PARISH MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 8

PARISH MEETINGS.

CHURCH OP THE HOLY TRINITY. Th« annual mesting of the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Devonport, was held in tht parish schoolroom last evening, His Lordship Bishop Neligan presiding over a large attendance. The annual report of the vestry stated that the vestry regretted to report that the finances of the parish bad not improved since last report. The balance-sheet showed a reduction in the amount of liabilities of £80. During the year the Rev. Sydney Hawthorne resigned the care of the parish, and arrears of stipend to the amount of £154 15/, dating back several years, were collected and paid over to Mm, as also were arrears of stipend which had accrued during the current year. On the other hand, interest owing, which at the end of last financial year amounted to £157 15/, had increased to £190 15/. -Two j parish meetings had been held during the year to consider the financial position. A resolution was carried that a sustenta- \ tion fund be established, and a committee wa3 appointed to canvass the parish for subscribers. So far only £20 had been contributed to this fund. Exclusive of the two.loans there was a sum.of £235 owing, which at present there was no i prospect of paying, the regular income, which amounted to only £6 per week, being barely sufficient to meet current expenses. Special collections had been made during the year for the fund for painting the church and vicarage, and there was now in hand £36 2/7, about half the amount required to pay for the work. The vestry desired to record their appreciation of the services of the Sun-day-school teachers and the choir. The balance-sheet showed receipts to total £565 16/8, and expenditure to £576 4/10, leaving a debit balance of £10 8/3. The main ifc-'ns.s of the receipts were collections £374 9/10; contributions to vicar's arrears, £152 9/; and contributions to sustentation fund, £20 11/. The expenditure included stipend and arrears to Rev. S. Hawthwne, £310 6/; stipend to Rev. Kyngdon, £31 10/; organist, £40 0/6; insurance, £15 0/3; alms, £14 12/8; painting, £30 12/7; missions, £26 14/2. The statement of liabilities showed £349 11/10 to be owing, including a loan of £550, with £190 15' interest, and another loan of £64 15/. A general discussion ensued on the financial position of the church, Mr. Bartley explaining, in answer to Bishop Neligan, that the debt of £550 was incurred about fifteen or twenty years ago for the erection of a vicarage, and the debt had been accumulating since. The general fund had got in arrears consequent on the expenses in connection with the illness of a former vicar, who had been sent to England and to North Queensland to recruit. The chairman pointed out that they had been paying £3 3/ a week to the Rev. Kyngdon, which was nearly double what the vestry stated the parish could pay at the last meeting, £80 a year, so that the position was full of hope. Mr. Philson stated that the sum of £330 had been paid to the vicars during the year, besides £40 to the organist. He suggested that the amount of the fund for painting the church should go to the general fund, stating that the amount was not specially collected. Mr. Blackburn stated that a collection ! was specially taken up on three occasions, half of which went to the painting funds and half to the general account. Sir. G. L. Peacocke considered the large amount contributed last year was ' an excellent index of the paying capabilities of the parish, and went to show that with comparatively small contributions the church could be put in a sound financial position. He suggested that an energetic house to house canvass of the parishioners should be undertaken. His Lordship agreed with Mr. Peacocke's suggestion, adding that he dinagreed with the clause in the report which stated that there was no prospect of paying the sum of £235' owing, believing that there was every prospect of wiping it off. He loathed the idea of church bazaars with a deep and thorough loath- I ing, but thought that under the circum- ' stances the best plan would be for the ' ladies to organise a bazaar. Mr. Ewiugton said that it was very urgent that the money should be paid, as , the money bad been borrowed from the native pastorate fund, which was now in a very straitened condition. He favoured the proposal to hold a bazaar, but suggested that the receipts should go towards the renovation of the church school I and vicarage. Sir. Templar suggested that the matter of holding a bazaar should be postponed for six months, to give the new vestry an opportunity of showing what they could do. With the present revival of interest in the church he believed that sufficient funds could be collected, by energetic work, to place the church in a ; sound position. He pointed out that special collections in the past had more than once totalled £60 to £80. The chairman remarked that whatever had been done in the past, the present position was that there was a debt of £200. They were in debt, and they liad to get out of it. He believed that the parish could uot subscribe the amount of the debt without hurting the vicar's stipend. However, the matter must be decided by the vestry., The report and balance-sheet were then adopted, and the election of wardens and vestry was proceeded with; The chairman announce i that Mr. Blackburn had resigned the office of vicar's warden greatly to his regret and to that of the parish. He nominated Mr. G. Hunt in his stead. Mr. H. P. Oakden was unanimously re-elected people's warden, and the following vestry was elected: Messrs. F. E. Jackson, W. J. Philson, E. H, Wliite, H. Brabant, P. Ward, W. G. Allen, J. K. Harty, J. Taylor, J. B. Gilfillan and Captain Moorehouse. •The Bishop said that he would be expected to make some announcement as to the future vicar of the church, but he was unable to say anything definite. The diocese nominators had handed him a document, but further correspondence would have to pass before any final decision could be come to. Providing certain conditions which he would lay down were acceptable, he would be willing to discharge the responsibiltie3- cast on him. Meantime the church would be kept well supplied. His Lordship strongly condemned the system of depending on weekly offertories, and said that annual subscriptions should be insisted on. The present time was a test for the church; all those worth having would remain, the others would be weedeTl out, and he wished whoever got them joy. When canvassing for subscriptions they should not accept contributions from those who first wanted to know who the vicar was to be. Let them go, he urged; they were j not worth the keeping. ST. PAUL'S. At the annual meeting of St. Paul's Church last night a report was presented which stated that the receipts been £092, and the expenditure £690. The iJTertories totalled £447, the general. , offering being £385. TMs the vestry j

Vram not cotajaletely satisfied with, and repeated its desire that at least £1 a Sunday should be added t© the offerings. Toe seat ruts had brought in £133, an increase of about £4. : The Ladies' Guild sale in October realised £45, and the vestry acknowledged it* obligation t« the guild for valuable service*. .The parochial endowment had yielded £55. The liabilities of the pariah were £344, and the assets £27. The loan account had been reduced by £50, interest paid on the loan being £62. The choir and Sunday-school needed more members and teachers respectively. The , Sundayaohool accounts had been much improved, the credit balance of 5d at the beginning of the year having increased to £9 10/. The Mothers' Union and Girls' Friondiy Society had aone good work, and. the Social Club was about to b»ili» its winter (session. The necessary works to be done in the church included the painting of the temporary portion of the church. In rrarnrd" to the Maori missions, the vicar reported that the ! Bishop and Standing Committee had had j under consideration the serious position in which the missions in Auckland now stood, and the veetry commended the matter to the earnest consideration of members. The parish had done but little in the matter of help so far. The vestiy had acknowledged its gratitude to the donor of the beautiful brass lectern that had been given to the church, and it hoped to get the Customs duty on the lectern remitted. The vestry acknowledged the services of the different bodies. Mr Cobine moved; and Mr Cumming seconded; the adoption of the report, and the statement of accounts was approved on the motion of Messrs Whitley and Ashton. The following officers were elected:— Churchwardens, Messrs Whitley (vicar's nominee) and W. Blvth (parishioners'); vestry, Messrs Ash ton. Gresham, (Dr.) Parkes, Seager, Hipkins, (Dr.) Gore Gillon, Boulton, Churton, Cobine and Dunlop; auditors, Messrs A. Taylor and A. J. Denniston. The Bishop's pastoral concerning the Maori mission was referred" to the new vestry for attention. Mr T. GreshanV broached the question of female franchise in the church government. He moved: ""That the fparishioners of St. Paul's place on record their regret that the recommendations of the Auckland Diocesan Sydnod for the women's franchise, which was so long advocated and supported by the late reverred Primate, was shelved at the hist General Synod. The parishioners wish to express their strong disapproval of that course of action." He thought that the term "shelved" was perfectly justified by the circumstances. Mr W. S. Whitley seconded the motion, and said that something should be done to bring the General Synod to its senses in the matter. It was very annoying to have their wishes set aside in this way. The Canon said that it could not be claimed that the matter was properly discussed. The closure was applied in the most glaring way, and those in favour of it had no fair chance to debate it. The motion was carried unanimously. The meeting closed with the usual votes of thanks and prayer.