Annual Meeting of St. Paul's

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 14 July 1885, Page 2

Annual Meeting of St. Paul's

«. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's was held last evening in the Churohroom, Tinakori-road, and was attended by about 40 persons. The Rev. John Still oooupied the chair, and opened the proceedings with an address on parochial matters generally. He said it must not be considered that the holding of services was the chief work of the parish minister. He had already oooupied the position of incumbent of St. Paul's for six months, and yet he had not been able to pay a vißit to all his parishioners. The parish was a coach of considerable size, and it must not be expeoted that one horse oould drag it along very quickly. An assistant ourate was required for St. Paul's, and he had written home to Bishop Abraham asking him to look out for a suitable man for the position. When the assistant ourats arrived he (Mr. Still) had no doubt that things would go on better than they were doing at present. Ho thonght Bomo effort should be made to give the choir boys a thorough religions training, and that the parishioners should tako some action in regard to temperance reform. He had a certain amount of admiration for Mr. Booth, feeling that that gentleman was doing a certain amount of good ; but he objected to go on the same platform with him, because he considered Mr. Booth twisted the Bible about to suit his own purposes. He thought that the parishioners of St. Paul's Bhould go on the lines of the Church of England Temperance Society, established several years ago. There were two sections in that organisation — one composed of members who drank temporately, and the other composed of teetotallers. He also thought they should do something for the sailors. If somebody would submit a definite proposal for reaohing the seamen, he had no doubt whatever that immediate action would be taken. Continuing his remarks relative to the existence of an evil in the vioinity of the ohuroh in Mulgrave-street, Mr. Still said that if it oould not be got rid of altogether, it should certainly be driven into a corner out of the sight of the ohildren who were growing up in the neighbourhood. At present it adulterated the whole neighbourhood. He did not expeot that the evil oould be wiped out altogether, but he certainly thought something might be done to render it lobs conspicuous than it now was. When the assistant curate arrived the services at Wadestown and Kaiwarra would be conducted more frequently than at present, and it was also hoped that services would be regularly held in the Churohroom, Tinakoriroad. Mr. Still appealed to the gentlemen present to assist in Sunday sohool work He stated that the want of male teaohera was muoh felt. The rev. gentloman suggested the establishment of a parish magazine as a means of increasing the interest of the parishioners in parochial matters. Mr. Still concluded his address by thanking the parishioners for the manner in which Mrs. (Still and himself had been received amongst them. On the motion of Mr, George Allen, seconded by Mr. Kenneth Wilson, the annual report and balance-sheet, which were taken as read, were adopted. A report on the three Sunday sohools waH presented by Mr. O. P. Powles. The report stated that matters in connection with the schools were not so satisfactory as they might be, owing in a great measure to the want of interest taken by the male parishioners. On tho motion of Mr. Powlos, seconded by Mr. Pennefathor, the report was adopted. Mr. K. Wilson was re-appointed minister's ohurchwarden. Mr. D. Anderson, jun., was re-alected people's churchwarden for the soventh timo, and a vote of thanks was passed to him for his post services. Tho following were appointed the veetry for the ensuing year :— Messrs. Barraud, Powles, Levin, Wilson, Smith, Allen, M'Koller, Stowe, Clapham, and Hewitt. Messrs. E. W. Lowe and C. T. Richardson were re-olected auditors. Tho usual votes of thanks brought the mooting to a termination.