St. George's Church.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3457, 23 January 1880, Page 2

St. George's Church.

The aunut«l meeting of the members of St. George's Church was held in the church last night, the Her. V. Lush in the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting being read and confirmed, the following report of the Church Wardens' was read :—" On comparing the statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ending .31st December, 1879 (copies of which ha»e been distributed), with that for the year ending 31st December, 1878, it will be seen that there has been a considerable falling off in the ordinary revenue of the Church during the past year. The receipts from the general offertory being £283 for 1879 against £346 for 1878 ; for pew rents, £102 against £123 for 1878; thus these two items show a falling off of £84. In addition to the above ordinary revenue, there has been raised by means of organ recitals and concerts the sum of £ »2 as against £136 in the previous year. The whole of this has been'applied to the general fund—in other words, the Church hasJ>orrowed this amount from the Church debt reduction fund, and consequently the mortgage has not been in any way reduced during the past year. Notwith standing this, the liability to the ba> k lias been increased from £184 7s 9d on 31st Dec. 1878, to £i 33 12s 6d on 31st Dec, 1879. The expenditure is of nearly the same amount as for previous years, every economy having been used* and only the usual and necessary expenses incurred. At the close of 1878 there was £24 due for interest under mortgage of j £475. This together with interest accruing to Ist July amounting to £38, has been advanced by the r- verend Incumbent, which will bring tlie wh«le amount clue on this item to £57 It will thus be apparent, as was pointed out in our last year's report that our ordinary revenue is slightly decreasing, and that therefore it is absolutely necessary that steps should at once be taken to remedy such a state of things. We may here remark that the yearly payments f<>r enlargement of school house of £28, which have been made to the Building Society for the last five years, have now terminated. We feel bound, therefore, to impress upon the congregation that it is their manifest duty to assist, the funds, not only by increasing the offertories, but by taking seats in the Church, and regularly paying rent for the same ; we would, moreover, call attention to the item Special Offertories, and suggest for the consideration of the congregation whether under present circumstances these should not be altogether discontinued. We have a«ain, as in former years, to bring under the favorable notice of the congregation the good services rendered by the Choir and Organist, not only as connected with regular services of the Church, but in their untiring efforts by recitals and otherwise to reduce the Church debt, their efforts woutd have been even more successful than they were, had they met with that support they so weli deserved from ♦he. members of the Church. We are glad to be able to submit a good account of the Sunday School. In consequence of the increased attendance of children, it has been deemed necessary by the teachers to build a second la. ge classroom" on the north side, but this room has been put up by the freely given labour of tv*o of the teachers—Messrs Purnell and Fletcher, to whom the thanks of the congregation are due. The timber and other requisites have been paid for by subscriptions, of which upwards of £14 are the accumulated donations in small sums given by the children themselves. The old Church and the two side rooms are now being painted at a cost of £24, towards which the Treasurer (Mr Purnell) has £18 in hand, leaving a balance of £6 unprovided for. Mr Lawlor, the licensed lay reader for this district has continued throughout the year his usual Sunday duties, namely, holding a short service in the Hospital at 10 30 a.m. and a full evening service at Tararu at 630 p.m. At the Bishop's request Mr Lnwlor has paid an occasional visit to Paeroa on the seci nd Sunday in the month when he has held services both morning and evening. In explanation of our names appearing to this report, we may remark that Mr Tizard wis ap« pointed by the vestry as people's churchwarden, on the resignation of Colonel fcYaser, and Mr O.sbo ne, as Minister's warden on Mr Wildtnan's departu-e from tho district. " - BALANCE BHEET. Mr E. F. Tizard, Church Warden, then read the balance-sheet a 9 follows :—Receipts : General offertory, £282 19* 9cl; special ditto, £28 13s; pew rents, £102; Church Debt deduction Fund, £7u 19s (3:! organ, £718s; school rent, £28 5s ; overdraft at Bank, 31st. December, 1879, £193 149 2d; unpresented cheques, £39 18s 4d ; total, £754 7s 9d. '■'jrpci-.diture: Overdraft at Bant, 31st December, 1878, £184 7s 9d ; stipend, £'300; organ, £68 10s ; verger and collector, £40 6s 9J ; lighting, £40 17s 6d ; 'interest, £17 9s 8d ; insurance, £17256 d ; t liurch Debt deduction Fund,advertising, .tc, £8 10s 5 sundries, £3 18s 2«); school enlargement, £32 10s ; total, £529 4s 7d. Special Offertory Account — Sunday School, £14 19s lid ; Hospital, £7 3s 3d ; Home Mission, £10 10s sd; Pension Fund, £3 7s 8d; cash in hand of Incumbent, £4 14s 2d; total, £754 7s 9d. Mr McCullough, after a slight alteration touching the special offertory lor the Sunday School, moved, and Mr K. T. Kowe seconded, the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr Speight spoke at lenuth. upou the position of the Church affairs, and the remarks in the report of the falling off in membership and revenue. He suggested a reduction in the amount charged for pew rents, and gave his opinion upon the tone of the sermons delivered by the incumbent. He attached great importance to tbis subject which he said accounted for the falling off in membership. These matters carried great weight with the weak-minded section of the congregation. Mr Gribble called attention to the manner in which pews were let and the rents collected. Mr McCullough said he differed with Mr Speight, who he thought attached too much importaqpe. to the matter of sermons, but who was right, when he said such questions were of importance to weukminded people. It was a matter of impossibility to suit the views of all liearers, and only weakened people would !>how their displeasure by absenting themselves, because their opinions and the pastor?s were not in accord. Th>re were other causes besides that which Mr Speight had referred to, that brought about the state of affairs at present existing in the their Church. He referred to the position of church affairi

in the old country with its richly-endowed establishment, where parishoners were never called upon to put their hands in pockets, which was just what the people in the colonies had to do. Y«'nr by year the management ©f the Church was left in the hands of the Incumbent and the Churchwardens, and none of the congregation felt themselves called upon to assist those gentlemen. He thought the vestry should call a meeting of parishioners every quarter, and make known to them the requirements of the Church, and to encourage an interest being taken ia Church matters. If this course were adopted, he felt sure that both the membership and the finances would increase instead of at present decreasing.

Mr G. N. Phillips said there was a great deal of truth in the remarks that had fallen from both Mr McCullough and Mr Speight, hut it was not; fair to say that all congregations were apathetic in Church matters, for in his own experience he knew to the contrary. Jle thought the feeling that many people had, and it was prevalent, that the Church of England was the genteel Church, in fact the intense respectability of the Church was its great failing, and one that had a great deal to do with the state matters had drifted into.

Mr Wildman said Mr Lush was alone responsible to tbe Synod for the doctrines lie preached, but it was a fact that many ot the parishioners had left tlu- church on accou tof the (one of the sermons, lie sugge^-ted that the only means of getting out of the fit anci <\ difficulty they were now in was 10 inaugurate a b/ziar. For years past they had given away sums of money which they could ill afford, —as for instance, contributions to missions, hospitals, &c a practice which he thought they should abolish, and apply the money so raised to the ordinary revenues of the Church. He had advocated this course for many years, aud he hoped that now it would be adopted. Hey. Mr Lush said he regretted the necessity for striking out the special offertories, especially that lor tbe Sunday School. He doped the treasurer who was present would protest against it. He thought Mr McCullough was right in his remarks about the idea entertained by many members of tbe Church as to endowments and revenue He was puzzled to know what Mr Speight referred to in his remarks. He felt sure that nothing in his sermons was contrary to the teaching of the Church, and if he attached more importance to certain matters, it was only an error of judgment on his part and not with the desire to unnecessarily remind the congregation of particulardoctrines of the Church. He had been a minister of the church now nearly half a century, and nerer before had he beard that any word said by him in his teaching or sermons had giveu offence. The remarks of ihe speakers were no doubt given with the best intentions, and as such would receive attention from him, but in. the matter of doctrine and teaching he should be allowed to be the best judge. Alter some remarks from other members, the election of Churchwardens and Vestrymen was proceeded with. Mr E. T. Wildman was unanimously elected People's Churchwarden, and Mr Airey was chosen by Mr Lush. The following were elected Vestrymen : —Messrs Kilgoiir, Osborne, M cCullough, Coney, Speight. H. T. Howe, G. N. Phillips, and Potterton. After votes of thanks to the auditors, the choir, the teachers of the Sunday School, and the Chairman, the meeting dispersed.