HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 7

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

The annual meeting of the Port Chalmers Holy Trinity. Church was held in the' Parish Hall last Thursday evening. There was a large attendance of parishioners, and the vicar (the Rev. A. B. Pywell) presided. The chairman gave an extensive report on matters, dealing with the spiritual activities of the parish during the year under review, and stated the survey would reveal an encouraging situation. Judging by the response for services, devotional gatherings and classes for instruction, there was increasing interest, and that was hopeful and pleasing to him. He thanked the officers of the vestry and various other organisations for their co-operation and sincerely hoped the good feeling that existed would he maintained. Mr D. Forsyth presented the vestry s report, which indicated a much improved position in the finances of the church. As the treasurer’s statement also indicated, the Duplex system had worked well, and, although, the year ended with a deficiency in the vestry account, it had to be borne in mind that this amount was offset by replacements, repairs and increased income in other accounts. The collections had risen by £7O for the past year, and this was the material indication of the improvements outlined by the vicar. As vestry secretary, Mr Forsyth paid a tribute to the vicar, with whom the relationship had been most happy, and expressed the thanks of parishioners to him and to Mrs Pywell. He said the vestry had noted with pleasure Hie strengthening of young people’s organisations, and these had become a prominent feature in the church’s activities. Messrs F. H. Hudson and R. A. Ward moved a vote of thanks to all workers, making particular reference to the valuable services rendered by Miss V. Davis (duplex secretary). Aftef* the financial statement had been submitted by the treasurer (Mr P. W. Jinks) the reports of ten other organise-, tions were submitted, including two covering the work of. the Sawyers’ Bay Sunday School Hall. Following these certain recommendations were passed on for the consideration of the incoming vestry. The vicar announced the re-appoint-ment of Mr R. A. Ward as his churchwarden,. and the meeting re-elected Mr D. Forsyth as people’s warden. The following were appointed members of the vestry:—Captain Page, Messrs Jenks, Verrall, R. Leftwich, F. H. Hudson, H. C. Reeves, E. Laley and Peryer. Miss Davis was re-elected duplex secretary. The meeting closed with the singing of the doxology and the blessing. A pleasant social hour and supper followed..

YOUNG PEOPLE’S RALLY

A young people’s* rally, composed of members of the Bible classes, Sunday school staffs, and Girls’ Club connected with the Port Chalmers Holy Trinity Church was held on Sunday. Although the weather conditions were unfavourable for such an occasion, there was an attendance of over 30. The rally consisted of community singing, a tea, and instructional address by the vicar on the life of St. John the Baptist, and corporate worship at evensong. The preacher for this service was the Rev. J. L. Anderson, M.A., who gave a splendid discourse, taking for his text the Acts xi, 26: “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” The question asked and answered was, “What constitutes a Christian?” and the careful reasoning of the speaker gave food for thought. He said it represented something more than churchgoing, and even good neighbourly conduct. The influence of Christianity at the close of the first century, as witnessed by the correspondence between the Roman Governor and his Emperor in Rome, wherein he mentioned the Christians as having “ turned the world upside down," was an influence still needed to-day. However one read history there was the unescapable conclusion that Christianity had made its mark, because Christ’s way was the best. The preacher urged that young people should be given work to do in the church and have the support and encouragement of their elders in whatever activities they undertook. The lessons were read by Mr H. Hudson, jun. Considering the weather conditions the congregation was good.