WANTED-A CURATE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3711, 21 December 1912, Page 7

WANTED-A CURATE.

j FOR THE GISBORNE PARISH. The following circular, signed by Messrs’T. Jex-Blake and Geo. J. Winter. churchwardens, has been issued to parishioners:— "Christmas once again is at hand, and the time for our annual appeal to parishioners has arrived. At Christmas for some years, your gifts have been for the support of the assistant clergy. We are sure that your generosity in the past will be no measure of what you are prepared to show this prosperous year. The Vicar has asked tor £IOO, to be devoted to the fund ; this sum should be much exceeded. The new church, completely roofed in and early in the year to lie ready for use, bears .silent witness to the impossibility of one man serving this the greatest gaiish in the diocese. "Wh#f are some of the facts:—One inan Jff expected to visit the sick; to conduct services ; to attend funerals; tepfind time for all other ministrations 0f the church required in our daily life; and besides all this to visit the parishioners in. their homes—to become acquainted with their difficulties and to provide a spiritual education for their children. \Ve have said nothing of the vast stream of persons continually coming into this very attractive district —most of whom are Anglicans—who should be welcomed and built into the Church-life of the district. Then our suburbs, with their rapidly expansive potentialities | for Church advancement and their bands of willing workers —here should be the Church nurseries carefully ‘guided and watched over by skilled hands. Here, gradually but surely, should be laid the foundations for future activities for the advance of spiritual life in the parish. Apart from this spiritual life which the Church stands for, we have nothing to check the advance and spread of materialism with its degradation of all that is highest and best in human life. It is not for us in this appeal to propound how- the parish is to lie effectually officeredPlans will be laid before you which have the approval of the Bishop and our Vicar. It- is clear that at least two curates arc required, and that as soon as they can be obtained. These must lie capable men and be adequately paid. “A stipend fund to be contributed by—(a) amounts payable annually, for which the local suburban committees should make themselves responsible; (b) voluntary annual -donations; (c) an accretion of, say, five shillings per annum to each sitting in the central church; and (d) the annual Christmas offertory in the central church and suburbs, would in our opinion adequately cover tlie requirements. We attach no' importance to this particular plan. Certainly We shall be delighted to be supplied with one that is bettor. We commend to you this question of such vast importance to Gisborne, and the responsibility of which, with the sad consequences of its neglect, we share with yon. May your gifts upon Christmas morning be worthy of you and of .your parish, and be some adequate recognition of your thankfulness to Almighty God for your prosperity and tranquility at a time when a large part of the world is darkened by., war and misery. If not able to attend on Christmas Day will you kindly forward your offerings to us, or place it in the collection at any' service on the Sunpay before or after Christmas.”