S. Peter's, Hamilton.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2109, 14 January 1886, Page 3

S. Peter's, Hamilton.

The annual meeting of pai ishionors was held .it the Public Hall last night. The chair was occupied by the Incumbent (Hew R. O'C. Biggs), and there was a moderate attendance. Tho minutes having been read and confirmed, the Minister's W.irdeu (Mr K. X Sandcs) read the annual report and balancesheet as follow i : — Report of the Vestry of S. Peru's, Hamilton, for the \i:vr i:.voi.\i. 31 m 1m 1 Dkcemoeh, 1885. The record i.s gratifying in many roppects, as although tho average eongiegat-.on has not been quite .vs Lugo as the pic\ioiis year, chiefly through several families having removed clsewheie, in other way* there has been decided progress ; for instance, the number of celebrations of the Holy Communion has been (51 as against 37, tho communicants have increased from 101 to 131, tho number of communications from 624 to 953 ; baptisms also show an in crease of ten, the total number being fiS. A record of churchmgs was kept for the first time, and they numbered 2(5. There were only two marriages snluiuniscd, a decrease of ten, and four burials as against seven. THK MISSION. To the Mission, go successfully conducted by the Rev. G. E. Mason, from November 11 to 16, must be attributed a lar^e share of the increase in the number of communicants, &c. During the Mission the following services were held daily:—Celebrationy :— Celebration of the Holy Communion, 7.30 a.m.; opon air address to men, 12.15 p.m. ; address to women, intercessory prayer and evensong, 3 p.m.; and the mission service proper at 7.30 p.m. All the feervices were well attended throughout, the several congregations testifying by their continuous coming to their appreciation of the simple, clear, and definite teachings of the MNs-ionci. The general feeling ia of thankfulness for the privilege th.it has been granted to tho parish in having so faithful a teacher among us, even for so short a time. As tangible fruits of the Mission we may point to the fact of nine adults having been baptised and 25 confirmed, nearly all of whom communicated together on Christmas Day ; also to the inauguration of a branch of the Church Society on December Ist, when 2J members and associates were enrolled, which number will be largely increased at the next meeting, 2!) additional names having been since submitted and approved of by the members for admission, giving an earnest of Rood woik to be done by tho society. The parish church has been made free and open, and offerings are being unde for the extinction of the debt on the chinch. Theso results are very gratifying, and are a hopeful sign of increasing life and energy in church work. A FREE ANT) OPEN CHURCH. The parishioners are to be congratulated on taking what may in truth be called the initiative in making the church free and open, for although there are some few churches in the diocese free, they are for the most part small country churches, and it has remained for Hamilton to bet the noble example of introducing the right and true principle of trusting to the free-will offerings of the people for the necessary funds wherewith to carry on the church's work, a step which has been highly commended by the bishop of the diocese. Nevertheless the vestry desire to impress upon the parishioners, the necessity of their giving, either in the weekly offertory (the best way), or by donations dropped into the box at the church door, each one according to his means towards providing for the financial requirements of the parish and the maintenance of divine worship. They also urgently request their parishioners who have not yet paid their subscriptions or pew rents for the past year to do &o immediately, in order that the bank overdraft may be wiped off and the new regime have a fair start.

PISTRfCT WORK. The Incumbent continueb to take a bimonthly afternoon service at Tamahere, and a monthly one at Pukete. He is also, at the request of several of the surrounding settlers, about to undertake a monthly service at Tauwhare.

CHURCH AND PARSONAGE. The whole exterior of the church has been painted, under the superintendence of Mr Le Quesne, People's Churchwarden, a sufficient guarantee that the work has b3en well and faithfully executed, liy resolution of the last annual maetinjr, the funds for the purpose were to have b-jpn raised by special subscript! >n, but the vestry regret that this amounted to only £14 4s Gd while the painting cost £21 Bs, causing a tax of £7 3s 6d to fall on ordinary revenue. The fabric is in fair condition at present, but it will not be long until tiie roof requires attention. We cannot say us much for the parsonage, which requires immediate outlay in sundry repairs and painting. A new fence is also necessary.

FINANCE. No reduction has been made in the church debt during the year, which therefore stands at £204 Kis 2d, and the standing committee are asking that it should be paid off. Donations amounting to £11 0s u'd have already been made, and it is hoped that the example thus set will be liberally followed and that a substantial reduction will be made within the set time.

THANKS. The thanks of the parishioners are due to Miss Newell for her continued efficient services as organist, to Mr Templer as choirmaster, and all the members of the choir, who contribute to make the sen ices, so bright and hearty ; also to Mr Logic, the superintendent, and the teachers of the Sunday school, the many ladies and gentlemen who have contributed material and devoted so much time and trouble to decorating the chuich for the varbns festivals, and to the Rev. H. S. Davies for his valuable assistance to the Incumbent. BALANCE SHEET OF S. PETER'S ChIMICH, Hamilton, for the year ending 31st December. 1885.

S. Peter's Sunday-school, Hamilton.— Statement of account for year ending 31st. December, 1885. Debtor, 1885, To balance brought forward, £7 10s 7d ; January 2nd, collectionß, £10 10s 9d ; Melancian box, £1 17s 8d ; May 25th, Bishop's lecture, £2 9s ; June 29th, midwinter entertainment, £8 6d ; balance, 9s sd. Total, £30 17s lid. Creditor, 1885, January 2nd, by expenses Sunday-school feast. £10 Is Gd ; Sundayschool prizes, £4 9s Cd ; Melanesian box, £1 17s 8d ; May 25th, expenses Bishop's lecture, £1 ; June 30th, expenses midwinter entertainment, £3 13s 3d ; ad\ertising and printing, two years, £5 5s 6d ; subscription for Church Gazxttes, Sunday-school lessons, questions, three years, £2 5s 2d ; mark books, registers, hymn book*, £1 iSs Id : sundries 7s. Total, £30 17s lid. Herbi.ii r Log ic, Superintendent. Mr W. A. Graham moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. He referred to the freeing of the church, and said he thought in doing so th<>y had achieved a victory over the prejudices Wd fears of many people, But they must

not foiget that tint step did not relieve them fr»ni any of their obligations to sujifxut the church. When all arrears we 10 paid tlicy would bo some £'230 in debt, but thU need not frighten them, and |,o was Mire tho necessary funds would soon be fitithcoining. Ho did nol f«T .Mnotneiitthinkth.it there would bj any f.illin.,' off tn tin 1 revenue «o far as the present 'jon n -ie n Mti(>n was concerned, while lie had eveiy reason to hope that the number of worshippers would be increased by the step they had taken. It was intended to hold paiishinnei-.' meetings every three months and l,y this means it was hoped not only to keep the parishioners better in foimed a-, to tlio piogrcss and needs of the church, but albo to infuse fresh life into its w oi Ic. Mr U. Y. Sandes seconded tho motion, and urged the paiishumers to consider that the success or non-success of their lcccnt action in freeing the church lay entirely with themselves. He made an appeal to tlie>e in ano.ii-» to pay up in order that the new \estry might start with a clean sheet. In reply to a question, Mr Sandes said theic had been an increase in the amount of the offertories since the New Year. The report was then put and adopted. IXEGTION OF OFFICERS. Tho Rev. Chairman nominated Mr Geo. Kdgecnmbc as Minister's Warden. On the motion of Mr Edgecumbo, seconded by Mr Hnme, Mr A. Swarbrick w.i". elected People's Warden. On the motion of Mr R. F. Sandes, the number of tho Vestiy for the ensuing year was hxed at ten, and the following gentlemen weie appointed to act as vestrymen :— Messis James Hume, W. A. Graham, J. M. Gelling, H. Chitty, W. N. Searnncke, C. Harwood, R. H. Kerry, R. F. Sandes, D. M. lieere, and S. E. G. Smith. Messrs P. Lo Quesno and J. S. Edgecumbe were appointed auditors. Votes of thanks having been passed to the organist, the choirmaster and choir, the superintendent and teachers of the Sunday School, tho Vestry and Chinch wardens, and the Rev. H. S. Uavies, the chairman haul Grace, and the meeting closed.

BECEIPTS. £ P. d. Pew rents 5-"> 2 <5 Subscription* 40 13 G Offertories (general) 200 14 1 Offertories special . . . 13 11 1) Special contributions towards reduction of church debt . HOG Special contiibutions for painting chinch 14 4 0 Balance ( >ank overdraft) .. 2G 10 0 £302 2 10 Expenditure. £ 0. d. Incumbent's stipend . . . 200 0 0 Verger's salary and extra payment* 21 0 0 Interest •• . ■ • • 20 15 4 Special offertories . . • H*! Insurance 0 £ J* Kepairs to church 4 10 0 Repairs to parsonage '** n Painting ch til ch .. _ 21 8 0 Payment on account of Missioner's expenses 5 0 0 Sundries 25 8 G Balance 31st December, 1884 . 38 10 8 Total 362 2 10 AfchETS. £ a. d. £ s. d. Arrears of pe\v rents and subscriptions to be collected 48 9 6 Leas doubtful 10 15 0 37 14 G Balance 230 2 7 2G7 17 1 LIAMLiriKS. Church loan account 122 0 0 Parsonage do 82 1G 2 Interest due on loans . . . . 8 311 Bank overdraft .. . . 26 16 0 Amount collected in reduction of church debt but not yet paid over HOG Sundry accounts 17 0 G Total 2G7 17 1