CHURCH MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 7

CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. THOMAS'.

The annual meeting of St. Thomas' Church was held on Thursday evening in the schoolroom, Uhion-street, the vicar, the Rev. Wm. Du Rieu, presiding. The report of the vestry stated:—The stipend paid has been £150. To this should be added what does not appear in the statement, the sum of £25 ss, paid in lieu of rent, " making in the whole £175 ss. For the raising of -this latter sum the vestry is chiefly indebted to Mr. Wilkins and Miss "Cole. Miss Harrison and Mrs. Raynes, assisted by other ladies, placed at tho disposal of the vestry, as the result of a Christmas tree, a sum of about £20. There has been desire on the part of some to see the church lighted with incandescent burners, but until more subscriptions are available the vestry docs not sec its way to make tho alteration. The Sunday-school has continued its work, and much thanks are due to the teachers who assist in the work. The choir lias been well trained" by Mr. Arthur Boult, to whom sincere thanks are due— singing has been correct and the attendance regular. The Band of Hope, or C. K'.T.S., under the guidance of Miss Cole, lias done useful work. It is at this moment in recess, but will resume shortly. The long due loan of £150, owing on account of the ground, has been recently paid off by St. Matthew's, in pursuance of an arrangement authorised by the Diocesan Synod many years ago. It is desirable that the property bo now vested in that body corporate—the diocesan trustees. The report was adopted. Mr. J. J. Woods was reappointed vicar's warden, and Mr. W. H. Armstrong was elected people's warden. Messrs. Suggate, Baylcss, Chappel, Cummane, Bundle, D. Dunningham. T. Dunningham, John Watts, Joseph Watts, and D. Walker were elected to serve on the vestry. Mr. A. Allows.? was reappointed auditor. On the motion of Mr. Armstrong a small committee was appointed to carry out improvements in the lighting of the church. Votes of thanks were accorded to Miss Walker (late organist), to Mr. and Mrs. Boult (in connection with the choir and organ), to Miss Harrison, Mrs. Raynes, Mr. Alloway, Miss Cole, and other church members.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE. The annual meeting of the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was held last evening in St. Sepulchre's Hall, Burleigh-streot. The Rev." Geo. A. Carver presided and there was a fair attendance. The annual report, which was read and adopted on the motion ot Mr. Harker seconded by Mr. Cooke, stated:—lt will he within the memory of parishioners that the last annual report of the vestry was presented bearing the signature of the late vicar, Archdeacon Dudley. His lamented decease occurred a few days after the meeting of the vestry at which the report was drawn up, and it was considered advisable that the report should be issued in its original form. The feeling of the great loss the parish had sustained was expressed in a formal resolution passed expressing sympathy with Mrs. Dudley and the members of her family. Subsequently, at a special meeting of parishioners convened by the churchwardens, i*. was decided to place in tho north transept of the parish church a stained glass window in memory of the late vicar, the subject chosen being the Transfiguration. Arrangements were made with the Rev. Trevor Evershed to take full charge of the parish until the end of the year. This term was extended until the arrival of the new vicar. The vestry desire to express their high appreciation of the work done by Mr. Evershed during his connection with" the parish. In accordance with the law of the Synod, tho parochial nominators—Messrs. Choyce, Harker and Smith—remained in office. These gentlemen, in conjunction with tho diocesan nominators—Canon Mac Murray and Mr. Batger nominated the Roy. George Albert Carver, of Wagga Wagga, who, having accepted the position, arrived in Auckland on February 3, Mas instituted to the office of vicar on February 4, and was welcomed by the parish at a conversazione on February 11, the Rev. A. G. Purchas presiding. The thanks of the vestry are tendered to tho Rev. A. G. Purehas for his valued help in the Sunday services, to the lay readers for their ready assistance, also to the district visitors, whose work in the parish continues to bo highly appreciated. The proceeds of a policy on the life of Archdeacon Dudley, effected by the parish, amounting to £653 18s, now forms the capital of St. Sepulchre's incumbents' endowment fund. The amount has been invested in the names of the trustees—Messrs. Ratger, Garland and Harker—so as to secure an income, which tho vestry lias decided shall be paid to the widow of the late vicar for life. The vestry are glad to report that the negotiations for the exchange of sites are approaching a satisfactory completion. The resolution of last meeting has been given effect to by borrowing on l>ond from the diocesan trustees the sum of £750 to pay off the mortgage on the vicarage site. The choir numbers 25 ladies, 17 men, 16 boys, total 58. More voices are needed, especially altos. There are 31 teachers and 406 scholars on the Sunday-school roll. The average attendance of scholars is 2*l, and of teachers 26. During the year there have been 92 baptisms, 31 confirmed, 24- marriages, 3447 communicants at - 121 celebrations of Holy Communion. The amount required to place the Dudley memorial window in the church is about £300. Donations amounting to £249 have boon received, leaving a balance of £51 to be provided. A most important subject which the vestry desire to lay before parishioners is the need of a curate to assist the vicar in his parochial duties. In times past a. special fund has been provided to secure payment of the necessary stipend, and the incoming vestry will, no doubt, consider the question of reviving this source of income. The financial statement showed an overdraft of £39 13s 3d. The total expenditure was stated at £1718 13s sd. The receipts included the sum of £812 10s 5d for collections for general purposes, and, £99 6s 4d for collections for special purposes. The parish hall account showed a credit balance of £25 2s lid, and a liability of £100, being unpaid portion of parish loan. The Sun-day-school account showed a credit balance of £34 16s 7d, and that of the Symondsstreet schoolroom account a credit balance of £7 8s sd. The incumbent's endowment fund balanced at £681 5s Id.

Mr. Geo. J. Harkcr drew attention to the fact that notwithstanding there had been extraordinary expense incurred during the year, the overdraft had teen reduced from £73 lis 8d to £39 13s 3d. On the motion of Mr. Choyce, seconded by Mr. Coles, the financial report was adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows Minister's warden. Mr. Geo. J. Harker; parishioners warden, Mr. W. Kavll: vestry, Messrs. H. Cooke, C. Hudson, H. N. Garland, 0. J. Tunks, 1. Charter, Dr. Roberton, Carlton Hay W. Hooker, Captain Morrow and John Batger: auditors, Messrs. E. D. Ashton and J. Lawson. Mr. V. Kice deplored the lack of interest displayed by the conjugation in the meeting, and pointed out that 1+ candidates nominated for the vestry were nominated by the 1* male members of the congregation present. He thought that the vestry should circulate a printed copy of the reports and recounts among the parishioners on the Sunday prior to each annual meeting, together with a notice inviting them to' be present at the meeting. Mr. Bridgewater moved in this direction, and Mr. Coles seconding, the motion was carried. The vicar, at the. conclusion of the business, expressed his gratitude a.6 the kindness and willing help he had received from the. parishioners. He thought that the assistance of a curate would enable many opportunities in the work of the parish to be taken advantage of. He felt that he would never be able to exercise the influence that the late archdeacon had, but he asked for the hearty co-operation of the officers and congregation.

ST. LUKE'S, MOUNT ALBERT. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Luke's Anglican Church. Mount Albert, was held in the Parish Hall on Thursday evening. The vicar, the Rev. W. H. Wilson, presided. The statement of accounts showed that the financial condition of the church was very satisfactory. The receipts of the general church account amounted to £129 12s; expenditure £125 3s 9d. The not receipt" of the Ladies' Working Guild, £43 133 Id; expenditure, roofing vicarage, etc., £40. Total receipts, £173 5s Id; expenditure, £165 3s 9d. The attendance at the morning and evening services has showed a steady increase, and the number of scholars attending the Sundayschool has also been considerably augmented. Special votes of thanks were passed to the Ladies' Guild for the handsome sum realised for roofing the vicarage, etc; to Mr. Webb for his gratuitous and able services in organising and conducting the choir (which has been augmented by 15 new members), and it was decided to recognise Mr. Webb's services in tangible form later on; to the organists, Mrs. Drawer and Miss Kerr-Taylor, for their gratuitous and faithful services; to the choir for attendance at tho practices and services; to the Sunday-school teachers for their self-denying and faithful services and regular attendance; and to the lay readers

for valuable assistance given, especially during the time when "there was no vicar in charge. Mr. J. .May was appointed vicar's warden, and the following officers elected: —People's warden, Mr. A. B. Wright; vestry. Messrs. E. Barker, G. B. Drower, 0. Grosvenor, W. 11. Martin, H. Miller, A. W. Page, V. Kerr-Taylor, and C. Willis; . auditor, Mr. H. Miller.

CHRIST CHURCH, WHANGARET. The annual meeting of the parishioners of Christ Church, Whangarei, was held in Cubitt's Hall, on April 21. There was not a very large gathering, as tho night was overcast and cold. The Rev. L. I*. Cubitt presided. Reports were received from the vicar, the vestry, choirmaster, superintendent of Sunday-schools (through the chairman), trustees of the parsonage trust fund, also balance-sheet and report from the Building Committee. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to all church workers. The following were appointed as a vestry for the ensuing year;— People's warden, Lieutemant-t'olonel Goringi; vicar'* warden, Mr. Ewing; vestrymen, Captain Clark-Walker, Messrs. Dee. Hicks, Moody, Lupton, and Higginson. Mr. Comes was recommended as superintendent of the church yards, Mr. Cidpau was recommended as collector, and Mr. Christian was elected auditor. After tho business of the meeting was over, those present were entertained by the vestry to a social evening, the music and singing being provided by the members of the choir.—[Own Correspondent.!