CHURCH MEETINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3048, 28 January 1892, Page 2

CHURCH MEETINGS.

S. ANDRKW'S. CAMBRIDGE.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of S. Andrew's, Cambridge, was held in tho schoolroom, adjoining the Church, on Monday evening,at So.m. The Veil. Archdeacon Willis presided.' There was a somewhat limited attendance, doubtless the result of the excessively wet evening- Mr R. C. Dyer kindly acted as Secretary. The meeting was opened with prayer, after which the report of the vestry for the past year and the balance sheet as published in last Saturday's issue, were read. MrGlenny moved the adoption of the report and the balance sheet, which was seconded by Mr Dyer. The Archdeacon said there were several items of the balance sheet that needed a little explanation; for instance the clergyman's stipend appeared as £20!) 3s <ld, but that included arrears from the previous year, and really was for fourteen months and not for the past year only. Mr W. O. Garland nsltcd a question re the salary of the organist, viz., £5, which he understood was to have been raised outside the Church funds, and yet it appoarod in tho balance sheet. Tho Treasurer (Mr Wells) explained that the amount had been raised independently of the general Church funds, and that it had been kept separate—as had also the parsonage improvement fuud—until the close of the year; but it was right that tho receipts and disbursements in any way connected with tho Church should be shown in tho balance sheet. If any one was to blaine for the organist having been paid he must take that blame for he insti gated the movement, as gelling different lady members of tho congregation to play alternately did not work well and was a worry to all concerned, Mr Garland said he had always advocated tho organist being paid, as tho Archdeacon could testify, for it was detrimental to any choir to fie continually having different accompanists. What made him leave the choir was the manner in which tho organist was appointed as he understood it; but he appeared to have been misled. Mr Wells said the balance sheet was eminently satisfactory. There had not been tho trouble of fetes, concerts, etc., and yet they had made good progress and had regained lost ground. He trusted tho new year would prove as prosperous and that the end of the term, would see them in an even better position.— Tho report and balance sheet were then unanimously adopted. Sunday Sc'iioor..—The receipts for tho year had been £29 !)s sd, and the expenditure left a credit balanco of £1(1 13s lOd, but against this there are accounts due that will leave an actual balance of about £t>. Thanks.—Votes of thanks ware passed tithe churchwardens, vestrymen, secretary and auditors, the lay-reader (Mr S. Seddon), Miss Evans and the Sunday-school teachers, the choir, the ringers and the catetaker of j the chnrph grounds, I Clergyman's S'rirENP.— Mr Dyer moved

that the cl-Tiryoiari's sti|>end he raised t> l'2-K) per annum. In the e-'t.im ;t!s if. «'iput. down as !;c-t year. viz., £17"), but £70 for painting tin; church :md rn-r-i ifing Mm school was included. He thought those matters con'd stind over for another year, and their fir.-t duty was to increase their clei iryman'.s stipend.— Mr liiunskill seconded the motion.— Tile archdeacon thanked the gentl-niien who hid made the proposal, but was afraid the Work mentioned in the e-tinnitus could not wait any longer, and if tlio increased stipend was passed it would result in increa-ed liabilities at the end of the year.—Mr Wells said he .should move an amendment that the stipend be £17-") as l ist year, and lie was sure the archdeacon w 'tiki not misunderstand his reason for doing so. No ono wouid feel a greater pleasure in raising the stipend than ho (the speaker), but this was a purely business matter, and it was imper itive for the well being of the church that they

should have a paid organist and also a choirmaster. Ho hoped there would bo no more debt, a'so that, they might eventually be able to raise the stipend to £300, but that time had not yet arrived. He, then moved an amendment that the stipend be £175.— Mr Hewitt seconded the amendment, and said the mover of the motion had no idea of the efforts it required to collect subscriptions. —The archdeacon retired while the matter was discussed.—The amendment was carried, consequently tho stipend for the present year will be £175. Organist and Choirmaster.—Mr Wolls reported that the vestry had engaged the services of a competent organist, and lie moved: "That the incoming vestry he instructed to engage a choirmaster."—The motion was unanimously agreed to.

Chiihch Warokns. —Both wardens were re-elected—viz., Mr Glenny and Mr Wells, the former being vicar's and the latter people's warden. Vestry.—The number of tho vestry was fixed at seven, tho following being elected members: —Messrs H. R. Brunskill, R. C. Dyer, T. Hester, E. Hewitt, T. W. Hicks, S. Seddon, and J. Young. Auditors.—Messrs Merrick and McCrea were re-elected auditors. Catechising thbChildrkn. —Tito Chairman asked the meeting if it was of opinion that it would be expedient for him to catechise the children at the morning service, say, once a month.—The prevailing opinion was that it would not be, and the matter was allowed to drop. Parish Evenings.—lt was resolved to hold six parish evenings as last year, a'so an open-air one on February 10th at the parsonage. Harvest Festival —Tt was decided to hold the Harvest Festival on Friday, February 20th, and to continue the services on the following Sunday. The Chairman thanked those present for attending on such a wet evening, after which he was accotded a hearty vote of thanks for presiding. The singing of the Doxology closed the proceedings.

ST. PETEIt'S, HAMILTON 7 . The annual meeting of the parishioners of of St. Peter's Church, Hamilton, was held in the Public Hall last night. There was a good attendance presont, the incumbent, the Rev. R. O'C. Biggs being in the chair and the proceedings were opened with prayer. Report.—The report for tho year ending December 31st, 181)1, was then read as follows: —The vestry are well pleased that they are able to report favourably on the finances for the past year; the total receipts showing an increase of £34 17s lid over those of the year 1S!)0. Of this sum £17 lis 9d was raised by a sale of ,vork and entertainment for the special purpose of executing some necessary repairs to tho parsonage, which by tho judicious expenditure of the funds so raised has been vastly improved. The olfei'coriea show an increase of nearly £20, but there has been a slight decrease in the amount of those for special purposes. It is very gratifying that the liabilities are being steadily reduced, and it is hoped that befor-j long they will bo wiped oft' altogether. The attendances at tho church services also show a sensible increase. The services in the out districts have been maintained with great regularity, thanks to the very efficient help of the lay-readers. There have been 45 baptism? in the district of which 32 were in Hamilton ; 35 persons have been confirmed, viz., 27 in St. Peter's Church, U of whom came from Tauwhare, and 8 in Christ's Church, Taupiri. There have been 7 marriages and 11 burials. The superintendentof the Sjnday-school reports ail increase in the number on the roll, but laments greatly the lack of interest manifested by the parishioners generally. The choir is numerically stronger, chiefly owing to the addition of a numbei of boys wi.o may be expected in time to render very efficient service in the church's praise. The thanks of the parishioners are duo to the lay readers, tho organist (who has aided to her continued gratuitous and efficient services the special training of the bo.vs), the choirmaster (who though not connected with the district comes from a distance and devotes much time and care to tiaining the choir); the superintendent and teachers of the Sunday-school, the churchwardens and vestry, the auditors, and the ladies and gentlemen who provided the two entertainments wheroby some £60 was raiso l, for their valuable services. The report wi.s received and adopted.

Balasck Sheet.—The balance sheet presented by the Treasurer was as follows : — Statement or Rkceiits ami Exi'kndituru. Receipts— General offertories j£lSl 17 11 Special offertories 10 4 7 Subscriptions . 0 2 0 Contributions from out-districts for the Incumbent 30 7 11 Proceeds of sale of work June, IS9I ... 47 G i) Proceeds of soiree Nov. 10th, IS9I ... 12 14 0 291 13 S Bank overdraft Djc. 31st, 1891 ... 23 IS 7 £320 12 3 ExpenditureOverdraft January Ist, IS9I ... ... 29 3 1 Incumbent's stipend ...£lbQ 0 0 Incumbent's stipend from out-districts 30 7 11 Verier ... ... ... 12 0 0 Lighting 9 3 4 Insurance ... 0 2 3 Rates 2 13 4 Interest 3 2 0 Home Mission offertories... 0 18 Diocesan bond 10 0 0 Repairs to parsonage ... 48 9 9 Synod expenses 15 0 Repairs to church and new gate 3 10 Sundries S 19 0 Balance cash in hand 311 £320 12 3 Statement of Assets and Liaiiilitiks. AssetsSections 449 and 439, Sunday-school site... £50 0 0 Liabilities— Bond to standing committee 70 0 0 Interest ... i> 19 0 Stipends 15 10 0 Insurance on ball ... 1 17 6 Rates 2 0 0 Special offertories 8 1 7 Sundry accounts 10 IS 3 Bank overdraft 28 IS 7

£143 4 11 Excess of liabilities over assets, £93 4s lid. Examined and found correct. P. LKOuksnh, Gko. Edghcumuk. 2(jth January, ISD2. The accounts and balance-sheet were adopted. Ob'incßßS. —Mr Coates was again nominated as minister's churchwarden, and Mr T. Jolly was re-elected as people's warden. Tho number of the vestry was this year fixed at five, and the following gentlemen were appointed Messrs Poat, Fleming, J. S. Edgecombe, Mainline, and Soppot. Vkuukk.—Mr Stevens pointed out as a recommendation to tho incoming vestry that an increase of salary should be made verger, in consideration of the cleanly to the way in which tho church had been kept during the past year. Pauish Evkninus. —The question of holding parish evenings was discussed and approved of by the meeting, but nothing definite was fixed.

Sunday School. —Mr Coates proposed : "That in the event of tho Government refunding the £100 from tho hall, that it be placed to a special account, for the specific purpose of building a Sunday School, for which the money was originally raised." Seconded by Mr Salmon, and c u ried. Thanks. —Votes of thanks were passed in accordance with the report of the vestry. A vote of thanks to the chair, followed by the benediction, closed the meeting.