CHURCH MEETINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 799, 23 April 1910, Page 13

CHURCH MEETINGS.

ALL SAINTS, KILBIRNIE. On Thursday evening the annual meeting of parishioners of tho Kilbirnie and Miramar parochial district was held in O'Donnell's Hall, and was largely attended. As expressed by onespeaker, there was a "breezy optimism" in evidence- which augurs well for the future of tho parish. The Rov. H. G. Blackbumo's address made reference- to the recent establishment - of a branch of tho C.E.M.S., a Communicants' Guild, Bible-classes for girls and youths, the coming Mission of Help, and other matters of general interest. The vicar also outlined a scheme, which was enthusiastically adopted by the meeting for tho. building of a brick church (to take the place of the present church-, room) to accommodate about 350 people. The scheme included the enlargement by 100 sittings of the present room. In furtherance of this scheme, tho bishop has given £10, and at the meeting promises totalled some £150,

including £20 from Mr. Easspn, of Kilbirnie. ,Straight-out giving was advocated. . ■ ■. .' .. ~ ~ Votes of,thanks to the. late vicar, tjie Rev. J. A.M'Nicklej to Mr. Hayward, for the use of the Maraiiui Room;' to |ho"d'rgiriißt,;/Mr. ~,C. " Gaby',;; to. ;, Mis,s Heath/.organist at Worser Bay;,'"to Miss. Howe, organist at Miramar;" to the Sunday-school teachers, and generally..■to"!'all workers, were • reoorded. A vote of condolence with Mr. Herbert Gaby, now resident in England, on the sudden death of his wife, was passed, the audience standing. ■' ' . •■' Mr. G. T. Taplin, clergyman's warden, arid Mr. F. Philpot, parishioners' warden, were reappointcd. The vestry elected , were:—Messrs. Whitcombe, Christie, Seville, Chappell,- , Farnell, Joriea, Palmor, Easson, ■ Tobin, and Flux;,.auditor, Mr. F. W. Barnett. .. ■ At the close of the business meeting,: supper was provided by the ladies of the parish, and.this gave.the vicar an opportunity of (becoming better acquainted with his parishioners. In a pastoral letter to the churchpeople of the paroohial district of Kilbirnie, and , Miramar,. the Rev. H.. G. Blackburnoj tho vicar, states:—One cannot, look around at. the rapidly-in-creasing population without being impressed by tho fact that there is a great future ia front of this parish. Let us all seek by earnest prayer and personal service,for the Master'to take our part' in the great work before us. From' the General. Mission k> New Zealand-we hope for great things in the way of spiritual awakening and tho extension or. Christ's Kingdom. But this depends to _a very great extent upon the way. in which wo prepare for it beforehand, and I appeal to you with,great earnestness, one and all, to do jour very best by prayer.and organisation to,make this mission a blessing to yourselves and all around. Tho time has most clearly arrived when we should havo a church worthy of 60 large a parish, and not only a church-riom. I beb'eve that there, is a general,desiro for this, and I am therofore bringing before you, with the approval of the vestry, a scheme 1 for building a brick church, which shall be a worthy offering to God, and at the same time meet the needs of this district in the way of awommodation.! Looking around the districts, the congregations at Worsor : Bay are encouraging, ,and the attendances during Lent and. at , Easter were very good. At Miramar there has been.a great falling off, owing to various circumstances, but with tho building of the church-room .in a few "weeks' tiino, there is every hope of a change for the bettor;, and wo then hope to h'ayo service overy Sunday instead of fortnightly or ■ monthly; Tlie Sunday-schools at Kilbirnic, Worser Bay, Miramar, and Maranui are all flourishing, and our warmest thanks are duo> to tho splendid bund of teachers who have carried on this self-denying work so efficiently. ... ■.. The churchwardens' roport, for the year ending March 31, states:—The receipts for tho year show a marked increase, and considering that the district was without a pastor for five months we must congratulate the supporters of tho Chinch. Tho expenditure has been sionicwliat heavy, but happily tho larger items arc not recurring. It is satisfactory to note a decided increase in offertories for mission .work as compared with that of last year. For Bomo considerable timo Miramar has been passing through a poriod of depression, but it.is pleasing to note that Church , matters ■in .that district will soon bo on a sound footing, whicli' is largely duo to the energetic secretary and treasurer, Mr. 0. T. Bell, with the 00-oporation of tho vicar. Our Worser Bay friends havo as usual done great work towards the help of the district, and our especial thanks are accorded to them for their loyalty and support. .

falling off in receipts from rental of tho Parochial Hall, and ,a slight shrinkage in subscriptions and donations. This docreaso is partly accounted for by tho fact that there havo been no entertainments .held during tho j-ear and no lectures—the proceeds of which havo in past years tended to servo tho receipts. The balance of pew rents and subscriptions duo amount to £31 10s.,.and it is hoped that this sum will shortly be received. A piano has been purchased for tho Parochial Hall al a cost or £30, of this amount £13 Is. having been provided by , the sale of the old ono. Tho annual flower show was held in February, and was mo6t successful. A sum of £14 being the surplus over oxpenses, was handed by the Flower Show Committee to the vestry. This amount it was decided to expend upon painting and repairs to the Parochial Hall, a work that is urgently necessary. The vestry desire to place on record their hearty appreciation of this most welcome donation. A notable event of the year, and one that it is anticipated will have far-reaching effects, "is the establishment in Kar,ori of a branch of the Church of England Men's Society, a brotherhood that in other places has proved itself a real help to the Church. The sketch plans of the new church

have been approved, and it has been decided that tho material to bo'.used shall be oameratod concroto,.':and.,tho external woodwork of the .tower to he of jarrah, thus ensuring a building that it is hoped will prove- immune-from.tho offects ,pf 'a possible earthquake and therefore .alM , 6'st.''iiiilest'r;ucSin'lp, The amount 1 at present available' for this work.is :£1285, which it is. anticipated will enable the vestry-to commeiicoi tho new building as' early as November next. In tho meantime members of the workjng committee of tho C.E.M.S. aro clearing tho ground, and hope to have it roady by the timo it is required; Tho churchwardens and vestry have to thank all those who have in any way helped on the work of the church during the year, more. especially the lay readers, choirmaster, choir, , organists, auditor, tho superintendent and teachers of tho Sunday School, and tho Decorators' Guild. .

Tho. vicar, in his address, referred to tho recent formation of a branch of the Church of England Men's Society, and hoped the result would bo to tho advancement of the spiritual welfare of the district. Also that the ,lime had come when a move forward should be made with'tho new church. .'/'■[■

The following officers wero olected:— Vestrymeii, Messrs. H. Cook, J. Vf, Henderson, A. G. Henderson, Eaglo, Sunley, Andrews, and Shortt; churchwardens, Mossrs. R. Oaldwell and W. P. Newcombe; auditor, Mi. C. I. ■Dasent. ■ ■ • ■ ... . . •

•■ Messrs. Monagh'an and Sunloy moved that there bo no system, of pew rents adopted in tho new church. ■ After a long, discussion it was rosolved tol adopt the following amendment: "That this annual meeting of parishioners of ,St.. Mary's Church, Karori, recommend to tho. vicar that a. meeting of parishioners be called by him not lator than, the .second week in : November next ior- the purpose of discussing,' and, if found advisable,, adopting and carrying into effect, the principal offree seats from the opening of the new church." ..'■'■.