ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13096, 3 May 1911, Page 6 (Supplement)

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING

(From "The Colonist," April 21.)

. The annual meeting of the parish-1 ioners of All Saints' was held in the : Sunday school room last evening. Tho vicar (Rev. W. S. Lucas) presided and ; there was a fair attendance • The annual report of the- churchwardens, the Vicar's report, and the balance sheet, which were printed and circulated, ..were taken as read' and adopted. ■ . . .... The Vicar (Rev. W. Si Lucas) in his report, expressed his deep sorrow at the loss which the whole parish had sustained by the sudden death of Mi". George Chapman^ who had been clergyman's churchwarden for the past three years. Deceased had been ever diligent and earnest in helping on to the.utmost of his power every good work in the parish: The Vicar trusted that the good examp.lo which Mr Chapman had left behind would be a stimulus to many other parishioners to do .likewise. Gratitude was expressed to Yen. Archdeacon Baker for taking charge of the' parish during his absence. The work of the various parish organisations had been well maintained; the Girls' Friendly Society had fifty members on the roll. A branch of the Church of England Men's Society had been formed, and the young men's and young women's I Bible classes had been held tevery j week. During his absence a mission I had been conducted by the Rev G. F. j de Carteret, and he hoped that it would be fruitful in all good results. The Vicar concluded by thanking the churchwardens and vestry for their hearty co-operation during tho past The Churchwarden (Mr. R. Booth) in his report; expressed thankfulnoss at the happy termination of the serjous illness of the vicar, and his visit to England for medical treatment, and from which he had returned thoroughly restored to health. Deep regret was expressed at the death of several parishioners, including Messrs Firth and Chapman, both of whom had taken groat interest in work /f the parish. The ordinary offertories had amounted to £300 7s Bd., as compared with £313 8s Id for last year. Special ouWories totalled £48 4s 8d (including*^ 14s 2d for tho General Mission), against £22 15s 4d last year, and £143 14s lOd was received in pew rents, a decrease of £6 10s 2d. The parishioners were thanked for the very generous response made tothe appeal for a special offertory, which had resulted in the parish being placed in such a sound financial position. Thanks were tendered to the Mite Society for its good work and substantial assistance, and expressed for a legacy of £5 left to the Church by the late Mrs Dement. The superintendents and teachers of the three Sunday schools were thanked for tho time and devotion given to this important branch of the church work, also the choir, the C.E.M.S., the bell-ringers, and the ladies who had given their time to altar and church decorations. j

The Vicar, in addressing the meeting said that the most important event during the year had been tho general mission of help. It was, perhaps, too early to look for results, but he was very hopeful that good results would follow. Ho trusted that the mission had done much to elevate the spiritual life of the parishioners. A branch of the Church of England Men's Society had been formed, with sixteen members, and he was hopeful that the membership would be increased. When in the Old Country ho had observed what a power for good the Society was. There was plenty of scope for it in the parish and there were only two rules (1) to promise to pray to God, and (2) to promise to do some work for the Church. The Girls' Friendly Society had a membership of fifty, and the atter?d_anco= at the- meetings had !,<--e'ri satisfactory. Sunday school teachers were wanted, and they were also short of members in the choir. He hoped that both would be strengthened. In conclusion the Vicar said the parish was under-staffed and what was wanted was either a curate or a deaconess. He trusted that steps would be taken to get assistance in the parish. Ho would guarantee £50 a year towards the stipend of a deaconness. (Applause.) If a deaconess was securer! he was sure the parish would benefit a thousand fold. The Vicar announced that he had appointed Mr. C. 11. Cootc as Vicar's churchwarden for tho year. Mr. Hedges was unanimously elected people's warden in place of Mr. It. Booth, who did not seek reelection.

A hearty vote of thanks was accord ed Mr. Booth for his past services.

After a ballot, the following were elected the Vestry for the ensuing war Messrs A. E. Tasker, W. W. do Castro, E. E. Boyes, C. King, S. H. Strong, W. Andrews, Ramsden, W. York, It. Booth and E. Robinson. On the motion of Messrs Strong and Ramsden, it was resolved that the Vestry be authorised to use their best endeavours to secure the engagement of a deaconess for the parish. Votes of thanks were accorded the organist and choir, the bell-ringois, the auditor (Mr. W. S. Hampson), tbc Mite Society, the superintendents and Sunday school teachers, the lay rf-r.d-crs, the ladies who decorated the church, and the Vicar and Mrs Lucas. The Benediction was pronounced and the meeting concluded. Afterwards a social hour was spent by the parish-

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