ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17630, 21 May 1919, Page 2

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

ODHSREGA'nOSTAL SOCIAL.

-The annual social pi St. Paul's Cathedral wa3 hold in tbe Ai4 Gallery last evening, when there was a largo attendance of men:bem of the congregation. The Primate presided, and, after welcoming thoso present, said liow delighted they wero with that portion of tho cathedral that had been completed—not only the peoplo of Dunedin but also'those, who camo on a visit hero. Another pleasing feature of tho cathedral was tho character of thoir musical services, and the dignified arid beautiful manner in which the services as a whole wore carried out. Though they wero very proud of their cathedral there was still a great deal to do. Tho surroundings of tho cathedral would have to be attended to, and they required a new deanery, the old building having been palled down. At tho present time they had nearly £1000 in J land for tho deanery, btii probably another £2000 would be required. Ho hoped thai in due coats© thoy would have both tho deanery houso and tho surroundings of tho cathedral just as perfectly completed as tho cathedral itself. The speaker went on to say that he was sorry that in Dunedin and in other places there was a considerable neglect of religion, and they desired to make tho oontral church of tho diocese and tho central church of Dunedin a focus of spiritual force to meet, as best they could, the evils surrounding them. There was a great need of social organisation, and their fellow-worker, the Rev. Bryan King, had done a lot in tira direction.—(Applause.) Mr Emg had told him that day that tho Men s Mission House liad boon sold over his head. They would require another place, and maybe the Chapter of the Cathedral might see its way to arrange for Mr King to carry on his very valuable work in the old fire brigade station. They wanted their _ cathedral to be not only a centre of divine worship on Sundays, but also a centre of usefulness in a social sense for the benefit of the whole community. No doubt a great deal of that would come, though probably not in his time, but ho wished to suggesij the ideas and principles on which they might work, so that when the opportunity occurred they might have some definite thought in their minds as a foundation. Continuing, the speaker said the Genoral Synod decided to give women tho vote in the election of church wardens and vestrymen, and concluded his address amidst applause. Canon Nevill, in presenting the nrrrranl report, said: "It was difficult to separate their doings as a Cathedral District from the dr ■' s'in interest in the consecration of the new cathedral which had taken such a, firm hold on their affections. He thought that it would be sufficient to eay that tho services of the consecration week cleared off all the debts in the past, and so far their services at tho cathedral, especially the evening ones, had been more than well attended, the offertories ranging usually from £12 to £24 for the day. . They had to thank their sidesmen and committee for the way in which they had looked after the wants of the congregation; -and they owed a big debt to Mr Olive Evans, their treasurer, for the very heavy gratuitous work he bad dons in keeping* the Cathedral accounts from month to month and lightening the labours of the Chapter in that way. These gentlemen were Messrs Pinel, D. Milward Clivo Evans, A. Goodley, F. Little, H. G Wssb, A. E:. Allen, F. Jones, F. H. King' D. M. VSpedding, and C. Corke. -Their Laaies' Guild had, as usual, been doing splendid work, the amount of the bazaar takings this year coming to £150, which was a record so far, but which, now they have so fine a church to care for, they hoped to exceed in the future. Tho guild was already growing in numbers, and tuere was no particular reason why it should not double _ itself. To all- these ladies they owed sincere thanks for their labours and enthusiasm. Their Sunday. school was increasing m numbers, and they "'owed a great deal to Mr West, their superintendent, and to the Misses Baird, A. and D Milward, A. Morris, ..West, Kelly, James, Oaten, Brew, Mapp, Robertson, Whyte, and Pudney. Miss Whyte had left them for a more extended sphere, and Miss A. Norris (who had helped them with tho Girls' Friendly as well) was, to their- sincere re- ' , E ? lrls to Christchurch. The Sunday school finances wero in excellent condition, for they had £17 in tho bank. The bov who waa supported in the Melanssian Mission 'was, they had heard, doing very well, and[was for a Christian teacher m the islands. One deep cause of thankfulness was the fact that so fax, by the heln of the sisters of the church, they had succeeded in having a daily celebration of the Holy Communion at tho Cathedral The Revs. J. L. Mortjmsr, IL O. Fenton, N. Kriberg and the St. Matthew's clergy? had made this possible by taking a share in k£, I The congregation could neb) by attendance. Evensong was also said ,daily, and they welcomed any of the congregation who could find a few minutes for prayer each evening. Their Sanctuary Guild always welcomed any young -ladies ho] P m the oare of tit© altar at the Cathedral. It simply meant half an hour every, Saturday afternoon, and such help was most appreciated. fCa T y } hem tbat the Cathedral really needed now was an assistant priest. They --were content to mark time during; the war; but that did not mean that they should be content .to mark time for ever. The fact -was St. Pad's iQ i V some sort of system by which they could guarantee a stipend to an assistant priest; and until that was done they would not make anv' real progress. Thoir difficulty was, as it had always been.N the scattered nature of their congregation. This made it difficult to hrm" people together who did not know each other very welL Their social was one attempt to_bndge tins gap ov er . They i , .thank Mrs Lmdo Ferguson for a scholarship for tho choir for a boy to be instructed m singing-. It was needless for mm to say how much tho beauty of their services depended upon their choir; and lie thought there was no question that thev J t?] 1 ® chosr in Dunedin. They owed Mr Heywood and the choir men a hearty vote of thanks for all thev were doing for St. P'auTs.—(Applause.) 1 f H, 7 ' H. Statham presented the b; lance sheet for the year. He said that, t ving the position all round, if the colleot.ons kept up as at present, with the aid of the guild and subscriptions, ho did not t p a ? y ! ear finances of tho Cathedral gomfj baafc. °* ™ usio .»etß., was contributed aa follows:—Humorous song, Mr T Demker; song, Mr Drake; instrumental quartet Mews Jndd, Lapp, humorous ("Paddy Leary With C. CorkeV songs ( The Walte Song" from. "Tom Jones " a " d t c Home ] and ) Miss Corrie Aslin; play The Quarrel Seeno" in "Tie Schoo w JManoforte solo ("Sonata m p Minar ), Miss Irene Heywood; characS3 Helen Gard'ner; accompanist Mr E. Heywood. Refreshments wore thon served, and a dance followed.