ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, PONSONBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6000, 9 February 1881, Page 6

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, PONSONBY.

PARISHIONERS' SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the parishioners of All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, took place last evening at 7.30 o'clock, in the schoolroom adjoining the church. There were about sixty gentlemen and forty ladies present. Mr. D. F. Evans announced that a note had been received by the churchwardens from the incumbent, Rev.' E. N. Bree, who would not be present, and it was addressed to the Chairman of the meeting. He would therefore move that Mr. T. H. Hall take the chair. Mr. Calvert seconded the motion, but Mr. Hall declined to act. Mr. McKiN'STREY proposed that Mr. H. Calvert preside, he being minister's churchwarden. Mr. Hall seconded the motion, and it was carried. The Chairman - said the following note had been put into his hands, which he would read to them : — Ponsonby, February Bth, ISSl.—Dear Sir,—Xot feeling equal to endure a repetition of the pain and humiliation imposed upon me at the last vestry meeting, I beg respectfully to decline being present at the meeting of the parishioners this evening. I feel very confident that the flock over whom God has placed m"e overseer will, as they have always done, do me full justice, and that they will defend me from harm, if harm is intended to me. Sympathising with every ditliculty that attends the parish, and considering how unnecessary is the present alarm as regards its financial position, I would point to a modft of adding to its prosperity, both spiritually and temporarily, by affording me an assistant curate, towards whose stipend I mil gladly subscribe £50 per annum, should the parishioners enable me to do so by leaving my present stipend untouched. Should any effort be made at this meeting to provide means to liquidate the actual delicieney of income up to Slst December, 18S0, which amounts only to .£77, I feel myself bound to bear my share of the burden to the amount of £5. —I have, etc. E. ]N\ Bkee. The meeting had been called owing to a financial difficulty in which the vestry was placed. An estimate had been made of the receipts and expenditure for the current year, and it was found there would be a deficiency of about £176. Of course the figures were only approximate. The question before them was how that deficit could be met, and go arrange the difficulty in the best possible way. Mr. Jakixs requested the Chairman to read the resolution passed at the vestry meeting. The Chairman read the resolution, -which was as follows :—" That a probable estimate of the assets and expenditure for the year ending 31st December, ISSI, be laid before a meeting of the parishioners, to be held on Tuesday, the Sth instant, to explain the exact position of parish matters, and to devise ways and means to meet the deficiency." Mr. Payxe proposed to settle the matter at once, by putting their hands into their pockets. If nineteen gentlemen gave £5 a-piece, he would make the twentieth, and the smaller contributions would complete the sum needed. The nineteen were not forthcoming. Mr. Hall read a paper, giving an historical narrative of the erection and progi-ess of the Church since its establishment, showing how the liabilities had been incurred, or had accrued, and the accumulated property held by the Church against such liabilities. Mr. Bailey desired to know what was the probable estimate of receipts and expenditure tor the current year. Mr. Evans read a detailed statement of estimated receipts and expenditure. According to the statement the total receipts for the current year would be £512 2s 3d, aud the expenditure £6SS 0s 4d, showing a deficiency of £170 4s Id. To understand the financial position of the church it would be necessary to go back for a period of five years. In April, 1575, the vestry borrowed £160 to purchase the allotment adjoining the church, of which amount £20 per annum should have been repaid to date, leaving still £120 owing, of which £30 was required to be paid as sinking fund before 31st December. At the commencement of October, 1576, the vestry borrowed £100 to defray alterations to school buildings, leaving same rate of sinking fund as above : but only £10 had been paid off, leaving £«.)6 still owing, of which £30 was required to ha liquidated before the end of December. Coming down to August, 1577, in the minute-book would be found a statement of the financial condition of the church, showing at least £140 required to meet present pressing claims and at the same time an estimated deficiency of £60 —far short of meeting current expenses. At the beginning of April, IS7S, the resolution to borrow £100 was carried into effect, and at the same time the vestry arranged with the Standing Committee that the sinking fund on the two loans above-mentioned should remain in abeyance till April, ISSO, and which is now due. In July, IS7S, the parsonage was built and £400 borrowed to complete it, of which amount £20 was due this year; and in August, IS7S, the organ was purchased, and £150 borrowed, of which £90 required to bo repaid during ISSI.

A lively disenssion ensued, partly of a recriminatory character, as to the way in which these liabilities had been contracted, and the blame attached to the respective l>arties concerned. On the one hand it was urged that the church had ample assets against these obligations ; that the district was rapidly progressing, and'that with unity and duo liberality on the part of the parishioners, there need be no difficulty in overcoming the monetary troubles of the church. On the other hand, it was held that there was a steady and growing deficit ; that the claims of the current year could not be met by the cm-rent year's income ; that • the offertory had fallen off £20 per annum, notwithstanding the increase in the population of the district ; and that as the church could not pay ibs way, some steps were imperatively necessary to be taken to meet impending and. pressing, claims. The following , gentlemen took part in the discussion :— Messrs. McKinstrey, Jakins, Lusher, Upton, Devore, -Ring, ' Masefield, Hall, Bailev, Langsford, Jenkins, Burrows, Payne, and Evans.. .'.■'•

Mr. Bailey proposed "That a subscription list be got up to defray the present pressing liability of £SO."

- Mr. Payne seconded the proposition. Mr. Burrows- suggested that a bazaar should be held at Christmas, but the proposal fell to the ground. / : The Chairman threw out, by way of suggestion, that £50 should be subscribed in the room, which would cover the sinking fund claims to date ; that a committee be formed to raise that balance, £70, before the end of October, to meet the claims' of the sinkiiif fund due in May ; and that efforts be made to raise the offertory to £7 a week. It was painful to carry round the plate on Sunday, and spend ten minutes in the vestry in counting up the threepenny-bits. Mr. Bailey's motion was carried unanimously.

On the list being handed round £40 Is was promised. This included Mr. Bree's £5 subscription.

The Chairman trusted that the promises would be fulfilled during the ensuing week, so that the vestry could meet the clainis now due. One step had just been taken, another was now necessary to meet the liabilities falling due in May.

; Mr. Howard proposed that the ladies and the vestry form a committee to take further steps, by house to house collection or other means, to liquidate the debt.

: Mr. G. Cm-iCKKHAS-K seconded the motion, 'which wns carried.

. The following consented to_act on the committee : — Mesdames Boardman,' Howard, Pirie,' arid Miss Hill. On the motion of Mr.- McKinstrey a vote: of thanks to the Chairman was carried by ■ acclamation. , ■■-~.-■