ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12766, 12 April 1910, Page 4

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISH-

IONERS.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of All Saints' was held last nght in .the school roonij the vicar (the Sc-v W. S. Lucas) presiding. After opening with prayer, Mr de Castro moved that sympithy be expressed with the members of tne families .of those of the congregation who had passed away during the past year. He mentioned Messrs Pasley, Greenwood and Snodgrass.

The motion was carried. The Churchwardens (Messrs George Chapman and R. Booth) reported as follows: — In presenting the annual statement of accounts for the year ending 31st March 1910 we desire to acknowledge with deep thankfulness the many mercies which God has been pleased to bestow upon us as a parish. "The ordinary offertories amount to £313 8s Id, as compared with £303 15s lid for last year ; special offertories £22 5s 4d, as against £30 5s 9d last year (which included £8 Is for Sunday School). £150 5s was received in pew rents, an increase of £12 ss. "Your officers wish to thaaik tho parishioners for the splendid response made to their appeal for a special *®rertory, the result of which has placed the parish iv such a sound condition, and to especially thank the Mite Society for their substantial assistance during the past year. "We desire to express our thanks for the donation of £10 by the late Mn 11. Snodgrass, and at the same time we regret the loss of one who took such an interest in Church work genArftllv* "Since the commencement of the year Mr. .de Looze has taken up the duties of organist and choirmaster and is taking great interest in his work. We would take this opportunity of expressing our sympathy with him in his late bereavement. - "It is with deep regret that tne churchwardens have to record the loss tlie parish has sustained through the death of. two "good and faithlul servants," Messrs. J. Greenwood, and E. W. Pasley, who as lay readers, churchwardens, etc, have served the Church with a whole-hearted interest that we are sure must have been appreciated by its members. On behalf of the parishioners we woujd sincerely thank the superintendents and teachers of the three Sunday Schools- for the time arid devotion they have given to this important branch of the Church's work. "The thanks of the congregation are due to Mr. W. A. Andrews for the gift of new pulleys in the tower, and fitting the same, to the bell-ringers for their services, to the choir, and to the ladies who give their time to altar and church decorations. "It is the sincere hope and trust of the churchwardens, and the vestry of All Saints parish that the same interest displayed in the past will bo faithfully continued, and Aye ask God's blessing oh. the work bf Our vicar (Rev W. S. Lucas) and the parish generally.- - " ' ' The Vicar reported as follows : — . "During the past year the -work of the parish has gone steadily on, and the various services have been regularly maintain. • "The visit of Miss Whitaker has resulted in the formation of an All Saints' branch of the Girls' lriendly Society. Over thirty members have been enrolled, and I hope that fche Society will make its influence felt iu--1 c/e»«ug)y m the parish. "The Rev ; H. S. Woollcomhe, organ--1 ising seoretary of the Church of England Mens' Society, has also visited us.. No branch has "as yet been formed in the parish , but I trust that before | long tho metf'-bf the congregation will have formed one, and that a strong All Saints' branch of the. Society may be at work in the parish. A" ;;

"Bible classes for young women" -are held in the school room on Tuesday evenings, and similar classes for young men' at the Vicarage on Sunday afternoons, and I earnestly commend these classes to the yoiing men and women of the parish. "I thank the. churchwardens arid vestry for their hearty, co-operation during the past year and I pray that the blessing of God may rest upon the parish during the coming year." The audited, balance sheet showed the year's income at £540 18s 7d, and the expenditure at £532 18s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £8. The ordinary offertories totalled £313- 8s Id; speciar offertories £22 5s 4d; the oew rents* £150 ss; from the Mite Society £38 9s, of which sum £25 was for the Sunday schools. On the motion of Mr Strong, seconded by, Mr Andrews, the reports »nd balance sheet were adopted. The Vicar reviewed the work of the past year. He was pleased a branch of the Girls' Friendly Society had been formed, and hoped ere long- that there, would be a branch .of the Church of England Men's Society at work in the -parish. He was pleased that the attendance at the Bible class for young men had doubled what it was previously. He spoke of how severely he was handicapped in being single handed witbra growing parish. Since the beginning of the year he. had attended 23 funerals, and officiated at eight marriages, which meant 31 afternoons had thus been employed. Ho mentioned these facts to show tliat he had not much time for visiting. He said he wanted two male superintendents, one for the Toi Toi Valley Sunday school, and one for the Port Sunday school. He said altogether .. 38 teachers were required for the three Sunday schools in the parish, and he found it difficult to keep up the upply. 'He thanked the parishohers f.*r all the help given, and kindness shown and he hoped, under the blessing of God, in the coming year the relations between him and the parishioners would be as pleasant as they had been in thepast. The Vicar said he had great pleasure in again appointing Mr George Chapman as the clergyman's churchwarden. On the motion of Mr Sparks, seconded by Mr Strong,. Mr R. Booth was re-elected as the people's churchwarden.

It was resolved oil the motion of Mr Chapman, seconded by Mr Mercer, that the vestry, be composed of teD members. ►

Messrs de Castro^ 'Strong, W. York, Tasker, Hampson, C. King, Trott, Andrews, Mercer and Hedges were elected as members of the vestry. , .It was resolved on the motion of Mr <Sti*ong7 seconded by Mr Sparks, that it is desirable that the congregation stand on the clergyman entering the church at the commencement of a ■service.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Booth, seconded by Mr de Looze, that it be a recommendation that a change be made in the hymn book used, and that in future Hymns Ancient and Modern be the book. used,. the change to take effect from the first Sunday in July. The Vicar said the matter rested with Jiim, and be would discuss it 'with the vestry. ' It was resolved on the motion of Mr Strong, seconded by Mr Chapman, that steps be taken to form a boys' choir to assist the church choir.

Votes of thanks were passed to the bell ringers, to. the superintendents and staffs of teachers in the Sunday schools, to the members of the Mite Society, to the decorators of the cEurch, to the organist (Mr de Looze) and the members of the choir, to the auditor (Mr Hampson), to the lay readers, and to the vicar. : ;• Refreshments were provided at the close of the business. - "