HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14053, 25 July 1916, Page 8

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of parishioners m connection with Holy vjlj-iuity Church was held last' night, the" "Vibar (Archdeacon H. Pa eke) presiding over a large attendance. ... - The Vicar drew attention to his pastoral letter appearing m the last- Parish Magazine as 'to the doings of' the i Church and its, future -prospects.' 'He • hoped _ the parishioners would read, those remarks. Continuing, he said^. he thought, taking the year all through, and considering the .strenuous ,; time m which they were living, they ' must •'congratulate themselves from a financial ' point of view. There had been going lon ju a silent and devotional way a • good' deal that was new m the parish. ■ They owed a. debt of gratitude to' the Hospital Board for facilities given the clergy to go to the hospital every Sunday morning . to preach the Gospel of *7 Peace to the patients, and m- this connection he wished. -to thank Dr; • Wil.liams, Messrs. Mann, Nicholls, and Armstrong for their valuably assistance m providing conveyances. The Vicar hoped the time would 'come when the parish would be well enough off to afford a I^arish car, so that the clergy \ could get round the large parish and bt& able to attend to urgent calls more expeditiously. . Referring to Sunday schools he said a new school had been started at Te Hapara, and tho Vicar- dw^lt&upbri the importance of the Sunday .- School, . appealing for more helpers. There wiire many guilds at work doing their best, and they invited every parishioner to -join one or other of thes*-. guilds. The guilds wanted them, and -i God wanted them. The Ladies' Guild .proposed hold* 'irig a- sale of work next Wednesday week, and the Girls' Guild would he '■-•holding, a similar function at a later date. ' • The Boys? Club and Trinity :Y.M. Club were also doing good?'wprk. Then there were the small guilds of the 'sanctuary, who look after the flowers, etc., and the choir, to which they owed • a deep -debt of gratitude. The. Bishop lihtdtided.-. paying another visit to Gis- •' borne on Oetobm* 29, and during that ■vftit it was" hoped he would be able to lidid a :men'si meetinpj.i.i : 7la conclusion, ; the- "Vicar thanked the?-,'moilib.ers of the ■ Vftstvy, cliurchwsrrdens,*-hnd all who as«ist.b4 iii the .work of n.the church, men,.itioning. specially the Riey.tF. W. Chat- : loj-jton- ari.dVMfi.fC. A.-0& Lautour. He yjvisjied t0 ... lhafik' them^ iono 1 ; and all, m , ;dii*idually-?arid'..>as- a . body,.\rfor what : theysi httd done.! to f iwtlieri ithetv w6rk'fi of 'thfe-.-phurcli' ! aird;jappe,aled f^ftinityrand > 00-bperatif*H,»H»}rtJilutii;^ out lathat). it • ii^l"r : foi*"-^hemselv#&j^they weti&^orlu*ta,' ♦by^'f or-i-thoi 'good ot the Chiireh.- ; i7"' H-a "hii^d -ithd.; 'future y^ars vtfotfltf' be, of Ug'reatefhfceriefit' to their souts;\- • h ': . v , n«.s)ql. ■' Wihier, Ghurchwardan , read 1 the f Ve'^&y^repbrt^ 'Vhicliowas as 1 f dllows :-^ >>■ ■?/iir.;*preeertting I their^ annualrireportriarid ' halfijice^hest^iyour; iV^estry would stfcte. • 'fttat) ith^ ' fihantfes 'ofl^h6tv^«yish" hive . giwch them much ahxitxus^ conki deration during the year. Faced with an enlarged expenditure, consequent on the development- m- church , organisation , to which some eighteen, months .ago 7the ■ vestry stood committed, it became necessary to ; appeal to the parishioner^ . f Or .more generous support towards their - Church, ?and with the object of supplementing the ordinary revenue received through offertories,, a stipend -, .fund, -at the instance of the Vicar; was established...,. This, though scarcely**. yet fully organised, has proved of material assistance m aiding our finance, - and m helping us over a difficult year m our '; Church 'administration... The -people - as a whole have responded generously, to the appeals made. The amount- of m<si£y7 handled is largely m excess of any previous year's operations. The total, .receipts run . to. , jfilsssr> .; ThoiUgh the. year opened with a bank overdraft of £i 76 and, doses with .the debit jiri- : creased to £404, the* difference -yi^'account«d ' : for by the lexpehditure^'ehtailed m repairs to tho vicarage on. Te "Rau property, the acquisition-, of .'which '■ on ' favorable teiins the vestry regard as a sound, investment for the parish. This expenditure of £267 has given additional life to tho premises, and increases the value of .pur asset. It will be, we hope, for a number of years non-recurrent expenditure.: The .vestry have had tlie Temple street .property m the market, but have so far". -''failed to find a purchaser. The bank overdraft is secured by a personal guarantee -of £600'' entered into by several members of tho vestry, ahd it is felt that the aim of the vestry should be to place t the finances ' on such a, sound ■ footing 'that tihis! accommodation will, not he required to be utilised. The vestry are anxious,- also, to secure a reduction, on Ihe debenture ; debt, and for that piir- 1 pose have decided to open a special account m the Post Office Savings- Bank, into), which will be paid amounts to . credit of building fund, tip's amount and ."whatever sums the incoming vestry ■may be able -to add to be applied solely to the purpose.- of.' redemption of debentures, which hoTO»stjind , .at £1380. Re- • verting to the receipJtsj it will be", seen, 'that pew rents, for -the^yßar totalled £221, as compared -witH;£2l%l9s m the •previous year, and offeritofieTili\^retdE!4iH) ' 10s 3d, as. compared with'£43lV'7s»'id.'lt sltould he mentioned thatv-.cMir and suburban offertories amounting to £122 4s : .6d„.(as? < c&mpared' with. £94 9s 7d m the previous year) have' not been brought into this year's accounts', of > 'the 'Central church', : .tlie :Vicar having: .arranged with committees m the suburbs to retain \he , offertories, and „m lieu thereof to contribute, such; amounts' as they are able#to th© stipend fund. /The stipend fund produced £288 m general .subscriptions, m addition to .which Mangapapa committeo has contributed -£30 and JCaiti committee (under arrangement- whereby £50 per annum is contributed to the stipend of th© assistant curate), £34. The ■ Diocesan at Napier, has also paid £25 under agreeniefft'^to supply £50 per annum for\4hi3 stipencl-of £150 per annum. Taking our main ittems of revenue, pew rentjr £221y offertories £440, stipend fund £378, rent of property £174 (increased *to '£200 by overdue- ij paymenfc.' since received)) w<a liave a revenue of £1239, agajnstnwhiph may bo set/ the following items of ex- -■.■>**•»■- ' i -. ■'■■ •■< -»•',.-. mmmmmmmmmmmmm^mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmma

Ipenditure to b t > provided l'<»r: Slipr-nds' and salaries, £827; Church expenses, insurance. rat-.\s. interest, etc.. £234 ; debenture interest, £69: interest on overdraft, £21; interest on Te Ran, £96; total. £1247. It will thus be seen that 1 if the bank overdraft is to he reduced j it avilKbe .necessary to nnuke some spe- 1 cial effort to that end, and that thero I is also need for a very close supervision t of the expenditure and the curtailment! of all extraneous items. The vestry feel that they would have no anxiety whatever regarding finance if the Church attendances were more truly represen- -. ' tative of the Anglican population of '■■■ Gisborne, and they would reiterate the lclause m their appeal of December 20th last, which ■ stated : "We would put it 1 to our Church people that the best praeL tical help whicli they could render tho Church is by the regular attendance of .themselves), and their families at the services, and we are sui*,e that if such ! attendance is secured the matter of ' 1 finance will cease to worry those re- . sponsible." The vestry is gratified to learn that there have been improved attendances at the suburban churches, and that the services 'instituted afc thehospital are also much appreciated. The [ contributions to missions m the aggre- • ' gate show a decrease from those of the L previous year, tha figures being: Maori [ Missions, this year £10 6s, last year ' 1 £27 10s lid; Melanesian Mission, this ! year £27 12s 7d, last year £10 7s 6d ; ■ Home Mission, this year £19 2s 4d, last [. #ear £40 18s sd. The vestry has en- ; ' deayored to secure from th©. Standing 1 Committee of the diocese the right to > .collect rents of leased properties of the ' parish, and is awaiting a reply on the i subject from the Standing Committee. 1 During the year we completed payment 1 for the section acquired at Te Hapara j .for the purpose of . a • suburban church ' hall being erected thereon. - A hand- ' some memorial window was erected ! during the year and two other windows ; are on order. Acknowledgment is made 'of the £20 provided; by' the .effort- -of tho ■ Ladies' Guild, and also of the special' ' effort of the choir, who gave a cantata > m Holy Week, the offertory amounting • to over £5. The Mangapapa sale of 1 work has also brought"' us man item Of • £5, tliis sum being intended to assist ' towards payment of the interest charge • on St. John's Hall, which involves tlie l ..vestry m an expenditure of £21 per 1 annum. The vestry acknowledge with ; gratitude the greatly valued services • of the Rev. Mr. Chatterton m taking ■ duty on Sundays and other days 1 throughout the year, also tbe services of Messrs. A,rlidge, Baker, Pallot, Arm- ; strong, Howard, and O'Halloran as lay- | readers. To Mr. Pallot thanks are due '. for acting s as auditor, and to Mr. Red--1 ward, for the care taken, m keeping the ' accounts. Mr. E. N. Sidebott«m 'and. \ his efficient choir have given every satis- : faction during the year, and the thanks ■ of 'the, parishioners are due to the ladies - and gentlemen forming the ' choir for • their gratuitous services. The vestry L would also tender their hearty thanks v to Ithe Ladies' Guild, the C.E.M.S. > ((especially Mr. Hill for his faithful work 1 at the door), and others who have as- • sisted m the work of the Church, and > they express their appreciation of the > care of the Church premises taken by |. . their ..verger. Mr. Tnllochi It is not | intended 'to publish tlie report and bal- ': anoe-sheet m book form this year, but they will be circulated through the • Parish Magazine. Tin's small measune 1 of economy is felt to bo necessary. The ' vestry, has been relieved of respoiisi- ■ bility regarding the Parish Magazine, ? the Vicar- having arranged for a committee to take it 6ver and endeavor to [ run it on a business footing. The Magazine, is .a valuable adjunct to parish 1 -work, rthd is deserving of the support [of parishioners.. ■ In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr C. A. de Lautour ' said he thought the vestry were 'to be ['■ aohgratulated oh their efforts. Under' ' the extraordinary difficulties they had ■' had to face, the position was very credit-; • Table indeed. '• ' , " Mr W. EL Akroyd seconded the mo- |- tion,, and endorsed Mr de Lautour's re--1 marks. .... 1 . The motion was carried. J ? Oh the motion of Dr. J. W. Williams, t . seconded, by Ur T. Jex-Blake, Colonel .! Winter was unanimously re-elected .parishioners' churchwarden. Eulogistic - Remarks were mado regarding the faithful services rendered, by Colonel Winter for many years past, and the hope was expressed that he would be long spared to fill the position. — Colonel Winter thanked the parishioners for their con- ,-■ tinued confidence m him, and added that J he could only say that, as heretofore, \ he would do his best for the church. • The vicar announced that he had ap- , pointed Mr IV Jex-Bla"ke as vicar's ' churchwarden., Mr A. L. Muir having , desired to be relieved of the position. [ The election of t&n vestrymen resulted as follows: Dr. J. W. Williams, Messrs ' A. L. Muir, E. H. Mann, J. Renwick, T. Ellei*y, C. E. 'Armstrong, C. Arlidge, ': F. B.» Barker, E. P. Mountfort, and A. ; H. Wallis. . , Mr A. G. Paulot was re-appointed auditor. ' t t Messrs C; A. de' Lautour and E. P. [ Mountfort were appointed to represent j. the parish at the general Synod at I Napier next September. j -'Dr. Williams made feeling reference to the death; of Mr- EL- G. Mattliews, and • it was decided, to place on record the L parishioners' appreciation of the long l; a-nd faithful setrvices rendered tlie parish y by the late Mr Matthews. :-; Vl Mr Avlidge, on belialf of the Trinity i Young Men's Club, brought up the quesL tion of abolishing seat rents,' and moved \ thut it be a -cecommendation to the vesj try to consider the advisability of mak--1 ing all seats free.— Mr Mounttfort second- . Ed the motion, and quoted statistics from j reports of other parishes he had been m, showing the advantages of having a . 'tiree" church. The receipts at Masteri ton for three years were as follows, 1913 ; being the year m. which pew rents were • m force, and hi 1914 for half the year \. pieiw rents were paid; m 1915 pew rents > ivere wholly abolished : Total offertories, , 1915 £557, 1914 £475, 1915 £316; pew , rents and subscriptions, 1915 £369, 1914 (including £36 paid m advance) £362, 1913 £269; donations, 1915 £102, 1914 l ; £36, 1913 JB7§.-.i., All other minor items ■ of church revenue and work showed a Tlika inorease m 1915, showing that the *pVincip].e had stimulated the work of the church.—^During ' a brief discussion •Ur. Williams said he was always an advocate of the- principle of having no ;pew rents, but he pointed out. that afc ( • the pew rents were the pledge . to debenture-holders m, connection. Avith [ the new church.— Messrs Jex-Blake and - Field, m supporting the principle, urged t that there should, be more assistance , from the- people.— air Field said if the scheme oif organisation were developed; .. m three years the church would be able , to be consecrated and it would be "free." "-rThe vicar expressed his desire to see I the time when the church would be entirely free, as God's house should be. — ' The motion was carried. ( .Mr 0; A. de Lautour said lie thought , they should congratulate tlie vicar upon i tlio completion of his : first year's work, I which had been carried out under great difficulties. It might be some encouraget ment to him and nis younger colleagues [ if they were asgured of tlie parishioners' ( confidence. By give-and-take all round

m cnnneclidn with their differences th^y could make a great united" chiirch m this district: (Heai\ hear-.)''-- There be many points upon which '"thiSy;^ would never agree; '• but thev r should Uinlc -their differences and work together, for the good - of ' the; cause. ' *'VVe'>'assixr^'- l you- ?> concluded ±he'speaker A "of 'oiir confidence and support, and- hopV that this corilihg 3*ear will-be a year of great blessing' in this district." (Applause.) ■■' ' '"•". : . The vicar said? her ahdr-the two curates met every Monday- morning, * to- discuss iriattei*s,'so that they might^work united 1 ly m all undertakings- for the -good- di everyone m the parish. A parish 'contained iall rsoi-ts 'and^conditioi^svbf i„men, but their faith - had . cnever j weakened, though sometimes . they .were disappointed and despondent -at' the smallvjaßsponse when they >. ma.de . a - gieat .-laptpealji--.tend-when they- gave a most: hopeful* niessage^ to' the people. -..- :Ar'. far as^the-iehxirch work was -concerned, 'tihey-'. had .tratvga down to the mem- in.'the- :street'js;*hey;.\ha;d to find out exactly w-liat f ,itliey' -iiwere thinking about/ dhd. how/^ they>? ■• --^eTd thiiildng, and then .lead"thoserf.*.thoughts into ideal channels; ,wliic3v..ttie Christian religion alone could .bring home.. It was a difficult task. Human., nature 'was not as he desired it to be- m God's housei He did think, apart, from "their individual work, that- if thoy liad' the work of the laity— for, owe-la^m'ah^tol-iay he must briaig somtene else>" l with him>+there .-vs'ould not be a vacant seat ifi the churchi » ' w-;'-'-.- . • : v... The Revs. E. A.. McCutchebn and D. B. Alalcolm also liespdnded.' v ; Thieif- following- iriforhiation Vis gleaned from the reports of the'^uburban churches and various -guilds, ;!which. were - included inthe printed' balahceJ-sheet:^ •;•-'-' St. John'frHall, Mangapapa. -^Tlie services of the?cihur6h hay* been fully maintained during the. -year-, j In .this grow.ing.j suburb 'tlveiße should be largerucohgregations and; more sustained^Sfort to pay off the existing • debt on'thohall; The Ladies' Guild -are 'making an effort m this directidn, and merit the, support of our church, people. ... * St. Paul's Hall, Ivaiti.— The year has seen jmtch advance m this suburb,- aud parishioners are to be. congratulated not only on' the balance-sheet, but Also on the beautiful addition of an altar, witli elaborate fittings aiid a:rtistic -furnishing. Te Hapara Suburb. — By, the kind" permission of the School Coriiinitt'ee,. services are- held m the schoolroom, and a Sun-day-school has been successfully started. A teather fbr senior girls is lhuch needed. We hope er© long to make provision for a hall of our own. Can wo find a friend willing to lend us £300 to make a start?' A schoolroom is neither a convenient nor comfortable place m which to "worship. Holy Trinity -Girls' Club— The clvb r has more than justified its existence, both by _ the interest of its members - and the satisfactory sale of work held last- December. Under an- enthusiastic president and committee it should be^of real value to all our girls. The club is working at present to purchase a piano foi* the parish lialL- ■■ -....-.' -„.-■. ..-, Holy Trinity Young Men's dub.— Tliis club came into existence, 4it July/ 1915, having as. its cluelT aim the .devdopment of the .social side of church hfeyan^dthe intellectual improvement of .the niembers:There ane 37 members, on the roll, and our young people .would bo glad/vof help to. purchase appliances. for k gymnasium.. Holy. Trinity Church CWir^; Guild.-^«' The Choir Guild has a membership, of 30, which we hope to see . doublfed as timie goes on. ' -„ . ..:••;•■; -...,:.- -". M : -Mothers' Union.— Tlie Mothers' Union> meets on the first >T\xe^da,y?\of ' eyery: month,' at 2.45 p^m., for vthftv Union Litany , .m. Holy Trinity Cliurch, ..imd' 1 if or*social intercourse m the parish hall-atter; Theire are over 90 names on* the roll-.*-. All mothers are invited to joinjim order to' get to know one another. ;