PATEA PAROCHIAL DISTRICT,

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 94, 7 August 1895, Page 3

PATEA PAROCHIAL DISTRICT,

ANNUAL CHUBCII MEETING, The annual meeting of the members of St. George’s Church was held in the County Chambers last night, the Eev 0. 0. Harper presiding. The meeting having been opened with prayer, Mr G. D. Hamerton read the minutes of the last annual meeting, and after their confinuation the report and balance-sheet were r ;ad and adopted (fall text will appear H)xt issue). After the adoption of the report, the election of officers was pro ceeded with, and resulted as follows: — Yicar’s churhwarden, Mr E. C. Horner ; People’s warden, Mr G. D. Hamerton; vestrymen, .Messrs Brown, Carradus, Gibbons, Glenny, W. G. Jones, H. Payne, and W. W Pearce; auditor, Mr Munro, At the conclusion of the election of office-bearers, the Rev C. C. Harper referred to the arrival and consecration of the new Bishop of Wellington, and the presence of eight bishops, Including the Bishop of Salisbury, and fifty clergy at the consecration ceremony, He also referred to the error in the cable report of the Bishop of Salisbury’s remarks anent the Church of England in New Zealand. The Rev Mr Harper also mentioned the regret felt by the Bishop at being unable to meet the parishioners here on accounl of the shortness of his stay here. Mi Harper then spoke in hopeful terms of the benefit derivable from the formation oi the choir union, the first meeting ol which, in Wanganui, was so successful. He thought the general ignorance of the people on dioscesan unfortunate, and suggested the adviability oi members becoming subscribers to the Dioscesan Chronicle as a means of getting more abreast with church news. The Rev speaker then referred to the increase |a church attendance, and also of communicants, which had been exceedingly satisfactory. They had, however, suffered a severe loss m the choir having lost six members in one week, He had also to regret the,loss of tho organiste, but hoped to soon secure another. He must say, however, he did not wish to have a girl, as the work with that instrnmenl was much too severe for a girl; and he would like to have a married woman or a man i>v that position. They had also much H3ed of a man as superintendent of the Sunday School, as that position was also too severe for a lady. The children were growing up, and it was too great a strain for a lady to superintend, maintain discipline, and teach as well. In future however, he expected to be able to have two mornings and two afternoons each month at the school. During the year there had been formed a Communicants Guild with a satisfactory membership, and a Ladies’ Working Party , which was doing good work. Mr G. D. Hamerton bad given him a statement of the indebtedness of the general church fund to other accounts for many years past, and that shewed that the indebtedness had bsen steadily increasing. He thought there was not sufficient interest taken jo. the smaller subscribers to the fund. Those, who unable, or unwilling, perhaps to give ten shillings or a pound at a gift, would still be very willing to f;ive, say, half-a-crown, or, even a sibling, at regular intervals if called upon for it; and u the organisation of a regular system of collection of these donations would lead to much profit; but this, he thought, could best be left to the ladies to manage. In conclusion, he wished to thank Mr Hornor for the valuable assist anco he bad given him during the year, and as this was tho first opportunity he hud of publicly mentioning the circumstance, he wished also to thank the people most heartily for their generousity in providing him with a buggy and harness —a kindness which he could assure them was most thoroughly appreciated, more especially, p' rhaps, as ho could not look upon it as in anyway their duty to provide him with such a luxury. Mr G. D. Hamerton referred to the advantage derived in other towns from a systematic collection of small sums by the ladies, and did not see why it should not be equally advantageous here. Mr Horner said special thanks were due to Mr Carradus for tho excellent manner in which he had assisted services by conducting strangers to their seats as there was no doubt it had much to do with increasing the number of attendants at church. This was carried with acclamation. Mr Horner then said he wished also to move a hearty vote of thanks to tho vicar for his unremitting attention, as well ns tact, zeal and judgement, displayed in fulfilling the arduous duties of his position. He thought tho marvellous advancement of church matters was a great credit to the vicar, for which he deserved gjfho heartiest thanks. This was also (Carried enthusiastically, and after a few words in reply, the Rev C. C. Harper closed the proceedings with prayer, and the meeting separated.