—now it was sometimes only 30s. Mr O’Halloran said the members of the Vestry ought to exert themselves to collect the stipend. Mr Lucas said it appeared (because was that the people did not keep their promises. Whatever system they adopted so long as members broke their promises they could not get on. Mr Pilhrow said the old system had worked well for many years. Mr Barker said a good many would prefer the envelope system, Could the two bo worked together 1 The Chairman said the two systems could not be carried on. So far as he was concerned bis sympathies were with the envelope system, but he was at the disposal of the parishioners. If money was collected for the stipend it was for the minister, but that was not right. The money should be given to God, and placed upon the altar through the offertory. Messrs Inwood and Barker said the first charge was the clergyman’s stipend. Without that they could not go on at all. After a good deal of discussion, Mr Barker moved— “ That any person desirons of continuing the envelope system can do so, and that the money so collected shall be allocated as the Vestry thinks fit.”—Mr Inwood seconded the amendment. Mr Wills consented to allow this to be added to bis resolution. Mr Rutland objected to the latter. It would be only fair to the people to give them an opportunity of voting for or against it. Mr Bolton said ho did not see any difference between the two systems. If a person were asked for money under the old system, why should he not he asked under the envelope system 1 The Chairman ruled that the amendment proposed by Mr Barker was not an amendment. He would put them both as resolutions. Mr Wills’s resolution was then put and carried, only one voting against it. Mr Barker’s resolution was also put and carried, only eight voting against it. Mr Wills suggested that they should revert to the pew rents. Mr Barker said that could not be done till Easter. After a long discussion Mr Wills proposed “That the Vestry devise ‘means for collecting the stipend {‘and, and tor carrying the resolution out in its entirety.” —Mr Piibrow seconded the motion and it was carried. After a long discussion on several topics, the meeting adjourned in the usual manner.