S. ANDREW'S, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2729, 9 January 1890, Page 3

S. ANDREW'S, CAMBRIDGE.

Annual Meeting. THE of the parishinners of S. Androw's Church, Cambridge, was held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, in tho school-room. The attendance was small, doubtless owing to the wretchedly wet evening. The Ven. Archdeacon Willis presided, and the following Church officers were present:— Messrs Wells, Moon, Dyer, Glenny, Garland, Hicks, Young and Armershnw. Several ladies also braved the weather, and appeared to take great interest in the proceedings. The meeting was opened with prayer, after which the minutes of the previous annual meeting, held on January 23rd, 1889, find of a meeting of parishioners, held on the 2Gth July, ware read and duly confirmed. The report of the vestry and the baUcesheet were then read, of which the following are copies:— Report op the Vestky of e>. Andrew s Church, Cambridge, fouthb Yeah Ending, December 31st, 1889.—"A? a community we still feel the effects of the depression, and it would not be true to say wo, as a Church have ceased to feel them. Population is still going from us (of vestry members alone five left during the year); many who remain continue to be .straiehtflned in their circumstances, and the Church consequently suffers in her numbers and her revenue. These things try us, but they are not of the worst class of trials ; thank God, we can still say with every hope of assurance that no less endeavour is beniz made by our people now, than in the past, to conquer sin and follow righteousness. May we be spared having at any time to chronicle a falling back in this greatest of all great works to be done by God's people. "Church Services: In the conduct of public worship we experienced a great loss in the removal to Auckland of the Rev. Dr. Hooper early in the year. We rejoice, however, that our loss has been a gain to Mount Albert, and we trust, to himself. We have also lost a valuable and ready helper in this work in tho recent removal to Hamilton of Mr R. W. Dyer, lay reader, after helping in tho work of the Church in Cambridge for a number of years. The services at St. Andrew's continue, however, to be held regularly J* heretofore, with the help of Mr C. Chitty. The services at T-nnahere have l>o«n lwld as in other years, the Rev. R. O'C. Biggs, of Hamilton, assisting. From tho fir? tof the New Year, however, our clenryman will need to look for assistance at Tamaliere, to lay readers, Mr Biggs' wholo time beinp now required under new arrangements in his own panth. No important change has been made in tha services at Ohauiio or Taotaorna. "Tamahere : The pretty little church of this district is now free of debt. The parishioners, by two great efforts (the lateHt, last November) have paid oft the loan of £150, which heavily weighted them two years ago. The district experienced a los< in the removal of Mr S. S. Graham, and Mr Salmon, who, with their families, havo Rime to reside elsewhere "Ohaupo: Enudu arc being made to enlarge the church, which is too small for present reqniri ments, and it is hoped the work may be accomplished daring the Autumn. " Sunday Schools : Uiidonbtiiil progress ■ has been made, we are thankful to say. in this department of cliurch work. It is true that early in iho year the work received a blow in tho removal from Cambridge of Mr W. S. Stewart. For three years Mr Siewarl had efficiently filled the otfice of Superintendent. The work, however, was not suffered t> flag, and to the great satisfaction of our people generally, Dr. H. Moon heartily took it up. What followed hs.s been already stater). Tlumgh the roll of names (as might be expected from the loss of population) is smaller ; the attendance of scholars was never so regular, and the average present on Sundays ia nearly tho same as last year. The band of tsachers is larger than at any time previously, and for the most part they are remarkable for regularity, punctuality, and devotion to work. The tempers' class is also bettor attended. At Cambridge West Mr Sanders carried on the school after the removal of the Rev. Dr. Hooper and his family, but owing to temporary indisposition he has had to take a rest. Mrs Owen Garland and Mrs Chitty are now doing the work, iind good progress is baing made. The Hinging of the children is especially good. The school is now held, by kind permission, in the Cambridge West Public Hall. The animal sunday school fete was, as usual, held, since the close of the year, mi New Year's D.iy. Tho weather was not all that could be wished nnd many friends were kept away by the rain. The gathering, was held, by Mr Sharp's kind permission, in his paddock, und everything Mr Sharp could do for tho comfort and entertainment of hi.s visitors was readily and willingly done. At Tamahere the school has been revived by Miss Barwell, who is feeling encouraged by her success. At all three Sunday schools the plan has been set on foot during the year, of giving on the first Sunday of each month to every scholar who attends with lair regularity a copy of some illustrated serial, especially selected for t,li3 purpi.so, and containing entertaining and wholesome reading and teaching. "Choir: The choir was probably never more efficient than it has been during the year just expired. This is sayins a great deal, considering the course which the church was obliged to adopt re no longer providing a salary for tho organist or the choirmaster at the last annual meeting. Mr O. Garland has done his work as choirmaster, it possible, more heartily than ever, though contending with groater difficulties. Several ladies and gentlemen wero at first sharing tho duties of voluntary organist, bnt latterly Mv A. Avmevshaw has undertaken the work altogether ; and it is not too much to say that, ns with his work in the Sanday-schoul, he does it thoroughly. " Guild of Ringere : Several new members from among the young men of the district have recently joined the Guild, and the bells are now more regularly rung. Mr Adams has been appointed conductor, and Mr J. Young sub-conductor.

" Church Garden : The garden has been kept during the most part of the year by I'olunteer labour, and the help has been willingly given. Two members of the Church supplied gravel fnr tha walks, and seventeen others took part in the work of keeping the grounds in order, either per-

sonally or by deputy. " Statistics: The average attendance at the ordinary service were : morning, 94 ; evening. 6U. There were 28 celebrations of the holy communion ; 13 young persons were confirmed. The baptisms were 37; j the marriages, 5 ; and the burials (two at ! Tamahere), 0. " Finance: In this branch of the Church's work we have, as in former years, much to be thankful for. It will be remembered that a scheme of retrenchment was initiated a year ago, and all will be glad to learn that the gross church for income for 18S9 has defrayed the ordinary church expenses, and reduced the open liabilities by £23. They were £144 and Ere now £121. Notwithstanding the bad timee the offertories fell off only £G: but the seat rents and subscriptions ahow the sorious shrinkage of £26 and £35 respectively, or a total on these two of £61, the principal portion of which (£SG) occurred r- 4 ' first quarter of the year. The fact Uiac' we have now no rich parishioners whoso large subscriptions would keep the church in tunds, should bo remembered by our people, aud the consequently the urgent necessity for all contributing; something to the church funds according as God has bleased them. " Liabilities : The balance of the Church Building L»an now stands at £275, the interest on which the Trust Board has been good enough to reduce from 7 per cent, to G per cent., as from January, 1889. The open liabilities are £121, and these the parishioneru should make some united effort to reduce. "Estimates : Expenditure—Liabilities as on 31st December, 1889, £121 7s Od ; incumbpnt. £195; verger, £11 • parish contributions, £11: insurance, £114; interest, £21; lighting, £7 12a 3d; sumMes, £15; total, £400. Estimated receipts: Subscriptions, £60; seat rents, £60; offertories, £130; rent, £0; wanted from other sources, £141; total, £100. These make the necessary ox-

pendituro £279. Add the open liabilities Kl2l, and -.ye have a total of £400. The revenue is given as £256, which leaves £144 to be provided otherwise. " Garden late : The garden fetes in ths past have pvnved enjoyable gatherings, and financially successful, and the vestry suggest a, repetition this year. "Property: The remarks of lait year will again apply, viz., Church and schoolroom in good condition, while the parsunage is in much need of repair. "Insurance: The cover on tho Reveral properties now stand : Church, £1,500 ; furniture, £200; bolls, £300; Sunday-school, £235; furniture, £15 ; parsonage, £300 ; communion service, £25. "Thanks: The thanks of the parishioners are due to the lay readers, Sunday-school teacher?, the choir, thn guild of ringers, and especially to Messrs \V. O. Garland and A. Armershaw, the honorary choirmaster and 1 honorary organist, whose punctuality, zeal, and untiring perseverance merit all commendation. "Conclusion: At the close of the years work we look back and are filled with gratitude to the Disposer Supreme for his guidance and merciful aid, and we humbly ask, in the name of His Son, our Saviour, for a continuance of tho same, in the full assurance that, when so blessed, His Church's work must prosper, and so aid us all in reaching the heaven where we would be.—Wμ. N. de L. Willis, chairman of vestry," Balance-shect of S. Andrew's Vestry for the Year ending 31st December, 1889. RECEIPTS. £ B. O. To subscriptions 37 19 8 „ seat rents M 5 0 „ offertories (general) 119 15 8 ~ offertories (special) 9 7 3 I rents ... ... 312 G „ garden fete 67 14 0 „ sundry entertainments ... 4 9 6 „ Church Debt Fund transfer 10 15 6 „ overdraft. Bank of New Zealand 49 4 3 £357 3 4 EXPENDITURE. By overdraft, Bank of New Zealand 47 17 8 „ salaries—incumbent 201 5 0 „ ~ organist 315 0 " " verger 12 8 6 „ ~ gardener ... ... 25 0 chnir and choir- I sun master j „ Parish contributions— Melanesian mission ... 10 0 Home mission 3 18 11 Home mission endowment 13 1 Pension Fund 111 4 Synod expenses 10 0 ~ insurance 18 1 0 „ garden fete expenses ... 15 17 u " interest 22 13 2 „ lighting 5 8 7 „ sundries 13 13 7 ~ cash in band 0 2 0 £357 3 4 Both report and balance-sheet were adopted. Thanks. —In moving a voto of thanks to those mentioned in the vestry's report, the Archdeacon said he must specially mention Mr O. Garland and Mr Armershaw, who both gave their services ahsn ar. great personal inconvenience. He was sorry to s.iy that Mr Garland had intimated to the vestry that ho was getting discouraged through the irregularity of attendance of somo of the choir member.". He trusted that the musical members of the congregation would cciinn to the rescue, and support their choirmaster.—Mr Wells congratulated Mr Garland wi the efficiency of the choir, and stated that the good music had helped to keep up the attendance. Sunday School.—The balance-sheet nf tho Sunday School showed receipts amounting tn £21 Is Bd, and a balance of £10 14s Id in hand ; but when the existing liabilities are liquidated this will bs expended. Stipend.—This was fixed at £195, as last yenr—Mr Wells regretted that it could not be raised to its former level.

Waudkxs.—The archdeacon appointed Mr Glenny as his warden, and Mr T. Wells was elected to represent the people. Vesthvmkn'.—The number of the vestry was fixed at tun. the same as last year, the following being elected: Messrs R. C. Dyer, H. M-.'un, S. Seddmi, H. R. Brunskill, J. Young, T. W. Hicks, W. O. Garland, R. Chambers atni C. Cnifcty. Auditors.—Messis J. W. Morrick and If. G. McCrae were elected auditors f.>r thp year. l< , i•.T-β.— It was resolved to hold a g:ml«n fete on Easter Monday, that btiiii? fouirl tho most suitable tiirm. Synod Mattkhs.—A very lengthy discussion t ink place regarding an order issued by the Synod that special collections should be made on behalf of missions, but it was eventually referred to the vestry with power to act.