ST. SEPULCHRE'S CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9404, 10 January 1894, Page 5

ST. SEPULCHRE'S CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Sepulchre's was held last evening in the schoolroom, Symonds-street. There was a large attendance, Archdeacon Dudley presiding. The report of the vestry for the pasb year, which was read . and adopted, was of a very favourable character. It stated that the income from the general offertory had been larger during the present year than f?r several years, though the income from seat rents was again less. The collections at the offertory for the Home arid Melanesian Missions and the Country Clergy Fund had been larger, but the total collections for extra-parochial purposes had amounted to less than those of the previous year. Reference was made to theappointment of the Rev. Percy T. Williams, A., Jesus College, Cambridge, as curate of the parish ab a stipend of £180 per annum, half the amount being contributed by the parish, and half from the Selwyn memorial fund. The organ fund had grown to £639 6s 2d, of which £608 16s 2d was paid up. It was time that a vigorous and final effort was made to bring this fund up to £800, the amount required before it was prudent to order the new organ. The memorial pulpit was in hand, and would, it-was hoped, be in position before the end of the year. There was a difficulty in obtaining suitable pieces of some of the woods to be used in carrying out the design. During the pastfew months a church club had been formed. The branches at present contemplated were a gymnasium and a mutual improvement society. The Church Gazette had a circulation of nearly 270 in the parish. The Sunday-schools continued in statu quo, under the band of faithful teachers and workers. The choir continues efficient, but reinforcements of good voices are always acceptable. The clergy had received much help from those ladies who visit, and from those who collect for various objects in the parish. Grateful mention was made of the faithful services rendered by the Rev. A. (*. Purchas and the lay readers, and other valued church workers. . • The balance-sheet presented showed the receipts for the past year to have been £913 17s lid, whilst the expenditure was £915 6d, leaving a bank overdraft of £1 8s 7d. At the end of 1892 the overdraft stood at £36 93 Bd. The statement of receipts and J expenditure of the Sunday-school showed a credit balanee of £13 15s. _ '■ The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. The Veil. Archdeacon Dudley appointed Mr. Henry Cooke as < his churchwarden, and Captain Morrow was re-appointed parishioners' churchwarden. The following gentlemen were elected as vestrymen : Messrs. Charter, Choyce, Garland, Harker, Hooker, Hudson, Jackson, Stoney, Tunks, and J. L. Wilson.' Messrs.' A. Ashtori and f /Jj; Lawson.' were appointed auditors. ;; • * V'" '-' : Archdeacon Dudley thanked.the parishioners who through the churchwarden's' had presented him with a.^^ purse of sovereigns towards his travelling expenses to Hobarb. He stated that he would, probably leave on Saturday and he hoped to be back early in February. k j -(i. * t ;■>_! <■ , n.-i t »Mr. Jackson moved "That it was desirable that in all church matters equal rights of voting should be •conferred on ■ men arid Women. ■'< , . -* .. - .. - ? .After a short" discussion the motion was lost. >, s /-'I,, , , " " jjj r •=::; The usual votes of thanks terminated the proceedings,; ,' ' ' " ?