Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Pro-Cathedral Conference, Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 13 August 1903, Page 29

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Pro- Cathedral Conference, Christchurch

(From our own correspondent.)

Patron, Right Rev. J. J. Grimes, S.M., D D Bishop of Christchurch ; spiritual director, Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S M , V G ; president, Bro E O'Connor, J.P. ; vice-presidents, Bros. G. R. Hayward and J. J. Wilson ; treasurer, Bro. A. Mead ; secretary Bro. W. S. Malaquin ; wardrobe keepers, Bros. J. Power and J. A. Ilennessy. Report and Balance Sheet for the year ended July Bth, 1903.

In presenting the sixteenth annual report of the ProCathedral Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul we desire to sincerely thank our many friends and generous benefactors, who have, by providing the meansfinancial and in kind— enabled us to carry on for such an extensive period this work of charity and benevolence in our midst. The special duties devolving upon the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are now so well known and understood by our people, and* have been so frequently dwelt upon in previous reports that we deem it unnecessary atthe present stage to again refer to them. Impressed with the importance of spreading the influence of this admirable Society, the Superior Council at Sydney the governing body throughout Australasia, has latterly urged this great work of extension on our conference as representing our own Colony. The Pro-Cathedral Conference, in accord with that of St. Mary's, responded by cordially agreeing with the proposition, and undertaking to at once endeavor to establish conferences in the chief centres of our diocese. In this direction we have the expressed approval and co-operation of our revered Bishop with his best blessing on our enterprise. ' Nothing,' says his Lordship, • would give me greater pleasure than to see branches of the admirable Society of St. Vincent de Paul in every part of the diocese.' These are encouraging words and worthy of our sinccrest gratitude. As previously announced, the funds in hand for the establishment of the the much-desired and needed home for our aged, destitute, and afflicted, amount to a little over £200, the result of two St. Patrick's Day celebrations We ardently trust this fund may speedily assume the requisite proportions , it is an object of more than ordinary merit, and might, very properly, be tie subject of special donations or bequests from the gene-rous-minded and charitable.

We desire to return our grateful thanks to our devoted spiritual director for the generous donation of a select library for the use of members, and also to the Very Rev. Vicar-General and the clergy of the ProCathedral for valued counsel and assistance. The charity sermons on the last occasion of our annual appeal were preached by the Very Rev. Vicar-General and his assistant priests, to whom we are deeply indebted for the principal means of carrying on our undertakings during the year To the choir, who, on Chanty Sunday, usually provide special music, we express our warmest appreciation

Contained in the following summary is a brief account of the Society's operations during the past year —Orders issued for provisions, fuel, and other necessaries, 98 ; families visited, 203 ; visits to hospital, 130 , Samaritan and Jubilee Homes were also frequently visited ; work was procured for 23 persons , a family's travelling expenses weio paid to another colony , meals provided, 58 ; beds, 31 ; 5 children weie sent to Nelson Orphanage , 1 to Mount Maßdala , and 2 persons to the Home for Incurables. Wellington General summary —New articles distributed, 89, including 5 pairs now boots, J pair sheets, 2 pairs blankets, 1 child's qunt, 80 new garments. To persons to make up for themselves— l dress length, l(>yds flannelette, 2Lyds flannel, 2yds print ; 39 meetings were held during the year ; about 100 visits were made to families, 20 to the hospital, 19 to the Raman (an Home, 50 to the Women's Refuge, and 25 to the Jubilee home. Books, religious objects, clothing, boots, ets., weie given to the inmates of the Samaritan Home A woman's fare was provided to enable her to go to Wellington, also a girl's fare to the same place with sufficient 'money given to give her a start there. A young girl was taken from the hospital and a situation fruml for her, with all expenses paid by the associate n The president attended at the police court and too! > hirge of a little girl pending passage to Nelson Orp mage. The president and vice-president acted on the committee for the distribution of the Mayor's coal and blanket fund, and ensured thereby a fair share of assistance reaching our poor people Although frequent appeals are made for left-oIT

clothing the ladies do not receive nearly as many parcels as they could do with for cases requiring help, and trust to be in a position to acknowledge more liberal contributions in the future. Whilst thanking the clergy for much valued assistance, and other generous donors a hope is expressed that many more ladies would join the association, either as honorary or active members, particularly the latter. Although much has been done during the year in works of relief and making the lives of many happier and brighter, stiil much remains undone owing to limited means and comparatively few workers.

Ladies' Association President, Mrs. D. Scrimgeour ; vice-president, Mrs. A. Mead , treasurer, Miss J. O'Connell ; secretary, Miss Murray ; wardrobe keeper, Mrs. Lonergan ; librarian, Miss J. Cronin.

BALANC E SHEET. Eeceipts. FXPENDITTTBE. £ b. d. To balance forward 8 2 5 „ l><jiiat\ons .. 2 7 0 „ Collections at wiekly meetings 7 5 i\ „ Houorary tneniberd' subecriptions 7 17 6 „ Discount 16 0 | £. 8. d By drapery and cluthing 13 18 11 „ Groceries 13 2 „ *<oofca 1 10 6 „ Railway and steamer fares ... ... 114 2 „ Euel 10 6 „ Sundries — lacladingf account books, carrier's fee, rubber stamp, and incidental expenditure 16 3 „ Cash balanue in hand 6 4 9* £26 18 3J| £26 18 3}

BALAN* !E SHEET. Receipts. Expenditure. £ b. d. To balance forward 12 7 4 „ Collections at weekly meetings 10 13 0 „ Collections on occasion of last charity sermon 18 12 9 „ Donatious ... 117 4 £ a. d. By donation to Ladies' Association ... 6 0 0 „ Groceries 6 2 0 >, «-o»1b 1 10 0 „ Meals and beds ... 2 19 9 „ Nursing and blankets 1 19 0 „ Boots 4 S 6 „ Tram fares (Jubilee House and Deaf and Dumb Institute) 3 10 4 „ Train and steamer fares 4 2 10 „ Assistance in various wayß to deserving oases ... 513 9 „ Sundries — Including printing, books and pamphlets for distribution at hospital and elsewhere, stationery, stamps, conference requisites, clothing, etc 7 4 8 „ Cash balance in hand 15 0 £43 10 5 I £43 10 5