ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10059, 1 May 1915, Page 2

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

ANNUAL .MEETING 'OF PARISHIONERS.

The annual mooting - of parishioners of All Saints' Church was held lusi evening;, the vicar, Rev. 11. (J. Rosher, presiding-. There was a large attendance.

REPORTS. The annual report of the church wardens states that the new church was opened by the Bishop of the Diocese in May las;. "We are thankful to note a good increase in the number of worshippers attending the services," thov also report. Although (lie church has been opened, owing to a, debt of ij 1026 which still remains on the church it has not yet been consecrated. A special effort was made to free the church of debt liy All Saints' Day, 1914, luit owing to the outbreak of war this was found to lie impossible. We desire specially to thank Mr J. Permain for his untiring efforts in this direction. It is hoped that the existing debt will be paid off and the church consecrated by All Saints' Day, 1915. We know this is our departing Vicar's earnest wish, and we hope the parishioners will make a united and determined effort to clear the. debt. We are greatly indebted to Mr F. E. Watson for his artistic carving of the shields at the ends of the Choir Stalls, also to the Sunday Schools for presentation of a banner. Funds have not permitted the vestry to convert the old church into a parish hall as originally intended. Estimated cost is about £SO, and it is hoped that this work will be completed in the near future. This year has also witnessed the departure of Mr R. J. Stanton, who has since been ordained by the Bishop of Auckland and is working in that diocese. The position has not been filled as it is considered imperative to obtain the services of another assistant curate for the work in future. This applies greatly to the country districts, which it has been found impossible to serve as we should have liked if sufficient clerical help had been available. It is hoped to obtain the services of another assistant curate at an early date. The All Saints' Girls' Club was brought into existence this year and has proved of benefit to many. We thank all those who have worked to make the club a success, and it is hoped that many girls in Palmerston North will avail themselves of its privileges. An all-round improvement is gratefully noted in the finance. the excess of expenditure over incoine being reduced to £45 as against £IBB last year. An increase in the general offertories from £473 to £515 is acknowledged. Pew rents £350 (including £SB arrears) was collected in 1914. and under the present system of free sitting £340 was collected and £43 promised lias yet to come in. Assessments from the various sub-districts increased by £SO. The sincere thanks of the vestry are tendered to all who have worked so willingly for the advancement of the church, especially the Ladies' Guild, lay readers, Sunday School teachers, district visitors, choir. Parish magazine collectors and distributors. also voluntary labour from many willing workers in connection with the upof the grounds. The vicar (Rev. 11. G. Kosher) in his report says:—"l am confident that the Parish will give their warm support to the Vicar-designate, the llev. 11. G. Blackburne. M.A.. and will assist him to provide for the Parish an adequate supply of assistant clergy. Our most urgent need is for a young energetic priest who shall be set apart to work the country districts and their churches. Our utterly inadequate supply of clergy should make us realise how great is our debt to the lay readers, who number thirteen. If would lie quite impossible to arrange for an average of eight services every Sunday evening but for the loyal help of these faithful servants of the church. The district visitors for our parish number 52. They endeavour to represent the church in fellowship and service, and enable me to hear at once of new comers and cases of sickness and distress. But their work needs to be supplemented if the fellowship of the church is to bo generally felt. I I wish that in every street anil hamlet of ihis great parish there were those who would make it their business to give a welcome to the stranger and to take trouble to keep alive 'the family feeling' in our church life, for fellowship is the first mark of true religion, and the Church of Christ is half paralysed to-day by its lack of fellowship. We have 850 scholars in our 12 schools and 60 teachers, showing an increase of about 300 children during the past few years. This is in part due to the formation of 'Home Schools' in the more isolated districts, both of town and country. Our gratitude is due to those who thus jilace their homes at our disposal. An urgent need is a deaconess who could keep ill touch with this side of the church's work—visiting the children in their homes, cases of sickness, etc. lam thankful to notice that there are many who are regularly using the Sacrament of the Holy Communion, and also the increase in the number of those who made their Communion (it- the Easter Festival—some 638 in all. This is quite the largest number in the history of the parish. While wo thankfully recognise ihe voluntary services of the members of the Choir, there seems to bo a general need of strengthening it in quality and quantity if the Choir is to be what it ought to to, one of the best in the Dominion. No doubt this will come in time. In spite of constantly losing its members by departure, the CE.M.S. has been quietly fulfilling its mission. It has not yet become as it ought, the real centre of unity of the men's work in the parish. The All Saints' Girls' C'lub was founded in June last, and has fully justified its existence. It has a membership of 140 girls, with a committee of 12. The club has supplied a want in providing a social centre, not only for girls belonging to our own church, but for others. The Ladies' Guilds of All Saints' and St. Peter's have this year done yeoman service in connection with sundry patriotic efforts. But they have also found time and energy, as usual, to assist with parish finance, while the Melajiosian Sewing Guild, in spite of the war efforts, have courageously persevered in their missionary work. The Relief Fund shows a small balance duo to the treasurer. This year again all Baptismal Thank-offerings have been given to the New Church Fund; and the balance of the Church Improvement Fund was handed to the churchwardens to pay for the tremulo stop added to the organ.

The reports and balance-sheet wore adopted.

Mr A. Skerman, in speaking to the balance-sleet, congratulated the members on the satisfactory financial position. The experiment with the sustentation fund had turned out exceedingly well, the previous practice of renting pews being abolished. The thanks of the church were due to Mr F. Bryant for a donation of land for a Sunday School in Featherston street (applause). and also the auditor, Mr J. Mitchell. for services rendered. The Vicar, in the course of his address, said.—"l am confident that the parishioners of Palmerston will give the same loyal support to the Vicar-designate, tho Rev. 11. G. Blackbourne, M.A., which has been the happy experience of all former incumbents. He will want the help of at least two assistant clergy. Our most urgent need is for a young energetic priest who shall be set apart to work the country districts and their churches. The funds for this could easily be obtained if each of our country districts would accept some small assessment so as to raise £IOO annually towards this purpose. No doubt the near future will see the formation of a Central Parochial Committee which could go into this important question. As two clergy won't go far when there is an average of eight services to provide for every Sunday night, it is not difficult to realise bow great is our debt to the lay readers, who number thirteen. Their devoted help is beyond praise. May God bless them fur their faithful service." ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers resulted as follows .—Vicar's warden, Mr E. H. Morrali: people's warden. Mr A. Skerman; auditor. Mr J. Mitchell: vestry, Messrs F. Outran); A. 0. Buckler, 0. Monrad, G. Kendall. J. 11. Hankins, H. Akers. C. Kuhtze. A. Pickering, R. Marsack and 11. de J. ('lore. In asking Mr Morrah to take the position of vicar's warden once again, the Vicar paid a high tribute to what the former had done for the parish. lie had been energy and enthusiasm personified, and no one knew the immense amount of work Mr Morrah had done for the church. M»' Skerman, said Mr Rosher, had also

spared neither time nor energy in hjs great work for the church.

Both gentlemen briefly acknowledged Mr BosKer's'appreciative *•> V '» *

GENERAL. * The new vestry were empowered to convert the old church into a parish hall. Mr Morrah reported that the amount owing on the new church was £lOl7 15s, and it was desired to have the debt cleared by All Saints' Day (November 1 next) in order that the church might be consecrated on that day. The meeting tendered its cordial thanks to all who had helped the church and its work in many ways. He mentioned the efforts of Mr J. Permain, who had been mainly responsible for transforming the church grounds into lawn and garden. Mr Permain had also done splendid work in collecting subscriptions towards the new church fund.

Congratulations wore also extended to St. Peter's Church on the successful year which they had just experienced.