The Pulpit.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 244, 22 July 1876, Page 17

The Pulpit.

ST. PETER’S PARISH. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Peter’s Church was held in the Ghuzneestreet schoolroom on Monday evening at eight o’clock. The attendance was very fair. The Ven. Archdeacon Stock occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, The annual report was read as follows : “The vestry again thankfully report the satisfactory condition of the parish. “ At the annual meeting of last year it was resolved that the parish should guarantee the payment of the annual interest, £6O, on £750 to be lent to the new district of St. Mark’s by the pension fund. This fund, raised from the fees payable at marriages, &c., provides pensions for the widows and orphans of clergymen in the diocese, and gives aid to the clergy in sickness or distress. In consequence of this loan the new church has been satisfactorily completed, and the parish, helped in old time in its need, has been thus enabled to help others. “ The vestry recommend that a sum of £25 should be paid to the Wellington Benevolent Institution, which has charge of any suni3 given for the relief of the poor of the city. “ The wives of the members of the building committee have determined to hold a bazaar in aid of the building fund. Contributions in money, materials, or other gifts, will be gladly received by the lady stallholders. Notwithstanding the relief given by the erection of St. Mark’s, the present church is still inadequate to the wants of the parish. Many applicationstfor seats cannot be supplied. The vestry desire to thank those who have interested themselves in collecting subscriptions for St. Peter’s rebuilding fund. They are glad to be able to report that the sums promised amount to £1262 2s. 6d., of which £503 Is. has been paid, and is bearing interest. A complete list of the subscriptions promised and paid is attached to the report. The vestry warmly urge upon the parishioners the necessity for replacing the present church by a larger and more suitable building. “ The vestry thank the choir for them hearty and most valuable services. The comfort of the choir has been secured by lighting the choir sittings with gas. “ The vestry would also thank the members of the Amateur Christy Minstrels for their pleasant concert given in aid of the building fund.

“ They would also thank the Sunday-school teachers for their self-denying services. Their reward is found in the constant and large attendance of the children, the attendance averaging nearly 200. The number of teachers is fourteen. The school had contributed this year £ll Bs. 9d. to the Melanesian Mission. A further sum, £1 65., has been received since date of report. “ The Penny Bank continues to be valued. The vestry, as trustees, hold £216 ss. 2d. to the credit of the bank. In the past year, £269 l‘4s. 6d. has been received from 337 contributors, and £219 13s. 10rl. paid out. Since August, 1872, £853 Bs. sd. has been deposited, and £648 12s. sd. withdrawn. “ The use of the school on one evening in each week has been granted by the vestry to a lodge of the Good Templars. “ The agreement with the Education Board ends on August 30 of this year. The Board proposes to renew the old agreement on the same terms as before, on the condition that the necessary repairs to the school be effected. The vestry recommend that such proffer should be accepted. The Board takes the entire management of the school, except that the first half-hour in each day is given to religious instruction. Any minister may enter the school at that time to instruct the children belonging to his church ; and any parent can require that his children may not attend the school until after this half-hour. The parish retains the full use of the school on each Sunday. This plan has succeeded well since its adoption three years ago, and seems to solve the difficulty some profess to find in combining religious and secular education.

“ The receipts from the pew rents are less than those of last year only because a sum of £lO5 Bs. 6d. has not yet been received. This sum will be presently collected. “ The vestry gladly note that the whole amount received as offertories in the past year is larger than that of 1874-75 by £46 12s. 5d.; and that the special offertories, for church and outside the parish, are larger than those of the past year by £l6 12s. 3d. While providing for its own wants, the parish has thus shown itself to be not unmindful of the command, * Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.’ ”

Mr. Sheath proposed that the report be adopted. Mr. Didsbury seconded the motion, and remarked that the balance-sheet displayed a most satisfactory state of things in connection with .the parish. They had, as shown, £ll3 in hand, and also £lO5 arrears of pew rents, which he believed would be realised to a very large extent. The offertories had this year exceeded those of last year by some £2O, and the special offertories had been more successful than last year. Indeed everything displayed _a condition of prosperity in connection with parish affairs. Mr. Dixon asked whether the vestry would be in a position to place £IOO towards the funds for the erection of the new church ! Archdeacon Stock replied to the effect that there was in reality nothing else upon which to expend the money in hand at present. Mr. Sheath said it might be gratifying to Mr. Dixon to learn that there was at present a balance in hand of £142, although to the end of the year the vestry could only show a balance of £ll3.

It was peinted out to Mr. Dixon that the question he had raised was not in order, the present business being the consideration of the adoption of the report. A discussion then arose on the question of the connection between the Education Board and the Church schools.

Archdeacon Stock explained the position in which the school stood to the Board, and stated that the Education Board had applied for a renewal of the agreement by which they had taken over control of the school. The vestry, he stated, were inclined to renew it, although they desired at the same time very strongly to take the schools into their own hands. The Education Board, he might mention, had not carried out their agreement, not having kept the school and the fence in a thorough state of repair, and the vestry therefore would distinctly point out to Mr. Graham, Secretary to the Board, that a renewal of the agreement could only be sanctioned on the understanding that the Board fulfil theirs to the letter.

Mr. Marten would like to see a condition embodied in the report before it was adopted, to the effect that prior to any agreement being entered into, the school and fence should be put into thorough repair before the end of next August. It was decided, on the suggestion of Mr. Didsbury, to make a special resolution of the conditions suggested by the last speaker. The report was adopted, and afterwards Mr. Didsbury was appointed minister’s churchwarden.

Mr. Rous Marten was appointed parishioners’ churchwarden for the ensuing year. He returned thanks in suitable terms.

The following gentlemen were appointed a vestry: —Messrs. Thos. Kebbell, Robt. Hunter, Edward Pearce, Edward Anderson, W. E. Cheesman, Rev. T. S. Parritt, W. Whittem R. S. Ledger, E. Morrah, and A. B. Sheath. The auditors, Messrs. Bishop and Bethune, were re-elected, a vote of thanks having been passed in their favor on the motion of Mr. Sheath.

Mr. Marten then read a letter from Mr. Graham, Secretary to the Education Board, as follows:—“Rev Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Board, to subjoin copy of a resolution passed at a meeting held on the 28th ult.: — ‘ That the thanks of the Board be conveyed to the respective vestries of the churches of St. Peter and St. Paul, for their liberality in granting the use of their schoolrooms in the past, and that they be respectfully requested to allow the present arrangement to be continued.’ ” The following letter had been addressed to Mr. W. Sheath by Mr. Holmes, head master of the Ghuznee-street school :—“ Dear Sir, —Rumor states that the schools are to remain under the management of the Education Board. I beg to suggest that should any rearrangement be

entered into the Board’s attention be drawn to clause 2 —‘All necessary repairs of buildings and fences to be executed by the Board. Hitherto this has not been carried out. I wrote strongly to the Board last Christmas, stating x-equirements under this head, namely, 1, anew fence wanted ; 2, school wanted painting ; and 3, the original room wanted re-flooring. I received for answer, the Board had no funds. In March last I again referred to the state of the buildings, and was informed that the schools would be given up, so nothing has been done. During the whole twenty-two years I have had charge of the school it has never been in such a condition. All the Board has spent upon it was, in March, 1573, two new rooms were erected, costing £195 ; and at Christmas, 1874, £7O worth of new desks, which really are their property. The fence really must be attended to. Its present condition makes the school and church appear as if no one took any interest in the matter.” It should be understood from this that all the Board had done was to add certain accommodation to the school when they first took it over, and to have certain desks constructed, which were their own property. But they had not spent one single penny in repairs of any description whatever, although they paid no rent for the school. He regarded the excuse of poverty in this case as illegitimate, inasmuch as the Board had expended a considerable amount of money in repairs to other schools under their control. He moved, therefore, that it should be an instruction to the vestry not to enter into any fresh agreement with the Education Boai'd with regard to their school xxntil it had been put in a thorough state of repair, in accordance with the original agreement.

Mr. Roxburgh seconded the motion, which was carried.

This concluded the formal business before the meeting. Mr. Marten spoke of a change in the hymnal used in the English Church in Wellington, and as an improvement upon the “ New Zealand Hymnal,” suggested the adoption of “ Hymns Ancient and Modern.” He regarded it as the best they could use, although it had, he admitted, some slight drawbacks, and he was satisfied the general opinion was that that book should be adopted in preference to the one now in use. He knew that according to the Act they had no power at present to make any change, the publisher’s contract time not having expired, but he should move a resolution that this meeting think a change desirable, and that a representation to that effect be made to the General Synod. Mr. Hammerton said he was one of those who had defended the “ New Zealand Hymnbook” from many attacks made on it, and he regarded it as being very superior to many that had been published. At the same time, however, he knew there was a very great outcry against it. He happened to know that in St. Matthew’s and St. Paul’s, in Auckland, the choirs did not use the tune-book at all. Of course, the hjmns were given out by the clergyman, but the tunes were taken from the book of “Hymns Ancient and Modern.” Eor his own part, he had not a strong objection to the introduction of a change, which he thought might be effected without harm. He understood the Bishop had distinctly stated he would not countenance it ; but nevertheless he thought it would be desirable to follow. the example set at the St. Paul’s parish meeting, and appoint a committee to consider the matter. He would suggest as an addition to Mr. Marten’s motion, that a committee be appointed to confer with the St. Paul s parish committee on the subject, to consist of Mr. Marten, Mr. Didsbury, and himself. Mr. Marten accepted the amendment to his motion.

Mr. Stevens supported the motion. Mr. Didsbury thought the action proposed was premature. He did not see what could be done before the General Synod met. For himself, he was attached to the “ New Zealand Hymnal,” having been accustomed to it for so long, and was adverse to a change, although on general grounds he had no objection to “ Hymns Ancient and Modern.” Archdeacon Stock opposed the change. He had a very strong objection to the “ Hymns Ancient and Modern,” and took exception particularly to alteration which had therein been made to certain old hymns. He had been long familiar with, such, for instance, as “ The Rock of Ages.” Moreover, they met with hymns in the book referred to which taught doctrines certainly not in the Bible or Church of England Service. He thought it would be as well to leave the matter in the hands of the General Synod. If that body decided upon the use of the “Hymns Ancient and Modern” he should of course withdraw his objection, but he could not help thinking it would be unwise on their part to put any pressure upon the General Synod, more especially as the present meeting did not fully represent the parish. Further discussion ensued, Mr. Robert Hunter thought the discussion had become confused, and therefore moved, as an amendment to Mr. Marten’s motion, —That as the whole matter would be brought forward at the General Synod, it was inexpedient for the present meeting to take anj action therein.

Mr. Roxburgh opposed the amendment, which he considered was calculated to check an expression of opinion upon an important subject, and with regard to which it might be desirable that the Synod should be acquainted with the views of the parishioners both of Te Aro and Thorndon. Mr. Brown asked whether any committee appointed at the present meeting would have power to act, no notice having been given of the intention to move for the appointment of such committee.

The Ven. Archdeacon Stock was aware at the outset that Mr. Marten was not entirely in order, but he x’efrained fi'om raising a point of order-, because he did not desire to baulk discussion upon a subject in which his congregation was interested. It was eventually determined to rule out of

order the motion on the subject of the hymnals, and leave the matter in statu quo, so that it could be considered at a lax-ger meeting of the parishioners at some future date, or at the election of i-epresentatives to attend the General Synod. 0n behalf of the Peai-1 of Peace Lodge of Good Templars, Mr. Bell returned thanks for the use of the schoolroom for meeting purposes ; and it was decided to lend the room for the same pui-pose two nights in the week during the ensuing yeai\ A vote of thanks was then accorded to the chairman, and the meeting dispersed.