ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8474, 27 January 1891, Page 6

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. PAUL'S.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's Church was held last evening, the Rev. C. M. Nelson presiding. There was not a large attendance. Mr. Wildman read the report of the vestry, which showed that the total . receipts for the year amounted to £514 14s 7d, including a balance of £6 Is 9d, and that the expenditure stood at £523 3s 3d, which left a debit balance of £8 8s Bd. The liabilities of the church amounted to £340 7s lOd. The revenue from general offertories was £259 15s 9d, and for seat rents £126, as against £152 for the previous year. The seat rent account was one of the most unsatisfactory parts of church finance. The Sunday-school attendance has slightly fallen off", owing to wet Sundays and continual changes in the teaching staff. Last year's report expressed the opinion that the work of .building the new church should not be delayed. There was more reason to urge it now, for fear lest in the case of the old historic parish of New Zealand the proverb may be realised, or at least be in the course of realisation —" Out of sight, out of mind.' The temporary church system had been going on too long, and the parish should revert to its pristine position. The building fund now amounted to over £5000, £1000 more than that which was received in compensation for the demolition of the old building, which sad work everyone now regretted. Daring the year the parish had been bequeathed the sum of £100 by the late Mis. O'Brien, formerly Mrs. J. Smith. The report concluded with an expression of thanks to the Sunday-school teachers, members of the choir, and other church workers.

Mr. J. Gordon said he desired to call the attention of the meeting to one or two matters, the first of which was the site of the proposed new church. He had spoken to tho Mayor on the subject, and that gentleman expressed the opinion that he hardly thought the Council would be prepared to purchase the site of the old church, whatever they might be ready to do with regard to the sale or exchange of the site in Wei-lesley-street. A bill would have to be passed by the House of Representatives to sanction either a sale or an exchange. From what he had gathered he believed it was the opinion of the parishioners as a whole that the church should be reinstated in its old position. It was a subject for grave consideration that the parish was going to the bad at the rate of £100 a year, the present liabilities amounting to £346 7s lOd. The church could not possibly be extricated with its present expenditure, and, moreover, the debt on the parsonage was again accumulating. There was not a sufficient number of heads of families in the parish to cope with the financial difficulty. lie did not. find the times a bit better, although he had often heard that such was the case. As far as his own income was concerned, he found them much worse. It was not fair to themselves or to their minister to continue in the present way, feeling satisfied that tlioy were not able to meet their liabilities. The salaries of the minister, organist, and verger were all short, and several special offertories which had been collected had not yet been paid over; and yet this must be done. Mr. S.wvkins said that tho parishioners of St. Paul's took less interest in the affairs of their church than the parishioners of any other church in tho city. Tho work was carried on in a great measure by non-resi-dents.

Mr. WhitljKy thought that a circular distribute! through the parish, pointing out the state in which the. church stood, would do a deal of good. lie admitted the parish was in a bad state, but not worse than many others. Mr. Cukystai, urged that a deputation of the parish should wait upon the parishioners. Such a course had been adopted with success in Ireland after the disestablishment of the church there.

Rev. C. M. Nelson said that although St. Paul's had not exactly been disestablished, yet the comparison was very apposite ; for they had been practically disestablished when their church was . pulled down. However, he was thankful for the plain way in which those present had spoken. The accounts were made to appear worse than they actually were owing to a large item which should have appeared in the balance-sheet of the previous year. He wanted good, energetic workers to help him.

The balance-sheet was then adopted. The ofiicers for the ensuing year were elected as follows :—Minister's churchwarden, Mr. W. S. Whitley ; people's churchwarden. Mr. J. Gordon ; vestrymen, Messrs. Wildman, Tisdall, Butt, Craig, Benle, Blackmail, Kidd, Sawkins, Chrystal, and Stan well;, auditors, Messrs. Tennant and J. Coates.

Mr. Nelson considered the appointment of auditors one of their gravest duties, considering that they had been so sadly shocked recently by what had been revealed in certain quarters. Trust funds should be more carefully audited than at present. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Mrs. Nelson for her untiring efforts for the goAd of the church during the past year. The proceedings closed with prayer. EPIPHANY. The annual meeting of the parishioners of the Epiphany Church took place last evening. There was a good attendance considering the unfavourable state of the weather. The incumbent, the Rev. T. Farley, presided, and gave, an excellent address to those present on their duties as churchmen, and the advantage to all concerned in minister and people working heartily together. The secretary, Mr. Tibbs, read the vestry's report, which touched on the incumbency of the parish, the Sunday-school, state of the church buildings, and the sustentation fund. The offertories amounted to £226 16s lOd ; the sustontation fund £55, while the expenditure was £258 4s, and the liabilities £870. Speaking roughly, the income was sufficient to meet all charges. Mr. Templar, in referring to the accounts, said a meed of praise was due to Mr. Watson and his coadjutors for what they had done in connection with the sustentation fund. The reports were adopted. The incumbent nominated Mr. Lighfcfoot aa minister's

warden, and Mr. Watson was nominated as people's warden, both gentlemen being re-elected. The following gentlemen were elected as vestrymen : —Messrs. Simpson, McKean, Bain, Brownberger, Newbegin, Tibbs, Taylor, McElwain, Saunders, and Walters. Dr. Walker and Mr. Speight were elected auditors. Throughout the proceedings were of a most harmonious character. At the close light refreshments were handed round, and social conversation indulged in.