SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 6

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

PRO-CATHEDRAL CONFERENCE,

CHRISTCHURCH

Patron, his Lordship the Right Rev. J. J. Grimes, SM, D D., Bishop of Christchurch ; spiritual director, the Very Rev. Father Le Menant de* Chesnaic, S.M . V.G-. ; president, Bro. E O'Connor, J.P ; vice-presidents, Bros. G. Hayward and J. J. Wilson ; treasurer, Bro. A. Mead ; secretary, Bro. W. Fox ; wardrobe- keeper, Bro, J. A. Hunn*"-^' ; fl°«i"*ant do, Bro. .Tas. Power. Report and Balance Sheet for tius \hab ended Juia 23, 1902. Fifteen years have just elapsed since the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, as at present known, was reorganised in this city, or, to be more exact, was re-established by his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes. This, indeed, was among the fir-t episcopal acts of our revered chief pastor. The Society's uninterrupted existence since that time, its benevolent work among the suffering, destitute, and distressed, as noted in the reports annually placed in the handa of the publi. 1 , must undoubtedly have cheered our devoted clergy and impressed our parishioners, as well as eric uraged the few faithful laborers and timely helpers On referring to the first annual report we find it therein stated that the Society commenced with 14 active and 6 honorary members, whilst the number wueu the report appe.ired was 35 active and 9 honorary Why, then, this great falling off ? Is the spirit of chanty le*«i mnnifi m., are we more callous to the w^nts and Huffenngs of poor humanity than we were l.j years a>n, ( r is there le-s need of such an oijj.uiih ition to-day ? To the Jatier question the answer caiinot be in the affirmative; thf m-ed exists 10-day, and will exist, although not t-o pronounced perhaps as in years gone by, especially during periods ot deprefMMi We tamest ly hope our modest wants will continu? tu be supplied, anu that the ranks of membership will not only be maintained, but increased ' For since kind Heaven with wealth our realm has blest, Give it to Heaven by aiding the dibtrest.' With reference to the establishment of a Home for the Aged Destitute, and Incurable, the movement is still being promoted. A'ready the nucleus of a 'und for this most laudable and necessary undertaking is in Land, as the result of a concert and sp' rts held on last St. Patrick's Day. A detailed account of the Society's operations for the past year is contained in the following summary ■ — Orders issued, 13fj ; visits to families, 1 13 ;to hospitals. 4^ ; the Samaritan Home Jubilee Home, etc., weie also visited frequently ; school and prayer-be and rosaries were given to childivn. to the inmates of the burnham Industrial School, the Samaritan Home, and to hospital patients ; a f^w families wtre supplied with new clothing and bootn to enable children to attend school ; employment (temp< rary and permanent) was s-ecured fur 14 men ; a number of boy* and girls weie placed in situations; 7 chiloreu v.\ ro sent ti {•tokp Industrial f>cho 1 , several agt-cl a en got Jo'iaMons of warm cl^tii'g; funeral i>nd interment expens s were supplied; and a nuitaM" subject for the Home for Incurables at Wellington wad provided with a paata^e. BALANCE SHEET. Receipts. Expenditure. £ a. d £ s d. To balance forward 12 \~> 4 By d^ii.turM to 1 dus „ Collections at branch . .-, o o wee'<ly meetings 10 5 (> ' „ (jnu-vt C, ,s i; „ Collectionsnn oc< :i- „Co il- »,..! fir>>^o< d 1 111 () pion of la«t char- „ Boots . . . 1 (i 0 ity sermo i and „ Raih- ay p.ml t-'ea-donauons ... 20 15 0 , iner f.m-s .. 1 \<j g ! „ Tram i<u. s (.JuliiI h p Iloino fs.n<i Dtaf and Dumb Institute) ... 510 11 | „ Funeral expenses 2 0 0 „ Board and meals (casuaK) ... 0 1.1 G | „ Sundries — inclnrl1 ing printing, rail- ' age, stamps, tele- ] grams, cab hir«', ] books and reli- | gions objects for | Burnham Indusi trial School, and hospital, etc., etc. 314 7 ' „ Cash balance in 1 hand ... ... 12 7 i 43 13 10 ' £43 15 10 In addition to the above and not included in the balance sheet the Very Rev. Vicar-General has assisted many deserving cases on behalf of the Society at on approximate cost of £15. On the recommendation of the Society many of our deserving poor people have been enabled to share in the Mayoral distribution of coal and b'anketa during the winter. We would be ex* iemel y grateful if employers requiring workmen communicated their wants to the Society, as such cases are continually before members. The charity sermons on behalf of the funds of the Society were preached last \car by the Very Rev, Vkur General and Rev. Father Galerne, to whom we arc much indebted, their united efforts being the means of providing fuudu for the successful carrying on of our work throughout the year.

To hia Lordship the Bishop, the Very Rev. Vicar-General, and the clergy of the Pro-Cathedral we return our sincere thanks for generous assistance and encouragement. We, l.kewise, thank all v»nu have in any way contributed to our fuuds, wardrobe, etc