CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 127, 3 July 1895, Page 2

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

The annual meeting of Ihe members of ! this Church look place on Monday night i the Rev. Temple Candler in the chair. j After the customary religious exercises I the Chairman opened the business part of the meeting and called upon the Secretary j for his annual report. Mr H. W. Neighbour then read an Cx- [ haustive account of the year's proceedings referring amongst other matters to the recent visit of the Bishop of the diocese. Allusion was also made to the resignation of the Rev. F. H. Spencer and the steps which had been taken to fill the pulpit since that gentleman's departure. In this they had been much favored by the presence of the Rev. E. E. Temple Candler whose stay amongst them had been much appreciated. It was hoped that during the rest of the time they might bo without a settled minister that they j would be privileged by the presence of other clergymen. In referring t" the auxiliary committee, which had been elected* at a meeting called by Mr Spencer in March last and organised for the purpose of raising subscriptions towards the stipend their efforts had resulted in the amount of £•!<> per annum being promised. This would probably increase with the population of the place. As this committee now went out of office it would : be for the meeting to determine whether another should lie elected, or merely a body of collectors appointed who could from time to time confer with the Church ! committee through the secretary or treasurer. 11l regard to the services generally and the attendance thereat a fulling off was noticeable, and this might be attributed to th(! fact that the Presbyterian body had lately commenced a course of services here. It was a pity that in a small community, where it seemed impossible to raise sufficient funds to pay the expenses of one minister, there should be two protectant services held, each seeking for financial aid outside. However as neither was willing to retire they must all, without reference to any denomination in particular, do what they could in the service of God. The reOrganisation of the choir was also alluded to. and the progress of the Sunday School under the charge of Mrs Spencer and Misses Kelson and M. Ginders and the Sunday School for the native children conducted by Misses 1., and C. Robinson, The new church building fund amounted. ; to £SO and it was necessary to augment 1 this if a building were to be erected. In regard to the parsonage, the property of | Archdeacon Williams, and on which there ' was 11 debt of £BOO. that Mas a matter for j the consideration of the committee when a new minister was appointed. The report concluded with a reference to the kindness of Mrs Ginders in making arrangements for the stay of the clergyman j while herd, and a hope that the vacant pulpit would soon bo permanently filled. The report was adopted as read. The treasurer's report showed receipts amounting to £231 Is !ld. Ihe principal items being General offertories £65 i>s4d, special, i'l'-l 3s 9d, stipend. £110; diocesan grant, £2O. The expenditure showed that after the payment of stipend &C, a balance remained in hand of £3 7s Id. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The election of committee resulted as follows;- -Messrsßobinson. Steele. Hammond, Webber, Griffiths, Manscl andSanison. 11, was resolved that, the lathes forming the auxiliary committee should act as collectors, and that an effort should j be mode to obtain a set of communion vessels. A special vote of thanks was passed to ATv TT. W. Neighbor- for his services in connection with the church, and an oxpacssion of regret on his severing his connection with it. The meeting then closed.