ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 321, 30 July 1898, Page 4

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

The annual meeting of parishioners was held on Wednesday evening. The at" tendance was good ; but more, no doubt, would have been present bad the weather been more propitious. Archdeacon Willis presided. The Chairman read the report, of which the following is a digest. Report —Church Services : The services throughout the district have been much as in past years. At Cambridge Mr R. C. Dyer has rendered valuable ' assistance. At Ohaupo the Rev. J. Marshall has couducted additional services to the great advantage of the churoh in that portion of the district. At Tamahere Mr Wheeler did his work as well as in past years, and in April last received a presentation, which testified to the high appreciation in which hia services were held. Owing to the aeveie illness of the Vicar in December, the duties of the above workers have been unusually onerous. Attendance : The attendance at the services has again increased during the year.— Sunday-school : Two needs, mentioned in last report, have been met, or partly so. Two male helpers arc now assisting. A magic lautcru has been presented to the school, and it is proposed shortly to give the children an entertainment. The issue of magazines has been discontinued ; in future, book prizes will be given to the children who secure a fixed minimum of marks, easily to be readied. To provide funds- for this a concert will be given in September.—Choir: Since Christmas the position of organist has been kindly filled gratuitously. During the first few months by Mrs Lowe, and more recently by Miss Mandeuo, both of whom have done good work. Recently the office of honorary choirmaster has been kindly accepted by Mr J. H. Edwards, who has arrauged with Mr Charles Stewart to assist him.—A pipe organ is much needed, and the Church should make an effort to secure one. The Vestry are now paying towards a fund for that purpose equal to the small • salary originally paid to the organist.— Ringers' Guild : Mr Stewart still leads well, but has need of helpers.—Social Meetings : Only two meetings of a Bocial nature had been held during the year, the Sunday-Bchool fete and the parish gathering in January. This year the gathering embraced the scholars and congregations belonging to other Christian denominations. The Vicar was- • unavoidably absent, bat owing very much to the kindness of Mr and Mrs W. H. Wright, all present enjoyed themselves. The removal of these kind friends from the district will leave a blank not easy to fill.—Church Gazette : This year the Vicar has taken over the circulation and he earnestly asks all the parishioners to help him in the delivery. Subscriptions in many cases are in at rear, and the Vestry in consequence is out of pocket some *£lo. In future the amount standing on the books as owing will be marked on the Gazettte, and if not correct the Vicar will be obliged by intimation.—Property : The property all round is now virtually in good order. Needful repairs to the vicarage have been done at slight cost to the congregation, and the money already contributed is sufficient to at least paint the exterior of the vicarage : this will be began immediately. Statistics : The average attendance at the ordinary Sunday services was: Morning 101, evening 89, Holy Communion 14." The number of celebrations of Holy Communion was 27; the nttmber of parishioners who communicated, as shown in the register, was 87. This does not include visitors. The number of receptions was 360. There were 15 baptisms, four marriages, and seven burial. Twenty-four young persons (12 males and 12 females) were confirmed. The average attendance of school teachers was nine, and of scholars 83 ; the total number of scholars on the roll at the end of the year was 112 (48 boys and 64 girls). The number of families visited by the Vicar was 210, and the number of visits registered 501. —Finance: The chief feature of the year's finance is the fact that nearly all the funds contributed for the support of the church were brought in by the people themselves. On two occasions in response to an appeal, made under direction of the Vestry, the sums of £2B and £2O respectively were contributed at the offertory, and the total offertories exceed those of last year by £3O. There ha 3 been nothing of the nature of a general canvas for funds, and yet the condition of the finances is considerably better * than the average for many years past.— Thanks : The thanks of the parishioners are due to the acting lay readers, the Sunday-school teachers, the choir and its staff of honorary officers, and the bellringers and their enthusiastic conductor. Let us recognise God's good guidance and blessing in the past, and, look forward with hope and confidence to the future. Balance-sheet.-Mr T. Wells read the following balance-sheet :—Receipts : Cash in hand at .commencement of the year, £3 4s ; subscriptions, £32 Is ; seat rents, £55 17s 6d ; general offertories, £155 19s 9d ; special offertories : Pension fund, £3 3s 2d ; country clergy fund, £2 6s ; organ fund, £2 13s 6d ; Home Missions, £3 lis 4d ; Easter offering to Vicar, £5 0s 2d ; vicarage imSrovements. £l9 6s lOd ; Melanesian fission, £3 3s 2d. Donations : Vicarage improvement, £4 12s; organ fund, 5s ; sundry receipts, £3 Is 7d ; rent, £i 7s 6d ; Church Gazette. £1 7s ; overdraft at Bank of New Zealand at 30th June, 1898, £lO 7s 5d ; total, £309 6s lid. Expenditure : Overdraft at Ist July, 1597, £l6 123 9d ; salaries : The Vicar, £179 lis 8d ; orgauist, £7 10s ; verger, £ll 2s 6d ; gardener, £4 10s ; parish contributions: Country clergy fund, £2 6s; organ fund, £lO 12s 3d ; Maori fund, £3 8s lOd ; pension fund, £5 ; Home Mission, £3 lis 4d ; Easter offering to Vicar, £5 0s 2d ; Melanesian Mission, £3 3s 2d ; diocesan charges, 17s 6d ; insurance, £lB 19s 3d ; interest, £5 18s 9d ; organ fund, £1; sundries, £23 8s 3d ; cash in hand, £6 17s ; total, £309 6s 1 Id. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr Wells said they were both of a satisfactory nature. The revenue was close up to £3OO and the total liabilities only £65. There was still a loan of £75 to be liquidated, but that was the total debt on all the church property. The offertories had been much larger than formrely, and the seat reuts were well up to the average. The direct contributions were less than last year ; but this was probably due to the indisposition of Mr Hewitt, who had not been able to make his usual rounds. He hoped the congregation would make Mr Hewitt's labours as light as possible by sending in their subscriptions, MiHewitt seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Thanks. —The Vicar then moved a hearty vote of thanks to all who were mentioned in the report as deserving of such recognition. Special votes of thanks were also passed to the Vestry, church wardens and auditors ; to the Vicar. Officers. ■— The following were elected : Vicar's warden,Mr E. Hewitt; people's warden, Mr T. Wells ; vestry, Messrs R. C. Dyer, R. Chambers, G. E, Empson, G. F. McCullagh, T. W. Hieks, N. I. Hunt (re-elected), J. Adams, F. Roskruge and J. H. Edwards (new members). Auditors: Messrs H. G. McCrea and J. W. Merrick. Stipend.— The Vicar's stipend from Cambridge was fixed at £ISO. An Organ.—The Vioar then brought forward the question of securing an organ for the church. He thought a suitable one could be obtained for £l5O, and the necessary, alteration of the church to accommodate it another £lO. They must remember that there was still a debt of £75 on the building, and it was for the congregation to decide whether this should be paid off or be allowed to 'stand while the £l5O was being collected for the orgun. He atrongly advised them

that nothing should be done in the direction of procuring an organ until the whole of the money hud been subscribed. Mr Chitty proposed that a committee should be formed to canvass the distiict. Th's w.is acted upon, and Mesdamcs Wells, Chansbeis, Miss Wells and Messrs Chitty and James Adams weiv elected [We understand that two sums of £5 were promised in the room providing the balance was subscribed within twelve months]