ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9320, 25 March 1889, Page 11

ECCLESIASTICAL.

THE PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND. The Anglican Gene; il Synod, Dunedin, on Tuesday evening, the 2tith February, proceeded to t.he election of a Primate to succeed Bishop Harper on his resignation. The voting was by ballot, there being no nomination or speeches. The canon requires that if no result follows the first ballot a second shall be taken, and, if necessary, a third. Should there still bo no majority of each of the threo orders, then the senior Bishop becomes Prima to. After silent prayer tho voting papers were distributed, and on beintr collected tho result) was as follows —■ Bishops. Clorgy. Lnitv. Auckland _ 1 3 6* Nelson.. „ _ 3 & 12 Wellington _ _ 8 11 6 Dniuxlin .... 0 1 0 There was thus no election. The voting papers were again distributed, and on being collected, the result was : ° Bishops. Clergy. Laity. Auckland _ „ 0 l 1 Nelson.. „ ... 2 0 18 Wellington .... 5 23 9 Again there was no election. A third ballot was taken, when the result was : Bishops. Clergy. Laity. Nelson.. — — '2 7 9 Wellington ~ 4 18 14 Auckland .... 1 0 0 There being a clear majority of the throe orders in favour of the Bishop of Wellington, he was then declared to be duly elected Primate. YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. _ The annual meeting of the mombers of the Young Men's Christian Association was held on the 22nd March at tho buildings, corner of Wellesley and Albert streets. Mr. E. Bell presided. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET, Mr. T. Buddle, hon. secretary, read tho annual report, which stated that the year just closed had been a very trying one financially, and in common with that of other institutions, the income of the Association had suffered. The usual agencies of the Association had, however, been maintained in as good a state of efficiency as tho means at the disposal of the committee would allow. The benefits offered to young men for a very small annual payment; were not availed of to anything l " like tho extent which the committee felt they had a right to expect. The reason for this it was difficult to arrive at, and the committee would be glad if any hitherto untried means could be suggested which would result in securing the membership of a large number of young men who hold aloof from the association, but for whose special benefit it mainly existed. The work of the Association in the various departments was fully mentioned in the report. Mr. Whitelaw, hon. treasurer, read tho i financial statement, of which the following J is an abstract — General Account.: Subscriptions, £220 183 ; lecture receipts and conversazione, £130 lis 4d ; rents of shops, halls, and rooms, £33(5 103; sundries. £7 17s Id; balance transferred to floating debt account, £,"300 15s 2d : total, £1005 lis 7d. _ Dr.: Salaries and wages, £232 13s (id ; taxes, insurance, gas, and water, £180 14s 3d: advertising, printing, lecture and conversazione expenses, £56 18s; read-ing-room and library, £54 14s sd; interest, £400 Ss 7d ; sundries (including gymnasium expenses), £(35 2s lOd : total, £1005 lis 7d. Floating Debt Account.— Cr. : Donations, £149 8s Sd ; collections Sunday classes and annual meeting, £73 9s lid balance, £1635 17s : total, £185S 15s 7d. Dr. : Balance per last statement, £1.549 0s 5d ; balance of general account transferred, £309 15s 2d: total, £185S 15s 7d. Sunday Evening Services.—Cr.: Balance from hist year, £4 17s 4d ; collections and donations, £100 2s 4d : total, £170 193 Bd. Dr. : Re lib of hall, £159; hymn books, printing, advertising, &c., £10 183 2d; balance in hand, £1 Is 6d : total, £170 19s Bd. Total assets, £10,550: total liabilities, £6708 17s. Mr. J. L. Wilson* moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. He remarked that the Association was doing a great work, and their thanks were due to Mr. Hill, the good effect of much of whose work they would never bear of, in the amount of evil, freethought, and looseness of life which had been prevented. The Sunday evening meetings had also been blessed. The Association was generally looked upon all through the community as an agency for good, and he hoped that the coming year would be an even better one' than those which had passed. Mr. W. Callender seconded the motion. He thought it gratifying that in these depressed times they had gone to the bad only to the extent of £86. The report . and balance - sheet were adopted. OFFICERS. Mr. T. Boodle mentioned the services j rendered to the Association by the Rev. J. S. Hill, who had spared neither time nor talents in forwarding its interests. He | proposed the re-appointment of Mr. Hill as President. (Applause.) This motion was seconded by Mr. Shaldcrs, and was unanimously agreed to. The following is tho list of vice-presi-dents Right Rev. Bishop Cowio, Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell, Revs Dr. Hoojier, E. Best, J. Chew, P. Smallfield, J. K. Simmonds, J. D. Gilmore, H. J. Lewis, R. F. Macnicol, A. J. Smith, T. Spurgeon, W. Tebbs, B. L. Thomas, R. S. West, Sir W. Fox, Messrs. F. Battley, F. G. Ewington, D. Goldie, Colonel Haultain, Dr. Kendordine, Messrs. J. Lamb, J. Newman, R. B. ! Shalders, J. L. Wilson, J. Wisomon, and E. Withy. The other officers are —Hon. treasurers : Messrs. J. Buttle and J. Whitelaw. Hon. secretaries: Messrs. T. Buddie and A. Knight. Executive Committee : Messrs. E. Bell, J. Br id go water, W. Callender, W. 11. Draffin, T. E. Corkill, J. Douglas, H. Edmistpn, C. Gilmore, C. W. Hemery, Dr. Knight, Messrs. E, A. Buttle, W. C. W. McDowell, S. Parker, and E. J. Moore. On the motion of Mr. Ewington, seconded by Mr. Bkakknrig, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Douglas for his arduous and valuable services during the year. The first meeting of the Ministers' Association, since the recess, 'was held on the sth March in the Tabernacle, when the office-bearers for the next six months were elected. The Rev. J. S. Hill was unanimously elected' president ; Rev. .G. B. Monro, vice-president Rev. J. A. Taylor, hon. treasurer; and Rev. B. L. Thomas, hon.. secretary. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring president, tho Rev. R. F. Macnicol, and the office-bearers for their untiring labours during the past six months. At the Devonporfc Wesleyan Church on February 27, there was a very pleasant reunion of the parishioners and others, held as a wolcomo home to the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury and his wife, who have lately returned from a trip to England. The quarterly conference of Sundayschool teachers, held under the auspices of the Auckland Diocesan Sunday-school Board, took place on the 21 at March at All Saints Schoolroom, Ponsonby. The Rev. W. Calder presided, and those present included His Lordship Bishop Cowie, Archdoacon Dudley, and other clergymen. A model loeson waa given to a number of

children by Mr. Wood, a Sunday-school teacher, who, in the discussion which followed, was generally complimented upon his method. The Rev. J. S. Hill read a fa per on " Some Principles of Biblical interpretation," giving rales to be observed in the interpreting of passages of Scripture. The newly - erected Roman Catholic Church of tho Assumption, Onehunga, was opened on March 10, Pontifical High Mass being offered at eleven o'clock a. m. by His Lordship Bishop Luck. The Very Rev. Father O'Neill, of Sydney, preached at both the morning and evening services. Tho quarterly Waikato Archidiaconal Conference was held at Te Arolm on March 7, in St. Mark's Church. There were present: The Yen. Archdeacon Willie (chairman), Revs. Jas. Marshall, M.A. (Te Aroha), Dr. Hooper (Cambridge), G. Boler (To Awnmutu), 0. 0. Biggs (Hamilton), and lay representatives from several districts. Tho proceedings began with a short service, after which the question of Sabbath observance was brought up for discussion, tho subject being introduced by the Rev. Mr. Marshall. An animated debate ensued, but it terminated without any action being taken. The Yen. Chairman brought forward a matter which he said ho had iiitended on a former occasion to bring before the Conference — the ox if ting marriage laws, and tho evils arising therefrom. He dwelt upon the subject at some longth, and moved that more public notice should be given of intended marriages than the present law provides, and that this Conference suggests that the marriage law should be altered, so that tho names of persons intending marriage should be published in the newspaper of the district where they reside. Tho motion was carried nan. con. It was also resolved that the chairman be requested to bring the matter before tho Diocesan Synod at its.next meeting. The lateness of the hour prevented the consideration of other subjects of importance. It was decided that the next ordinary sitting of the Conference shall bo six months hence, at Te Awamutu. A well-attended and pleasant social gathering took place on the 7th March m the Franklin Itoud Primitive Methodist Church. After tho usual tea, Mr. T. Booth, as senior steward, road the accounts for tho quarter, which showed a total income of £87 Os 6^d; total outgo, £92 17s 9d; balanco on the wrong side of £5 17a 'J.V.I. This, however, was raised at the tea and meeting with a further sum of £2 10s, which was handed over to the treasurer of the Ladies' Sewing Meeting. Mr. T. Maynard, in a few appropriate words, presented to Mrs. C. E. Ward a beautiful Russian leather album, as a token of kindly regard from the Franklin Road ladies on her departure for Wellington. Mr. J. H. Jones, in a short but very neat spooch, presonted the Rov. C. E. Ward with a pair of gold spectacles, as a memento of kindly regard from the friends of the Richmond Road Church. Mr. Ward replied in an j appropriate speech; and, as Mrs. Ward was " unspeakably thankful for tho kind tilings said and the beautiful gift given," thanked tho donors on her behalf. They had spent three pleasant years in their beautiful city, and would never lot-get tho very kind friends they were leaving in Auckland. The twelfth annual mooting of subscribers to the Auckland Scripture Gift Association took place on the st.h March, at the depot, High-street, when the report and treasurer's balance-sheet were read and adopted. The recoipts amounted to £'252 lGs 4d, and there was a balance to credit of £3 Is 3d. The following were elected members of committee for ho ensuing year : —Messrs. John Douglas, A. Thorne, A. C. Caughey, J. Longmore, S. Rout, J. Wiseman, T. A. Shackelford ; secretary, A. Thornc ; treasurer, S. Rout. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. C. A. Jonas and S. G. Rountreo for auditing tho annual accounts. The Presbyterians of Ellerslie have reason to be very much gratified with the large attendance (estimated at nearly two hundred) and general success of their soiree held in tho church there on March 12. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Howard, Wall, and Williams, the Misses Wall (2), and Lawrence, who, with their assistants, were kept hard at it until nearly oight o'clock, when began a general bustle, clearing away, to prepare for tho entertainment to follow. At this, the Rev. G. B. Monro presided. A lengthy and well-selected musical and literary programme was gone through. A deputation of ladies, representing the many friends of the Rev. C. E. Ward, in Franklin Road Church, willed upon him on the 13th of March, and presented him with a first-class Gladstone travelling-bag, with the necessary requisites, as a small expression of their very kindly regard to himself, and appreciation of his utterances during the past three yews, with a prayer that the Master's richest blessing might rest upon and abide with him, Mrs. Ward, and their interesting family, in Wellington. On March 13 the Rev. Dr. Hooper was presented at Cambridge with a purse of sovereigns prior to his departure for Auckland, where the Rev. Doctor lias been appointed to the care of one of the suburban churches. There wore crowded congregations at the Salvation Army Barracks on March 17 at all the services, owing to Mrs. C. J. Hutchinson " farewolling" prior to leaving for Brisbane, Queensland, to engage in rescue work, undei Capt. Ted Wright, formerly of Auckland. At the evening service there was not standing room. Among those on the platform were : Sir William Fox (who presided), Captain Ross, and Mr. W. Hodge. The annual harvest thanksgiving service rendered by the Weslcyan Church, Manukau circuit, was held in the Otahuhu public hall on the 12th March. This was also made the occasion of holding a soiree, having for its chief object the affording of an opportunity for the members of the Wesleyan Church and Christian friends collectively to bid farewell to the Rev. Rainsford Bavin, who, in obedience to the Church authorities,is, in a month's time, to enter upon a new field of labour in Sydney. Mr. C. C. Fleming presented Mr. Bavin with a very neat, framed illuminated address, accompanied by a purse of sovereigns, and in doing so inane rererence to the esteem and affectionate reg rd in which Mr. Bavin was hold by the church members throughout th« circuit, and entertained great_ expectations for his future career. Mr. Bavin, in responding, thanked tho donors for their substantial gilt, but more especially for the love and esteem which it represented in the hearts of his people.