HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 159, 17 July 1901, Page 2

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING. A THOUSAND POUNDS RAISED IN TWELVE MONTHS. The annual meeting parishioners of the Holy Trinity Clmrc 1 is held last evening in the school ■ .1, and was fairly largely attended, . .0 Rev. Canon Webb presiding. The leport for the past year was presented by the Parishioners’ Warden, Captain Ferris, and was of a most satisfactory character. It showed that the vestry commenced the year with liabilities of .£”64, part of which was the permanent debt of .£'-’76, the whole of which has beeu swept away, and the account shows a credit balance in the bank of Til 16s 3d, and uncollected pew rents of TIS ss, making a total of about £3O to commence the new year with. The receipts from all sources amounted to £IOO7 4s Id, and the expenditure £995. The general offertories amounted to .£228 3s 9d, pew rents £lsl 9s, proceeds of fancy fair .£lB2 6s Bd, and donations to extinguish debt £274 19s, these being the chief items of revenue.

Referring to the late ovgariist and choirmaster, the report stated: “The parish has sustained a deplorable loss in the death of Mr Marr. He was a gentleman deeply respected by all with whom he had connections, and the conduct of his professional duties gave the utmost satisfaction to all, and the Vestry feel that his place will not bo easily filled. Owing to their short tenure of office they have taken no steps to fill the vacancy. They would suggest that in the adoption of this report it will be understood to carry a vote of deep sympathy and condolence with Mrs Marr, his bereaved wife.” The Rev. Canon Webb, in his pastoral letter, referred to the pleasing state of the finances, and the fact that the Church entered on the twentieth century free of debt. If the Church’s present freedom from liabilities was to be maintained it was necessary that tho ordinary revenue from pew rents, and especially from the general otl'ertoryshould bo largely increased. A District Visiting Society had been started among some of the ladies of the congregation, and had every promise of doing good work. Upon the question of church attendance, tho rev. gentleman remarked : “ Tho small congregations on Sunday are a source of great sorrow to your clergyman, and increase his difficulties very much. Some of our members wander away to other churches, and sotno have got into the habit of attending no church at all, the result being that, except on some special occasions, the attendance is very thin. This is a state of things disheartening to everyone, and the spiritual life among us cannot but sink to a very low level while it continues. It is not, however, of much good to complain of tho present state of affairs. What we really need is that every one of us, whatever his or her position in the church may be, should considor how far he or she may have neglected duty and become cold in the service of God, and then confess our shortcomings to God and ask for His grace to enable us to do better for tho future.”

The report of tho Sunday-school showed that excellent work had been accomplished during tho year. Mr W. Pettie, who moved tho adoption of the report and balance-sheet, highly eulogised the work done by tho vestry during tho year. Ho congratulated tho parish on the fact that the church was now free of debt, over .£IOOO having been raised since that evening twelve months. When such a grand achievement could bo attained, there was, he thought, little fear of them being short in the future.

Mr J. West seconded the motion, which was carried.

The Rev. Canon Webb appointed Capt. Ferris as his Churchwarden, and Capt. Winter was chosen as Parishioners’ Warden.

The following were elected members of tho vestry : Messrs J. E. Foster, F. T. Morgan, W. J. P. Gaudin, E. D. Smith, 11. King, G. A. Beere, W. G. Sherratt, and I)r Williams. Mr L. T. Symes was appointed auditor. Mr L. T. Symes urged tho necessity of the vestry doing away with what was known as extraordinary means of raising funds for church purposes. Mr Morgan thought that this was more a matter for tho consideration of tho congregation than the vestry. The members of the church should give more freely to the offertories.

Mr Pettie spoke in favor of bazaars as a moans of raising money, as in this way contributions were obtained from many persons who were not otherwise reached. Mr C. A. DcLautour proposed a vote of thanks to Canon Webb for the pastoral letter he had delivered that evening. He assured the rev. gentleman that any efforts which he (Canon Webb) made to promote the spiritual life of the Church would have the cordial support and sympathy of many members of the congregation. He suggested that steps bo taken to establish a “ Church Sunday,” by which he meant that on a certain day in the year all Church of England people in the town should bo persuaded to go to Church. They would then be able to see what their strength was ; he felt sure something of the kind could be made a great success. He thanked Canon Webb for his frank, sympathetic and helpful utterances. Mr 11. Armstrong spoke in favor of the suggestion put forth by Mr DcLautour.

On the motion of Mr Pettie, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Captain Ferris, the retiring Parishioners’ Warden. Captain Ferris in replying, expressed regret that circumstances over which he had not control, prevented him from continuing duties which had for so long been to him a labor of love.

A vote of thanks to the Sunday-school teachers and Church choir was proposed by Mr Gaudin, and carried unanimously. The meeting closed with the Benediction.