ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 4 May 1917, Page 4

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Mary's Church was held in the Parochial Hall last evening. There was a very fair attendance, and the vicar (Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen) presided. The churchwardens' report summarised a history of the happenings in the parochial district during the twelve months, such as the erection of the parish hall, the opening of a church day school, and other matters. It referred to a possible rearrangement of the boundaries of the district, saying: "A suggestion has been -made to form a new parochial district with Normanby as the centre, including Okaiawa and Matapu, and taking from the Hawera district Fraser road, Meremere and Ararata. This would leave Hawera a much more compact parish and materially reduce travelling for the vicar, which is very much to be desired. The vestry has approved the scheme, which however needs the consent of Synod, and would not be brought into operation until more clergy are available. The balance-sheet showed that the ordinary revenue had consisted of offertories £299, subscriptions £324, subdistrict contributions £87, and sundry items £69. As against this total of nearly £800 the ordinary expenditure had been salaries £377, general expenses, repairs, etc.. £192. Collections and subscriptions for missions, diocesan organisations, etc., had amounted to about £140; and there had been spent on the Cassell memorial reredos and sundry church furnishings £173. For the school building fund £338 had been raised by flower showj subscriptions and offertories. The new hall, together with land, etc., had cost £3247. The overdraft at the beginning of the year was £85; and the debt at the end of the year was made up of debenture loan £2621 and net bank balance £414. The vicar, in speaking to the bal-ance-sheet, said the year, notwithstanding the extraordinary expenditure, had been a very satisfactory one. The amount received in subscriptions was very gratifying, and showed that the decision to do away with the pew rents had been justified. Mr W. A. Parkinson reminded the I parishioners that the only sources of income for meeting general current expenses were (1) offertories and (2) subj scriptions, and that as they had now |to meet a new interest charge of £180 a year it would be necessary to well I maintain this revenue to help in order { that the finances might be kept in a satisfactory condition. Mr Cowern supported Mr Parkinson. Mr W. D. Powdrell said he was rather optimistic as to the future. The finances of the church were on a satisfactory footing, due in a great measure to the energy and popularity of the vicar, and he believed there would be no trouble in maintaining the annual subscriptions at £300. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Sunday School. The report of the superintendent of the Sunday School (Mr J. W. Beechey) made reference to the new spacious schoolroom. It also said (inter alia): We have now 195 children on the roll book for the senior school, with a staff of 18 teachers, and 75 children in the infant school, with a staff of six teachers (Miss Stannard as superintendent), which is doing splendid work. The Sunday morning church attendance under the supervision of Mr Leighton is now improving, 84 girls and 60 boys being on the roll book, out of that number there being 57 who have not missed attendance this year. We are now fairly well staffed for teachers, but could do with two or three more men. The library is also doing very well well under the able management of Mrs Leighton. She has procured a> lot of new books, and several friends have very.kindly given some, for which we thank them and the children. The scheme which we adopted re the promotion of the senior scholars to be teachers is now working very well, and will, I feel certain, be the means of keeping them members of our Church and furthering God's work. The prosperity of our school does not depend upon the teachers and scholars alone, but I would say it depends more 60 upon the parents. By coming regularly to church themselves they are setting their children a good example, and they should see that their children come to Sunday School. Our many thanks are due to Mrs Grant Cowen and Miss Bates, who so kindly fulfilled the role of superintendents during the occupation of the Railway Social Hall by the infants. In conclusion, I wish to thank all the teachers for their loyalty and support which is always so readily and willingly given, and Mrs j Howlett, who presides at our organ every Sunday, not forgetting Mrs Leighton, who gives much time to the library. The vicar spoke warmly of the good work being done by Mr Beechey and the staff. They had in attendance 100 more children than two years ago, and it was hoped it would still grow. The report was adopted. Vicar's Address. The vicar, in his address, referred to the erection of the parochial hall which, h e said, would serve the parish for many successive generations. The new building was the envy of a good many outside parishes, and already he had received numerous requests for particulars of it and also for th e plans, from other parishes, which were desirous of erecting a similar hall. The new building had enabled them to take a forward step in connection with the education and care of their children, and at no tune in the history of the nation was the care of the young people of greater consequence than it was at the present day. The coming generation were going to remodel and reform /the world, and much would depend upon their training during the coming years —the most important in their history. Personally he felt very grateful that they had been able to take this important step, as they were enabled to bring their children under Christian influence, and he felt that no education was coml plete without a solid basis, and that basis could only be built upon the Rock °f-n hnst- f . The Vast year had still been lived under the shadow of the war, and their roll of honor had, 'unfortunately, considerably increased since the last annual meeting. They honored those who had gone, and they aver thought of those serving. Many of their parishioners were now serving bheir country, and in this connection he specially referred to Mr H. D. Caplen, a valued worker of St. Mary's for many pearsi, and also to Major Bishop, and said the parishioners congratulated him ipon his promotion. There wero many rthera who were missed, and he trusted ;nat they would all be spared to return °iF Vr i£ eir meIlOTr«l help as tV result of their vast experience. He reerred to the various memorial pervices ield during the year, and said they jver cherished the memory of the alien, while they remembered, too. the rives and mothers who had given their lear ones in the mighty cause of liberty md justice. During the year they had \ad two visits from their' Bisho p—both risits were of great help, and an inniration to the: parishioners. These isits were always looked forward to rith pleasure. One of the great pleaa.!

ures of his ministry was tho hearty cooperation he had received from all the parishioners, and he had never worked m a parish where there was so much unity and friendship as that which existed m the Hawera parish. This had certainly made his work very happy. Another forward move during the year was the inauguration of the Girls' Friendly Society's Club rooms in the old schoolroom \ which would be a great boon and blessing to strangers comingito the town. The services in the country districts had been conducted regul larly; he felt at times that he was not adequately carrying out the work of the paa-ish, and wished he could do j more, but he had received the loyal assistance from his lay readers, who had rendered magnificent service, and this. "had made his work much lighter. Concluding, he trusted that their work would be richly blessed in the coming, year as it had been in the past, and that by example and service, they would be able to bring many into God's kingdom. (Applause). In the course of some further remarks, he mentioned that the number of communicants last year was 2300, an. increase of 565 compared with the previous year. There had been 71 baptisms, 12 marriages, and 30 funerals during:, the year. On the motion of the vicar, a hearty vote of thanks to all church workers for their services during the year, specially mentioning the lay readers,, the churchwardens, members of the vestry, choirand choirmaster- the organist and: deputy-organist, the Sunday school; superintendent and teachers, the Girls' Friendly Society, C.E.M.S., Mr H. S.. Elliott (for keeping the church books), and Mr W. G. White (auditor). This was seconded by Mr Were and. carried. In nominating M- W. Graham as. vicar's warden for a further term, the^ vicar spoke in warm praise of Mr Graham's regular visits to the hospital on_ Sundays^ which, he said, were greatly appreciated by the patients. Mr Parkinson said he had much plea-, sure in proposing Mr E. B. Bates &&. people's warden for the ensuing year. Mr Bates had filled the office admirably, and had deserved the gratitude oi' the parishioners for the way he carried, out his duties. The vicar endorsed Mr Parkinson's^ remarks, and said the parishioners were; to be1 congratulated in having Mr Bate&. as their warden. The motion was carried unanimously. Messrs Graham and Bates briefly replied. On the motion of Mr W. Cowern,. seconded by Mr Powdrell, last year'svestrymen were re-elected, with the addition of Mr W. G. White, vice M, JCawsey, who did not seek re-election. The parishioners' representatives or* St. Mary's school committee were reelected. Other Business. ; The question of franchise was dismissed, and on the motion of Mr Cowern, seconded by Mr Powdrell, it was> unanimously resolved: "That in the opinion of this meeting no resolution in,, connection with the franchise will besatisfactory in this parish unless it includes the ladies of the parish." It was further resolved, on the motion of Messrs Parkinson and Cowern, that in the opinion of the meeting,'ail persons over 21 years of age who make* a declaration that they are members of the Church of England shall be entitled to vote at the annual meetings ofr parishioners. These resolutions will be considered at. the Synod. On the motion of Mr Powdrell, seconded by Mr Cowern, it was agreedthat it be a recommendation to the* diocesan authorities, through the vestry, to increase the stipend of the vicar to .-C4OO per annum. The mover and seconder dwelt on thefact that the present stipend, £300, wasquite inadequate remuneration for the work done, considered merely as a matter of business; and expressed their belief that it was due to Mr Cowen's capabilities for work and organisation that the present position of affairs from various points of view was so satisfactory.. Mr Cowen held their esteem and love,, and they should treat him fairly. Otherspeakers took the same view, and themeeting cordially endorsed ,the remarksby applause. Mr Caplen gave notice of motion forthe next annual meeting, that in futurethe vestry be not re-elected en bloc. It was not a good thing in general principle; he said. The question of making applicatio* tor the converting of the parochial district into a parish was discussed, ancV it was agreed to allow the matter te« stand over until next year. Mr E. B. Bates was elected synodsman, and a hearty vote of thanks wafi; passed to M r N. Caplen for his past, services. Mr Caplen said he regrtted. be could not accept the position for a. further term. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the vestry that in futuretbe expenses of the syn'odsman he paid„ The meeting closed with oraver.