PARISH MEETINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18234, 2 May 1921, Page 7

PARISH MEETINGS

ALL SAINTS’. PETITION TO REV. C. H. RITCHIE. The annual meeting of the parishioners of All Saints’ Church was hold on 1< nday evening. The Very Rev. Dean Fitche-t-t presided over a very good attendance. The annual renort of the churchwardens and vest: v s tated that the income for the year ended March 31 is £1444, made up of vestry account, and £229 supplementary a vomits not administered by the vestry. Expenditure on all accounts, including £54 3s 5d duo to the bank at date of lost balance sheet, is £1497, leaving a present debt due t-o the bank of £42. The sum of £255 has been naid to non*paroeliial objects—namely, diocesan funds, £115; missions, £7O; Boys Memorial Home, £37; St. Mary’s Orphanage, ;C3O; also £55 has been dispensed in chanty. On repairs to tbo church building (re-point-ing- the walls) £39 has been spent. It will bo necessary to continue and complete this work. The amount funded as the nucleus cf a parish endowment is now £2Bl 5s 6d. Through the. Boys’ Memorial Home receiving box in the church porch Mr T. W. Robinson, local . treasurer, received £46, of which total £7 is included in the amount reported above. Specially to be noted under income on vestry account are the items—Ladies’ Guild £2S6, a larger contribution than in former years, and Givis’ Friendly Society £BO. During nine months of the year now reported, the Dean being in England, tho parish was in tho charge of the Rev. F. V. Fisher (curate), now vicar of Wynctham. Mr Fisher was assisted in Sunday duties by the Rev. •L. G. Whitehead, Warden of Selwyn College. The Dean sine© his return has had the assistance of the Rev. C. H. Ritchie. In the pastoral work of the parish the vestry has to acknowledge, as in former years, the invaluable services of Sister Elisabeth. Particulars of tho offices of the church are as follow: —Baptisms, 43; marriages in the parish church, 13; attendance at Holy Communion, 2599. The bishop being absent from the diocese, the annual confirmation service has been postponed, A stained-glass window in memory of Lieutenant John Nevill Ritchie, Seaforth Highlanders, killed in action in Mesopotamia, has been erected in the nave; also a brass tablet in memory cf Mr T. S. Graham, for many years -an office-bearer. The organisations and societies of the parish may be reported as follows:—Sunday School, 18 teachers, 250 scholars. Miss Boys Smith has recently taken charge as superintendent. Choir (Mr W. A. Lilly, organist and choirmaster), an attendance of 16 boys and 20 adults. Ladies’ Guild (Mrs Longford', Mrs Mbcassey, Miss Howlison, Miss Davidson), about 16 working members and 15 honor-ary members. Junior Guild (Mrs Black, Mrs, Hudson, Miss' Angus, Miss Macassey, Miss Ulrich), 10 members. Both guilds have many associated workers. Mothers Union (Mrs R. V. Fulton), 90 members. Girls’ Friendly Society (Sister Elisabeth), 70 members, including associates and candidates. St. Barnabas Association (Miss Howlison, Miss Ronaldson), 29 members. Men’s -Club (Mr S. W- Jarvis), about 20 members. booing People’s Chib (Mr H. Black), about 40 members. Sanctuary Gtfild: Miss Homer, Miss Jarvis, Miss Crockett, Miss Hubbard. Flowers for the altar are. supplied each week by Miss Haggitt, Miss Or bell, Sister Elisabeth, and Miss Howlison in turn. In thanking the many voluntary workers who assist in keeping up* the organisations of the parish, the vestry, -as in former years, especially acknowledges the co-operation of tho guilds in maintaining its finances, and in particular the collectors of monthly subscriptions—Mia Borrow, Mrs Stanley Smith, Miss Parsons, Miss Jerram, Miss Davidson, Miss Hitchcock, Miss Rountree, Miss Hubbard, and! Mr F. Peake.

The,' annual report and balance sheet were adopted without comment. Mr W. HfeHarris was elected a vestryman 0 J Mr S. T. Mi rams, on behalf of the parishioners, moved a vote of thanks to all the workers who had kindly helped them during the year.—The motion was carried by acclamation

Tho following petition was presented to tho Rev. 0. H. Ritchie, M.A.'"We, the undersigned parishioners of Ail Saints’ parish, having been privileged to enjoy your ministrations for the past few months, arc greatly concerned to hear that there is a possibility of your leaving the dominion ere long. In view of the fact of our revered vicar’s advancing years, it is imperative that _we should obtain the services of a clergyman of ability and experience to act as his colleague. Your sermons and conduct of the services have been so much appreciated not onlg by ourselves, but by many others who have had the pleasure of listening to yon that we are satisfied that the life of the parish would bo stimulated and deepened by your acceptance of our request to remain hero and act as tho dean’s colleague. From the long association of yourself and your family with All Saints’, we sincerely trust that you will give the matter your earnest consideration.” Tho petition boro tho signatures of all the parishioners present. Mr Grater moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Ritchie for the services he had rendered to the parish during his stay amongst them, and expressed the nope that the steps being taken by tho vestry with a view to securing his consent as colleague to the dean would be successful. —Tho motion was seconded by Mr Hopcraft, and carried unanimously. In leply to the petition, the Rev. Mr Ritchie said they had placed him in a very awkward position, and he could not give a more definite answer than the one he had previously given when Mr Mirams spoke to him. The whole question would bo given the consideration of both his wife and himself. As far as he could see it was imperative thgt he should go Homo first. He again thanked them for what they had said. The Chairman said he was afraid they would have to leave the matter unsettled in the meantime

Vocal items were given by Misses Donne, Rountree. Crockett, Homor, and Mr H. Black. The accompanist was Mr A. W. Lilly, the church organist. The meeting concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, after which refreshments were handed round by the ladies.

ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL. The annual meeting took place on Friday evening last. The annual balance sheet and report were passed. The report stated*, inter alia;—Since trie last annual meeting the constitution of the chapter has been somewhat altered. Tne meeting of Synod held in November last approved of the appointment of six lay members from St. Paul’s Cathedra! congregation to the chapter. The chapter then delegated nine of its members- to form a Finance Committee with full power to net regarding the finances of the cathedral, and to report to the chapter. This arrangement is now in full working order, and is a distinct advantage. There is an Improvement this year in the contributions, partly due to the efforts of the Ladies Guild. The subscriptions to the choir maintenance fund were well maintained during the year, and the thanks are duo to the subscribers for their generosity, and also to Mrs Ferguson, who again presented £lO. The bursary was again awarded to Master Farrant. The expenditure is heavier than the previous year, due to increase in salaries, repairs to the vicarage, rates and interest, and the general increase in the cost of materials. The Finance Committee trusts with the assistance of the congregation and other schemes to bo ablo to reduce the overdraft. In the cathedral work « new era, we hope, has begun in which the work of St. Paul’s will be continued in the stir tessful manner it was in the past. Mr Thomas arrived in February, and has already got into touch with the Sunday school anil the university students. The new organ has beer finished, and the power of the instrument has been proved. It is hoped that the organ recitals will prove a. moans of attraction to the cathedral. The picture gallery has had several additions, the finest being a. large oil painting of Bishop Nevill in tho early years of his episcopate. A photo of the late Mr Taylor has been given by Mrs Taylor, and one of Archdeacon Fenton by the Rev. H. O. Fenton. The Ladies’ Guild did splendid service to the cathedral, making over the sum of £2OO to tho chapter as its contribution to the funds, £25 of which were given to the choir funds. We are always glad of help in this way, and cannot have too many helpers this year to meet the heavy expenditure. Woodhaugh has been added to the cathedral district hy the Standing Committee, which makes the cathedral responsible for the upkeep of the services there. There were 10 nominations for the election of six members of tho chapter as representatives of the congregation, and Professor Gowland, Messrs F. 11. King, A, Goodloy, W. H. Allen, R. J. Barrett, and F. E. Little wore elected. During the evening several ladies and gentlemen, under the directorship of Mr Herbert Hogg, entertained the meeting with a most delightful musical programme. Mrs Glover acted as accompanist. At the conclusion of the concert rofreshme-nts were provided by tl)0 I Ladies’ Guild, and a little dancing followed.