ST. MARK'S PARISH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 71 (Supplement)

ST. MARK'S PARISH

The Rev It. Coffey, M.A., presided at tho annual meeting of St. Mark’s parishioners, which was held on the 2l.st n:st. in the schoolroom, Sussex square. There were about a hundred members of tho congregation present. The annual report mentioned that the seat rents and offertories for the year amounted to £BOO t s /d, as compared with £709 19s Id for the preceding year. Tho satisfactory announcement! was made that the previous debit balance efi £32 had been extinguished, and in place thereof a credit balance of £59 Is Gd obtained. Tho Kilbirnie ana Eoseneath rooms had contributed £36 13s 4d and £l3 respectively towards tho stipend of tho assistant curate. 11l moving the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, Mr 11. J. H. Blow (parishioners’ churchwarden) complimented the parishioners on the very satisfactory state of affairs disclosed by tho report and balance-sheet. It was generally recognised that- when financial matters were right other matters were. Mr Blow paid a tribute to the way in. which tho curate had superintended the various societies in connection with, the parish. Mr C. H. Chat win (curate’s churchwarden) seconded the motion for adoption of the report, which was unanimously carried without discussion. For the ensuing year, Mr Coffey nominated Mr Albert St ace as curate’s churchwarden, and on the motion of Mr H. J. H. Blow, seconded by ' Mr C. 11. Chat win, Mr Shirtcliffe was unanimously elected parishioners’ churchwarden. There were twelve nominations for tho vestry. The election resulted in tho return of the following ten Messrs H. J. Blow. C. H. Chat win. E. R. Burdekm, J. C. Andrews, E, O. Hamorton. F. O. Crease. P. P. Webb, A. H. Ilaylock, W. G. C. Swan and T. W. Pilcher. Messrs B. B. Allen and L. A. Sanderson were unanimously elected auditors. Votes cf thanks were accorded the lay readers, choir, Sunday school teachers. working bee, Dorcas Society, St. Andrew’s Society, auditors and the lady collectors for the St. Mark’s Missionary and Benevolent Fund. Tho Rev Mr Cc-fTcy bore personal testimony to the obligation he was under to the lay readers of St. Mark’s. He also mentioned the obligation he and the parishioners were under to tho choir of the church. He was very grateful to them. The Sunday school teachers deserved the highest thanks, and the parents who allowed them to devote their time to that object were also deserving of thanks—especially as the Sunday school was in a measure filling a very serious defect in our national system of education. Mr Coffey also congratulated, the church* upon the fact that thirty Chinamen attended the Easter Sunday service—a fact which proved that, old prejudices had been broken down and gave augury of better things in the future. This announcement was received with applause. The retiring churchwardens and vestrymen were accorded a hearty vote of thanks for having brought down so satisfactory » report and balance-sheet. A special vote of thanks was accorded to the Sunday school teachers for the offer made hv them to bear the whole cost of installing the electric light in tho church.