GOOD PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 96, 23 April 1940, Page 16

GOOD PROGRESS

ST. ANNE'S, NORTHLAND

• Good progress in all departments of the work of the church was reported at the annual meeting of the parishioners of. St. Anne's Church, Northland, held in the Sunday school room last night. There was a large attendance over which the vicar, the Rev. J. E. Ashley-Jones, presided.

In the course of his annual report the vicar referred to the world situation, and said the record of the foul deeds being enacted day by day impelled the urgent prayer that wars might cease. Such would never be until the Christian spirit and influence dominated the world. It was puerile to ask: "Where is God?" God had spoken and given the remedy. "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with ail thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul and with all thy strength, and thy neighbour as thyself." Men mostly had replied that they could not do this. Real peace, said Mr. AshleyJones, could not exist without godliness. Man left to himself could not surmount the Devil or evil. * If men did not want God, He would not force Himself on them; He just left them to themselves, and they saw the result in the world today.

The work of St. Anne's-Church had been one of progression in all its spheres, both spiritually and financially, the vicar continued. They had had an admirable vestry, who had taken ,a living interest in the office. He thanked all who had assisted the work of the church throughout the year, and said he was deeply grateful for the great kindness in the way of hospitality, thoughtfulness, and loyalty that ne had received throughout the year. It was inspiring and most encouraging. Regret was expressed ,at the loss through transfer to Nelson of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Comber, who had been two assiduous workers for the church, also at the death during the year of Mr. R. M. Grant and Mr. J. Rutter, two of the founders of St. Anne's. All three of the original trustees of the church were now deceased, Mr. Ashley-Jones said, and Captain F. A. Macindoe and Messrs. W. Platt and F. A. Cotterell were appointed to take their places. Congratulations were extended to Mr. Edmund Jones, the people's churchwarden, who was in his ninety-seventh year, for his continued earnest interest in the work of the church. Reference was made to the fact that several old scholars of the Sunday school were serving with the Forces. The number of communicants was shown as 250, an increase of ten for the year. The number of participations at Holy Communion had been 1375 as compared with 1239 in the previous year. There had also been increases in baptisms and marriages. The following officers were appoint-ed-—Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. F. A. Cotterell; people's churchwarden, Mr. Edmund Jones; deputy peoples churchwarden, Mr. E. A. K. Swiney; vestry, Captain, F. A. Macindoe Mesdames Adams and Honsa, Miss Higgw, Messrs. W. Platt, W. Honsa, S. Gerard, A. Rastall, and O. A. Welch; auditor, Mr E. D. Good. Authority was given the trustees oi the hall to raise the necessary finance to renovate the hall and Sunday school.