ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Evening Star, Volume 12869, Issue 12869, 19 July 1906, Page 8

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

The annual meeting of St. Matthew's Church was held last night in the school, the vicar (Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers) in the chair. There was a very large attendance of parishioners, out of respect for Mr Maris Clark, who has completed fifteen years' service a churchwarden, and to whom a presentation of a silver salver, tea set, and case of fruit knive3 and forks was made by the congregation. The annual report was adopted as follows : The principal work of the year outside ihe ordinary routine has been the purchase and erection of a peal of thirteen tubular bells in the tower. Tr late Mr John Stephenson expressed a wish that a peal should be placed there, and his widow generously gave a substantial sum to start a fund. This was followed up by the vicai's f the tenor bell and the organisation of a movement for raising funds from parishioners and citizens which covered the cost of the bells, but not all the alterations, though this will be more than met by a sum to be received later on. The belle were certified to by an independent expert to be in perfect tune, and when some defects in the hanging of two bells and perfection in ringing is obtained, they will be a valuable acquisition to the City. The church has been further improved by the erection of two additional stained glass windows—one in memory of the Revs. E. G. Penny and C. Byng, incumbents of the parish in its ailiest days, and one in memory of Mrs lames Rattray, who for many years la>ored so devotedly and successfully in aany departments of the parish work. Two handsome brass gas standards were anonymously presented, and have proved an ornament to the church, and enabled some unsightly pendants to be removed. Ttw Ladies' Gnild have again come forward with their annual donation of £IOO, and the parish are much indebted to the lady managers (Mrs Curzon-Siggers and Mrs Woodhouse) and their staff of able •workers, especially Mrs Hart and her daughters, for their self-sacrificing labor and successful management, which has resulted in their being able to render valuable assistance to the parish funds. The overdraft nows stands at £421. Against this there is yet to come a sum of some £75 from the bell fund, which will bring the overdraft to about £IOO less htan at the close of the previous year; the Ladies' Guild contribution thus being devoted to the reduction of the church renovation account of 1903. Since our last annual meeting death has deprived us of a regular and valuable vestryman in the person of Mr Edmund Cook. His genial manner and ever-readiness to help in any chnrch work has made his loss to the parish much felt. The Vestry desire to again record their sense of the untiring energy and thoughtfnl care shown by the vicar in promoting the work of the parish daring the past twelve months A practical evidence of this is in the : in-stailation of a peal of bells in the tower of th» church, in the conduct of the edifying services in the church, and the maintenance of the various church organisations. The Vestry are of opinion that bis sell-sacrifice and devotion to the work of t.ie parish is worthv of the high

falling to which he has been chosen. xh', palish are also indebted to the Rev. T Russell for valuable assistance at the •iqly Communion. The Vestry have audi pleasure in acknowledging the ready and enthusiastic response of the parishioners to the vicars suggestion to recognise the many valuable services of Mr Churchwarden B. Maris Clark, whereby at' this meeting a presentation will bo made of a salver, etc., bearing this inscription : "Presented with a sterling silver tea service, etc., by the congregation of St. Matthew's, Dunedin, to Mr K. Mans Clark on his completion' of fifteen years service as churchwarden, and in appreciation of the valuable services so cheer iully rendered by him as church ollicer and as hon. treasurer of ■u- ueot extinction l''iind: JuJy, ibu6." After the adoption of the report and appointment of cb men wardens ana vestry Jul tho ensuing year, the Vicar asked Mr Ctmrcnwaiden R. Mam Clark to accept the presentation referred to m the annual report, as a token of the affection and esteem and regard in which he is held by all the congregat.on. The vicar referred to the recipient's many qualities as a church officer, to bis kind thoughtfulness lor others, his sound judgment, his regular attendance to his duties, his untiring energy in all matters affecting the welfare of the pari hj during his fifteen years of continuous service as churchwarden, and expressed the hope of the donors that he might retain office another fifteen years. Mr Talboys, on behalf of the parishioners, endorsed the vicar's remarks, and made reference to the spontaneity of the subscriptions, all unasked, towards tho presentation. r After other suitable references from parishioners, Mr Maris Clark, who an rising to reply was greeted with prolonged applause, thanked the congregation in a choice little speech for the unexpected surprise Ucy had prepared for him that .-vening. After refreshments had been served the usual votes of thanks'to the church workers were earned with enthusiasm, and after appropriate reference had been made to the work done, votes of thanks were accorded to the Vestry, the Ladies' Guild. Sunday school teachers, Dorcas Society, organist, and choir, the verger (for his faithful and cheerfullv rendered services), tho auditor, and, lastly, to the vicar and Mrs Curzon-Siggers—a vote which w carried by prolonged acclamation, showing, as the churchwarden in proposing the same remarked, that "the vicar and his wife retained the affections of the congregation, and that no congregation could be more proud of a vicar than St. Matthew's was of it* clergyman." When the vote of thanks to the choir was proposed, the Vicar rose and made a presentation, by vote of the Vestry on behalf of the narish, to Mr T. West, in recognition of h ; s thirty years' service as a • horister. In making this and the previous presentation, the Vicar said that he did not Relieve in making presentations when people were leaving an office, hut rather in mat-big presentations whilst they were in active work, as evidence of appreciation and as an encouragement to them and others to cVtinuc their srood labors.