PARISH WORK

Temuka Leader, Issue 7569, 28 April 1917, Page 3

PARISH WORK

e\v scheme suggested,

FOR GERALDINE DISTRICT

At Ihe animal meeting of the St. Mary's Church members at I lie Parish Hall on Thursday, tin* Vicar (the Lev, Canon Hamilton) laid before Ihe '.m eting a new scheme, whiehylie said, would, if adopted, rcvolutioaisb' ihe wo. kof the parish. The scheme had (he support of Ahe Bishop. with whom lm had talked dr over when, .he Was a! Geraldine iln;''provions week." 'The Bishop did not. 'think they were doing as mm h as they could in the palish at present, , I,t was not that

11 1 vivru ht/.v. but in so large a parish with imly "twelve men on the Vestry, including die Church Wardens it was difficult to .utilise all the energies of their workers. There were some, men who ’had left the parish, and had gone to small parishes. where they had been put on the Vestry, and had become useful and > keen church members; while when here they had hardly clone io. TliXt Bishop had said that they should decentralise indni by forming sub-coin-' miffccs in parts of the district, such committees to have a responsible' member of" standing as chairman. lie (the speaker) had drawn out a set of recommendations which he would read, and which lie would like-remitted to the incoming 'Vestry it the' meeting so decided. There must, only be one Vestry forthe parish, 'that would have’'to be-' understood. There had at one time been a Vestry at Woodbury, ’ but it laid not been a satisfactory ■arrangement., and he was glad that it had come to an endc Tie would never consent'to bmYicar of a parish where vestries were fighting as to which should do.the least work.

Canon Hamilton then gave the clauses of bis scheme seriatim, the gene'nil idea being that-committees be formed at six centres to manage clinrcli work in their respective districts. Committees were not tb number inure lb; n tec, women to_.be. eligible for . phices',,' committees to be elected annually, a Vestryman to act as chairman, not (p have control of finds. to . collect subscriptions, help to carry mi I (lie work tf tbe Vestry and assist iuthVir work, keep Communicant roll, welcome new comers or ■ strangers, suggest changes To Vicar in services or anytaingiffo]' the' bene--/it of tlie claneli. distribute rop'brts, collect for /Missions, 'encourage Stinilay .Schools and social gatherings, /aid promote, fellowship, generally, among members of the congregation.

The Vicar said some of this work was now being done, hy the C.E.M.S. and by guilds, but he thought that much goo ! work could also be. done 1 iv the>e committees.

Mr T, Hughes' supported, the scheme, and said that for a long time past he had thought there was scope for others onlsidebhe Vestrj, Mr G. A. M.■, Macdonald said the scheme required a'good deal bt dismission. He would' support a resolution to submit it as-.a recommendation to I he incoming Vestry.

Mr Willoughby, asked how, .the, committees were to be elected,, and Canon Hamilton replied, that a meeting of parishooers would do this Mr Willoughby said that something of this suit was wauled. The plan hit Hie nail on iheH.iyad. Not only would it -help to raise moye funds,'but -it would be better in a spiritual-' --way' also.

It was agreed to submit the scheme as a recommendation to The Vestry.