ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 32, 6 August 1903, Page 29

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

The annual meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Dunedin, was held in St. Joseph's Hall on Wednesday evening of last week. His Lordship Bishop Verdon presided. There was a good attendance, among those present being Rev. Father Murphy, Adm., St. Joseph's Cathedral His Lordship apologised for the absence of Mrs. J. B Callan, who was prevented from attending owing 10 lilnebt,. Mr. J. O'Connor read the annual r£ port and balance sheet, which were as follows • \our committee, m piesentiug their eighteenth annual balance sheet and report, desire to thank all the kind benefactors of the Society, and would specially mention his Lordship the Bishop, the clergy of the diocese, the Nuns of the Good Shepherd (Mount Magadala) IT S S Co., Messrs. Callan and Galloway, and all subscribing members. There is always poverty to be relieved, and even in the best of times sickness brings about cases of distress, which require assistance, and we would earnestly beg of all members to use every endeavor to induce their friends to become at least honorary members so as to enable us to carry on the work of the Society more extensively. The annual concert was most successful, resulting in a net profit of £40 16s 6d. Your committee desire tothank those ladies and gentlemen and the Christian Brothers' boys who, by their help, contributed so materially to this successful result, and to Messrs. Carr and Marlow, who acted as honorary secretaries, your committee desire to return their sincere thanks. Two successful euchre parties were also held during the year. From various country places we received large parcels of clothing, periodicals, and sums of money, which were very acceptable. "Your committee lound it necessary to give the president the use of a telephone to lighten to some extent, the great amount of work she has in connection with the Society. During the year we received from the estate of the late Mrs. Liston the sum of £25. To the directors of the Stoke Orphanage we extend our deep sympathy on the great loss they ha\e sustained by the death of the Very Rev. Dean Mahony, also through the destruction of the orphanage by h're.

The following ladies have been elected office-bearers for the year 1903-4 :— President, Mrs. A. Jackson (reelected) ; vice-president, Mrs. J. B. Callan (re-elected) , treasurer, Miss L. Coneys (re-elected) ; secretary, Miss 1). Purton (re-elected) ; wardrobe-keeper, Mrs. Swanson (re-elected.

Articles distributed :— 5 pairs blankets (new), 2 sheets (new), 1 quilt (new),l iron bedstead (new), 1 mattress (new), 28 pairs boots and shoes (new), 21 pairs boots and shoes (s.h ), 18 pairs stockings and socks (new), 8 do (s h), 3 shawls (s h ), 23 cloaks and jaclets (sh), 3G blouses (s li.), 20 shirts (sh), 20 undershirts (sh), 1 do (rew), 16 pinafores and overalls (new), 5 children's dresses, 17 shirts (s h ), 4 do (new), 30 sets women's underwear (new), 31 do (sh ), 1 coat (new), 9 do (s h), 2 suits (new), 2do (s h.), 13 pairs trousers (s.h.), 4 vests (s.h ), 14 hats and bonnets (s h), 1 do (new), 4 caps (s.h ), 2 aprons (new), 6yds holland, 14yds shirting, 38yds dress material, 16yds lining, 12yds flannel, 140 yds flannelette, 54£ yds print. Medicine and soup, etc., have been sent to sick people, and rosary beads, scapulars, and prayer books have also been distributed. The society is now composed of 233 hon. members and 11 active members.

Forty-seven sewing meetings have been held and 391 visits have been paid to the poor, four penitents have been sent to Mount Magdala, three children to St.

Mary s, Nelson, and two children to S-;b. Vincent de Paul s Orphanage, South Dunedin. During the year 88 grocery orders and 82 coal orders weie given out

I hereby certify that I have examined the balance sheet books and vouchers, etc., and found everything correct. I must also certify to the great care bestowed by the secretary and treasurer on their books.-J.

Mr. O Connor moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, which was seconded by the Rev. Father Murphy, both mover and seconder paying a warm meed of praise to the ladies of the Society for their work His Lordship, m putting the motion to the meeting said he had listened with very much pleasure to the report, and he thought it reflected the greatest credit on the cause of charity. They were deeply indebted to these adies and he thanked them for their efforts on his own behali and on behalf of the congregation. It was a- great blessing, indeed, to have a Society of this kind here in their midst, and where so much charity was bestowed by members of the congregation blessings would be showered on them in turn. They heard a great deal about the prosperity of their city and country. Undoubtedly it was a prosperous country, and they were proud of the progress it was making. They could see houses going up ?nd substantial stores, as they went along the street and it all indicated prosperity ; but no matter how prosperous a community was there must be poverty and suffering somewhere. The good ladies belonging to the Society had many opportunities of knowing where there was poverty and suffering, and when they found it they applied to the good people of the district to provide the means for relieving it. As the report disclosed, they had evidently found a good deal of scope for their zeal. If there were a few more active members a great deal more might be done. Some time ago, when speaking at the Cathedral, lie had appealed to the young ladies to join the Society, and he did so again at the present time. By joining the active membership of the Society they would participate in a work that had been carried on so successfully in the past, and one that reflected great credit on their congiegation.

Ihe motion was then put and carried. A vote of thanks to his Lordship for presiding concluded the business.

Receipts. «, . , £ «. d. To balanoo ia bank July, 1902 ... 2 0 0 „ FiXod viepoßit ... 25 0 0 „ fculiao/ipciuaa ... (J2 5 6 „ Douaciune ... 40 0 3 „ Groas rooeipts of caohre p<4rti«ii ... 21 11 0 „ GiOas receipts of concert 64 17 6 „ Sc. Vincent de i'ftul poor box ... 1 8 3 Sheet. Expenditure. £. a. d By U.B.S. Co ... 412 6 „ Cinoeriea ... 26 1 2 „ Boots ... 16 10 0 „ Gouts ... vfi 0 0 „ Drapery ... 41 uj 8 „ Mount Magdala 6 0 6 „ Offerings ... 2 0 0 „ Urgent Board ... 4 2 0 „ Expenses of euchre parties 618 4 „ Expeneea of cootert ... 14 l 0 „ Sandriea — traiu fares, stamps, eto. ... 7 12 0 „ Telephone ... 2 7 6 „ Fnneral expenses 10 0 „ Meat ... 118 0 „ Fixed deposit, „ £25 ; current „ account, £24 >• Sd4d ... 49 9 4 £207 2 6 £207 2 6