ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 6

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Mary's, ParnelL was held in the schoolroom, Scarborough Terrace, last night. There was a good attendance, including a number of ladies, the Rev. G. H. Preston presiding. The report of the vestry mentioned that since last annual meeting the incumbency of St. Mary's had been tilled by the arrival amongst us of the Rev. G. H. Preston, 8.A., to take charge of the parish, which, during the eight months that had elapsed since the departure of the Rev. G. H. S. VValpole, had been under the immediate supervision of the Bishop. The vestry would take this opportunity of thanking His Lordship lor the time and trouble which, in spite of his numerous diocesan engagements, he has devoted to this parish. The liabilities of the parish in excess of the available assets were £1184 19s 2d. This was £27 more than we owed at the end of 1889 ; but this difference is accounted for by the expenses incidental to the memorial to the General Synod for a remission of a portion of the purchase money of the Parsonage site. The Committee appointed to consider this memorial recommended that the transaction should be treated as a sale at £900 instead of £1250. The recommendation was adopted by the Diocesan Syiu, i, and will in due course be dealt with by the General Synod, in January next, and they had every reason to hope it would be confirmed. The general offertories for the year were £401 7s 7d, which was a i -ked improvement upon the figures for the past three years. The total receipts for the year amounted to £717 lis Id, and the expeduiture was £773 3s 3d. Although the loss of Mr. Trimnell at the organ was seriously felt, nevertheless, the choir had shown a decided tendency to improve, both in numbers and elficieucy, greatly owing to the zeal and ability of Mr. F. H. Templer, whose voluntary services as choirmaster have been greatly appreciated. la concluding their report, the vestry thanked Mr. M. J. Gay for many useful and handsome gifts during the past year. These include the present chancel screen and the clergy stalls, and a new altar frontal, with hangings to match. To the Sunday-school teachers, district visitors, and the choir, we arc also much indebted for their helpful services; and we also desire to express our thanks to .hose members of the Working Men's Society \ ho continue to give their gratuitous services a.' udesmen.

>!••. Lush referred to an item in the new chui h account, " Lent to parsonage account, £35 k\ Gd," aad asked where was the security "or this amount? The various funds should no 1 -. be mixed up. tie knew of a case where the he'd f n- 1 »f a certain church had been appropriated for the payment of ordinary re\ mac. When the bell came to be built he aid not know where the money would come fioii.

Mr. G. 8. KissliniJ said that this was not merely a question of accounts. Certain moneys had been contributed for a new church, some of which had been expended upon a parsonage. Clearly this was a misappropriation of the money. They could not be too careful with church accounts when they knew what had recently taken place. The funds given by subscribers for a certain purpose should not be used for any other. Mr. Dkwes pointed out that £350 had been raised on the bonds of certain gentlemen to be spent on tile parsonage and the church. There was practically one account for both. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. The following church officers were elected lor the ensuing year:— Minister's warden, ewsley; people's warden, Mr. M. J. Mr. T estrymen, Captains b'raser and ClayOav: vcssis. Dewes, Cheeseman, C. F. *nn. M. Bourne, W. H. Churton.G. S. KissThomas H. Drama, and Taylor ; auditors, Major Tisdall and Mr. O'Hara Smith. Considerable discussion took place as to the best means of raising money to pay off the debt on the church, and also with regard to payment for seats. Mr. C. F. Thomas urged that those present should form themselves into a committee to collect money either by weekly subscriptions or otherwise to pay off the church debt. .Mr. Lusu said that in the words of a certain English bishop " the Church of Knglind was getting too confoundedly respectable." He submitted that as soon as practicable all the seats should be made free. lie remembered when the seats of St. Paul's were being allotted by Bishop Selwyn, a certain high army official wanted the best seats to be given in proportion to the amounts contributed. " Yes, yes," said the Bishop, ami there was a poor widow who c*st in two mites. Would she have no place in the church?"

Mr. Kissling said that no further liabilities should be undertaken until the present debt had been cleared off. With regard to the proposed alteration in the payment for seats, lie said that if it was their intention to run the church as a money-making concern, and to realise as much as possible out of the seats, let them be put up to auction, according to the American custom. Mr. C. F. Thomas : If the church is run as a money-making concern it is certainly a failure in that respect. It was finally agreed that as early as possible all the seats be made free, and that those present express themselves prepared to do all they could to help the vestry t to clear off the debt on the church.

The Waipu Jockey Club ball on the sth inst. concluded the festivities of the holiday season, there being about two hundred couples present on that occasion " tripping the light fantastic toe," to the splendid musio supplied by Messrs. G Leslie (piano), J. L. Mcßae (violin), and R. VVoar (piccolo). The honours of " belle" might fairly be divided between Miss G. McLean and Miss Isbister. The committee of the Waipu Agricultural and Pastoral Association met on Saturday, the 10th inst., and elected Mr. Jas. McLean as secretary, vice Mr. J. R. McLean, re-signed. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. J. R. McLean for his services during the past two years. It was decided to hold the show on the 25th March next, and several members of the committee promised to donate special prizes. It was also suggested that the members of committee should endeavour by solicitation to obtain a many special prizes as possible, so that the show might be made even a greater success than it has been in the past. Several ladies were added to the committee, the ladies having rendered effective aid in the past, particularly in connection with the fancy work and industrial exhibits. (Jadbuky's Cocoa.—" A Cocoa of the highest degree of Purity and Nutritive value."— I Health. [