ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 464, 22 July 1899, Page 4

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

The annual meeting of the members and adherents of the above church was held . in the Sunday-school on Thursday evening. Archdeacon Willis presided, and there were about fifty members present. The proceedings commenced by the singing of the hymn " Onward Christian Soldiers," followed by prayer, after which the Archdeacon said before commencing the business they should all express thanks to ihe Almighty for having caused the " war cloud " in South Africa to have taken a favourable turn, as he learned by that day's newspapers, and apparently it would now soon pass away. Absentees. —The Chairman then referred to the absence of two members of the Vestry through sickness, namely— Messrs Hewitt and Eoskruge. He said he had also received apologies for nonattendance from Mr Cave and several other members of the congregation who were indisposed. Report of Vestry.—The report of the Vestry was then read by the Vicar and the balance-sheet by the Treasurer, Mr Wells, both of which were printed in our last issue.—ln moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts, Mr Wells gave more details of the organ fund than appeared in the balance-sheet, and showed that there were ample funds to discharge every liability that might arise in connection therewith, and that up to date every known liability in connection with the organ had been paid.— The Vicar said they as a body should be grateful to the churchwardens for the immense amount of work they had done. He did nob believe two better officers could be found in the colony.—The motion was then unanimously agreed to. Sunday-school.—The Vicar then read a statement of the Sunday-school accounts. The total receipts were £l2 lis Id and the expenditure £2l 19s 6d, so although the year was commenced with a credit balance of £l3 19s Bd, at the 30th of June that had diminished to £4 lis 3d.—The Vicar said it was hardly a satisfactory state of tilings, but when _they considered the great amount of money that had been raised during the year for Church purposes, they could not wonder that they had gone behind in some of the minor matters. He did not doubt but that in the forthcoming year the Sunday-school would return to its wonted prosperity.—The accounts were then approved and adopted. Thanks.—Votes of thanks to all those mentioned under that heading in the report were carried, on the motion of the . Chairman, seconded by Mr Buckland ; special mention being made of Mr Mahoney, who had supplied plans for the Alteration to the Church gratis, and to Mr Towsey, who so kindly came and showed the congregation what the organ was capable of. —While this matter was under discussion Mr Wells said much had been said about the organ at the Vestry meetings of which the parishioners knew nothing. They had many reasons to be thankful, and one of the chief was that he (the speaker) left the last annual meeting before the discussion about getting an organ took place, or he should certainly have done his best to kill the movement, for he did not think such a scheme as the one they had so successfully carried out, practicable. It showed what enthusiasm could do, and they should feel thankful to the Almighty for having inspired them to bring the matter forward at the right moment. Little did they think at the last annual meeting that at the present one they would have the organ and that it would be paid for. It was a beautiful instrument, but it would fail in its purpose if it did not increase their congregation and help to make them better men and women.—Mr T. W. Hicks agreed with Mr Wolls, but said if it had not been for their old friend Mr E. Hewitt, he doubted if the organ would have been paid for. —With this remark everyone agreed. Clergyman's Stipend.— This was fixed at £ISO, the same as last year. Election or Officers.—The Vicar nominated Mr Wells as his warden. Mr Wells then moved that Mr E. Hewitt be people's warden. He said that gentleman did more work in collecting subscriptions than any othor member of the church could possibly do.—The seconder of the motion said there were not two such capable church wardens as Messrs Wells and Hewitt to be found in the colony.—Mr Hewitt was then duly elected.—The following were elected members of the vestry : Messrs J. Adams, W. F. Buckland, R. C. Dyer, J. H. Edwards, A. Deverill, W. Cave, G. McCullagh, T. W. Hicks, E. Empson and W. Roskruge.—Messrs Merrick and McCrea were re-elected auditors. Church I'ete.—A lengthy discussion then took place re having a united church fete and picnio on New Year's Day. The following resolutions wero put to the meeting :—" That this meeting while sympathising with the dosire for a gathering in common with other Christian bodieß, suoh as have been held the last two years, is nevertheless of opinion that for practical work in connection with the church the system previously obtaining was more useful, and desires to see a return to it." "That this meeting i 3 of opinion that the annual fete as conducted on the last two occasions in combination with other Christian bodied was so far a success aa "to warrant a further trial on the same lines, provided the same management will undertake to conduct it."—On a show of hands being taken the lastmentioned resolution was carried by 21 to 7, so the picnic will be a united one if the other bodies consent. Brur.E in Schools.—At the request of the Archdeacon, resolutions were passed urging the Covernment to have the Bible read in the public schools, and also asking that the matter be referred to the electors at the next general elec-' tion

Refreshments were then handed round, and the meeting termiuated by the biuging of the National Anthem.