ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8471, 23 January 1891, Page 3

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. SEPULCHRE'S. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Sepulchre's Church was held in the schoolroom, Symondssbreeb, last night, the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley presiding. The report of the vestry pointed oub thab the chief event of bhe year had been the constitution of the new parish of St. Barnabas, which included the district of St. Alban's. The boundary line agreed upon divided the old parish into two almost equal portions, somewhat the larger portion remaining with the mother church. The vestry had every hope of a prosperous future before St. Barnabas's parish, under its able incumbent, and with its numerous and zealous workers at each of the two churches included within its area. The total receipts for the year amounted to £862 5s 4d, and the expenditure to £390 11s 10d. The income available for ordinary parochial purposes was £687 16s sd. An effort had been made to extinguish the bond and small floating debts of the parish, and £118 has been promised. When the whole of this was paid in there would be enough, with a few more contributions, to accomplish the desired object, leaving only the mortgage debt on the parsonage (£750), the interest on which, it was hoped, mighb be reduced this year. The interior of the church has been beautified by the addition of stained glass windows, one in memory of the late Mr. Edward Harker, one in memory of Captain Pierce, R.N., and two small ones in memory of the late Mrs. Glover. The number of registered male adult parishioners, after transferring to St. Barnabas those resident in that newly-constituted parish, and striking off the names of others known to have ceafed to reside in the parish, was 143. This number could no doubt easily be brought up to 150, which would entitle the parish to three members of Synod. The report concluded by stating that the hearty thanks of the parishioners were due to the Rev. Dr. Purchas, and to all those who, in their several departments, have ( contributed to further the work of God in ; the parish during the past year. The report ; was adopted. Before the election of church officers Mr. Rice remarked that he had heard it said that St. Sepulchre's was in a sense a " close borough," and that new comers were nob encouraged to take part in the affairs of the church. Let them show that this was not the case by plucing new blood in the vestry. In answer to this Mr. Gilfillan pointed out that last year no less than three out of the ten vestrymen elected were new members in every respect. The church officers were then elected as follows : — Minister's churchwarden, Mr. Cooper; people's churchwarden, Mr. J. B. Gilfillan ; auditors, Messrs. Ashton and Lawson ; vestrymen, Messrs. Choyce, Pierce, Charter, Batger, Garland, Stoney, Tanks, Cuff, Russell, and Captain Morrow.

Some discussion then ensued relative to applying a financial scheme to this diocese similar to that in force in the diocese of Wellington. By this scheme the town and country parishes are each assessed to pay a certain contribution into a central fund, from which the stipends of the clergy were paid. By thjs means the struggling country parishes were greatly benefited. Mr. Fikkok said from what he had heard he believed the scheme was a miserable failure at Wellington, and as a synodsman he would go dead against it. Mr. Choyce also condemmed it, and thought it a most inopportune time to bring it forward. Mr. Cufk and others supported the scheme, but the matter was allowed to

drop. Mr. Choyce then moved, and Mr. Cooper seconded, a resolution to the effect "That the Syiiodsmeu be recommended to press on the synod the desirability of altering the canon which made it necessary for a churchwarden to be a communicant resident in the parish." Mr. Pikrce said that as a member of the synod he would strongly oppose any such alteration. It was no use asking him to bring the matter before the synod because he would only "damn it with faint praise." The resolution was put to the meeting and lost, after having been discussed by several other gentlemen present. The Ven. Archdkacox then pronounced the benediction, after which the meeting dispersed.

ST. THOMAS. A meeting of the parishioners of St. Thomas was held last evening in th'S schoolroom adjacent to the church. About thirty were present. The report was adopted. Mr. Hamilton was appointed minister's warden, and Mr. W. Duncan, J.P., was elected people's warden. The vestry elected were the Rev. J. VV. Alloway, Dr. Walker, Messrs. Alloway, Armstrong, Austin, Duniiitigham, Knight, Michaels, Ward, and J. J. Woods. Mr. R. F. Lacon was appointed auditor. A vote of thankful recognition to Mrs. Percy Ward for her services at the organ during many years was most cordially passed. The meetiug, which had been unanimous, concluded with singing hymu (Ancient and Modern) 215, and the blessing was pronounced.

ST. PETER'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SURREY HILLS. The annual meeting of this congregation was held in the church on Monday evening. The Rev. R. Sommerville presided. The treasurer's statement showed a satisfactory increase in the revenue during the past year. The collections indicated a growing financial prosperity, although considerably short of what it was three years ago, when the congregation began to suffer, and continued to suffer, from an exodus of those whom the prevailing depression compelled to leave the district. Four members had left Auckland during the year, and one had died, while eight new members had been added to the list. There was a large increase in the Sunday-school, and great need of additional teachers. The following gentlemen were elected a committee of niangement for the ensuing year :—Messrs. Gilmer and Geddes (joint treasurers), J. G. Watson (secretary), Monnie, Gash, Finch, Bain, McMillan, Johns, Torrens, and I. Speer. A very hearty rote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Alexander Mennie, who had so faithfully and assiduously performed the duties of secretary for five and a-half years. The organist (Mr. James McKerras) and his choir were also suitably thanked for heir valuable services.