OPAWA.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4290, 30 April 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

OPAWA.

Tbe Church members of this parish held tbefr annual meeting in the church on Monday evening. The Bey. G. J. Cholmondeley presided, gad there was a large attendance of the parishioners. Incumbent, who, according to his usual gjatom, had addressed the congregation on Sunday on some topics relating to the welfare of the parish, after a few remarks, called npon Mr Tipping to read the churchwarden's report, and submit the printed statement of The report was to the following effect: — The statement of accounts which has been pnnted aad circulated among the parishioners, ire think, shows that the parish ia in a satisfactory financial position. At last Easter the Bank overdraft amounted Jo .£3O 15s Ud. On the 31st March, 1873, the date to which the accounts are made np, after psyi-g ail liabilities, there was a balance of s_> 5a 4d standing to the credit of the parish. The amount received on account of the Incumbent's Stipend Fond is £6 5s 8d in advance of the receipt of the previous year. The amount -jcerred for church expenses is £1 7s 7d in tdvaoee. Paring' the year the church has been painted. An alteration has been made to the porch, and fome necessary repairs have been effected. At the f-rsonsge the scullery has been lined, and leae works required at the outbuildings have bee- performed. In order to defray the cost of these works a special appeal has been made to the parishioners, and the churchwardens are _fc- to report that the subscriptions received in {manse to this application will be (sufficient for the pnrpose. The Vesby took into its early consideration the resolution passed at its last Easter meeting ■nith respect to the erection of a building to be used for Sunday school and other parochial purposes, and having regard to the state of the £__nces of the parish, and the expenditure to he incurred in painting and other works, they decided that it wis desirable for the present to postpone any farther action in tho matter. C>n information received from the Gas Com- _. of their intention to extend their mains in thui direeb'GQ before winter, the Vestry decided io introdaee the gas into tha church and partaaage, sad s-bseqnently accepted a tender for necessary work and fittings for the church. On Sunday, March 16th, the offerings were devoted to the Kaitangata relief fund, and amounted fa) £9 10s 4d. The church wardens desire to record their hearty appreciation of the energetic efforts of the Ladies' Working Society. The society has eaid the salary of the organist, and moreover has undertaken to defray the expenses connected with the introduction of gas into the church. The best thanks are dne to the ladies for their well-sustained and successful exerBobs. ... Tie churchwardens desire to inform the partshioners that there are eight applications to sittirgs in tbe church in excess of the number which they are able to supply. The chorchwardens suggest the desirability of the benches in the church being screwed to tits floor, as inconvenience often arises fro-n their getting out of position. They also desire te remind ihe parishioners that the parsonage g£Ql remains unpapered, and they hope that this long-delayed work may be performed during the current year. Mr Harley moved, and the Hon. E. Skhardson seconded the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which was carried. *_T_e Incumbent then thanked the Church <-Bser* and all who in various works of usefnhsMS had assisted in promoting the welfare of the parish, and informed the meeting of his nomination of Mr Tipping as churchvwden.

1 The parishioners elected Mr Souter. The undermentioned persons were elected wstrymen: —Tbe Hon. E. Bichardson, Messrs Hassal, March, Howell, Ford, Pavitt, Sandfsrd, Harley, Bell, and Parsons. , A. C. Fyfe, Esq., was elected auditor. Tbe hearty thanks of the parishioners were riven to the churchwardens and vestrymen, to Mr Harley for bis services as choir master, talk) the choir, to the auditor, to the super-H-ident and teachers of the Sunday-school, mi to the ladies who assist the incumbent in firing religious instruction on weekdays. On tbe motion of Mr Harley, a resolution was passed, thanking the ladies of the Working Society for the material assistance they had rendered to the finances of the parish, and expressing hearty appreciation of their successful efforts.

A resolution proposed by Mr March, and seconded by Mr Parsons, was carried, recommending "the vestry to confer with the incumbent, as to the desirability of introducing Hymns Ancient and Modern into the church service."

During the discussion the Incumbent stated his very decided preference for Church Hymns, the book at present in use in the eharch. He regarded it as the beat existing for publio worship and private use. In the absence of an authorised hymnal he considered it as a matter of the first importsaoeto select a book to which nobody of O-urch people felt a strong objection, and t&efact of Church Hymns being issued by tt&fjhrist-an Knowledge Society was a guaaatae that the compilation was in doctrinal httßony with the Book of Common Prayer. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairfflan, ard a meeting, characterised by much ! KS*r*sfc and good feeling, waa closed with pajer.