ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1893, Page 4

ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

* The annual meeting of the parishioners oi St. Paul's, Thorndon, was held in the Churchroom, Tinakori-road, last night, the Rev. T. H. Sprott, Incumbent, in the chair. The Chairman delivered on address on the work of the Church during the past year. He regretted that so many people left the Church during the Communion service, but be approved of having the Communion and a sermon as a service by themselves on at least one Sunday in the month. There were upwards of 80 children on the roll of the Kindergarten School, and he believed that if the school were better known the numbers would be largely increased. The school was notself-supportinif, bntrequired between £7Q and £80 a year by way of voluntary subscriptions to enable it to be kept afloat. Last year the contributions amounted to only £\l .'is, which left a debit balance of nearly .610. This state of things could not go on. Ar Chnrch-peoplo they raised an outcry, and passed resolutions with regard to tho secularity of onr State system of eduoation, but the resolutions were habitually ignored, simply because they wero not regarded by other people as being sincere. The people of the parish, dhonld endeavonr to make some little" sacrifice, or for ever after, as honest men and women, hold their tongnes regarding secular education. The Dorcas and Belief Society had done good work, and deserved hearty support. A Missionary Guild had been started, to hold an annual sale of work on behalf of the Maori and Mehinesian missions. A branch of fhe New Zealand Mothers' Union had been started, and a third new organisation was the Social Clnb "for lads, which was a conspicuous success, and now showed a membership of over 100 lads of 16 years and upwards. In tho parish they bad a plague-spot— a oentre and source of moral evil to the whole community—and how rightly to deal with the matter had caused him deep anxiety. Ho thought they shonld seek to obtain from one of the great English Sisterhoods a lady of training and experience who would undertake the work. Ho bad written to England

in enqniro upon whut conditions the services >t mvli iv Udy rnulil lip obtained. Tho 'h.urmau concluded by leininding tho M ishioncr-i that tho md thoy all bad in view was no le&s tlmu the hastening of God'n 'vimrdom. Tlio report mid Imlnucc-sboet — the fcub»tunco of which appeared in yesterday's Post— were adopted on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. P. Allen. The Chairman .-aid that Mr. E. B. Brown had consented to act as Incumbent's Chnrohwarden. Mr. G. Allen proposed the re-eleotion of Mr. F. Barraud as Parishioners' Churohwarden. This was seconded by Mr. L. Stowe, and carried. The election of vestrymen resulted in the return of Messrs. L. Stowe, F Alien, G. Beethaui, C. P. Powles, G J. Clapham, R. B. Gore, C. D. Barraud, E. J. Reid, J E. Smith, and G. Allen. M«ssrs. V. L. M. Janiieh and C. T. Richardson wore re-elected Auditors.