ST. MARY'S CHURCH

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144665, 27 April 1915, Page 4

ST. MARY'S CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tho parishioners of St. Mary's Church was held on -Monday night in St. Alary’s Hall. Tho Vicar, tho Rev. A. li. Colvile, presided. VICAR’S REPORT. Tito Vicar presented tho following report:—

A Vicar’s report of the church life of Ins parish during the space of one year can be little more than an impression. He cannot sec the veal successes and failures. These are known only' to God. A vicar judges by what he can see and what he can feel. d he average number of Communicants during the past year has been distinctly good. This is one of the most encouraging features of our church life. 1 could wish, however, that there were more weekly and fortnightly Communicants. “Once a month” isn't a had rule lor those, who have been recently confirmed, but a sure indication of a progressive spiritual life is the desire to enjoy more frequency tho privileges Christ gives us through His Church. The attendance at our .Sunday evening services bus been on the whole very good, particularly at limes whyn visitors arc in tho town. Wc are, however. greatly dependent on fine weather for our congregations. The freeing of the pews has not resulted in a largely increased congregation, but the principle remains absolutely the right one, and I hope yet to see the large number of nominal church-people in Now Plymouth wake up to a lively appreciation of their very great privileges. Our visitors thoroughly nnprerialo the services at S. Alary's; why should not our own people do the same;' The Sunday morning services are, as a rule, very poorly attended. Sixty persons were confirmed at tho Bishop’s last visit. The earnestness nnd intelligent attention of the candidates at the preparation classes made it a real pleasure for mo to take? them. 1 am looking, forward to the same sort of classes this year.

I was g'ad to secure the services of the Rev. H. A. Envoi! as priest in charge of tlio Tc Ifomu and lioli Week districts, but hardly has he settled down than we have to lace the loss of Mr. Crawshaw’s services as curare of S. Maiy's. it may bo some time before we can get another to IUI his place, and the work cannot ho done efficiently by one man, for I suppose no one still cherishe* the once popular delusion that all a clergyman has to do is to preach on Sundays.

1 could wish Holy "Week was better kept by our people. It seems to bo made pre-eminently the time for popular entertainments instead of what it should he. a season of prayer and selfdenial. Surely no person possessing i anything of a spiritual—l had almost j said an artistic—imagination could assimilate tho amusing inanities of an American farco at so solemn iv season r as Holy Week. At Homo the C.E.M.S. ! is definitely setting its face against the \ secularization of Good Friday and Holy | Week. It could do so with advantage j in this country. 1 was obliged to drop | the special men’s services last year owing to a decreased attendance. The dinieulty of getting special preachers who would appeal to men, and tho existence of another Sunday afternoon or- | gamsation in tho town, no doubt accounted for the falling off. 1 hope to revive them tentatively litis winter, holding throe such services—in May, July and September. I wish to pay a tribute to the work 1 of tho two retiring churchwardens and • to the members of the Vestry. Mr. i J. Paron. tho Vicar’s warden, gives j up his olhcc after four years’ devoted [ service, during which his abilities have been put mu'ofiorvedly at the service of I tho church. Tho parishioners have been fortunate in securing the services of .Mr. Hutton ns their warden. He has brought groat zeal and industry to new and unaccustomed duties. The members of our Vestry have attended our meetings regularly and with the most praiseworthy punctuality, and havo not grudged time and trouble, while they have treated their Vicar with unfailing courtesy. I wish to thank tho lay-readers for their very valuable services. It would bo impossible to attempt to work a parish like tin's without them, and I wish to assure all other church workers in the parish of my grateful appreciation of their efforts. May God grant us all to realise that whatever work we do hero for tho Church, however humble, is dono for Him. VESTRY’S REPORT.

Tho report of the Vestry, as published in Monday’s Herald, was taken as road. Tho balance sheet showed tho total receipts to bo £l-114 os Bd, and the expenditure £I3BO 2s lOd. Mr. C. E. linker, in referring to the financial position, said that ten years ago tho parish was £ll2O to the bad, but at tho present time that had been converted into a credit balance of £34 2s lOd, besides a reserve fund for repairs. On tho motion of Messrs. Hirst and Paton, tho Vestry report and balance sheet were adopted.

SUNDAY SCHOOL REPORT. Tho supervisor, 'Rev. F. A. Crawshaw, reported ns follows: Tho work of tho Sunday school has progressed steadily during tho past year, and I am thankful to bo ablo to record that instead of having no adult male helpers on tho Sunday school staff, as *vns tho ease at the beginning of last year. I have now tho aid of eight earnest men. Undoubtedly the assistance of such men has been tho cause of the increase in the average attendance of tho boys in the Sunday school. Diblo classes for boys and girls of fourteen years and upwards were commenced during the year and have boon well attended. The Sunday school is divided into three departments—morning, senior afternoon, and primary afternoon. Each department lias its own superintendent, who takes charge of tho school when tho supervisor is not present. We have 275 scholars on the roll and 40 members on tho staff, of whom 45 are teachers. The attendance of teachers and scholars has been good on the whole. Wo always notice there is a fnlling-olf in the attendance of the scholars during tho summer months, when there arc such pernicious things as Sunday concerts to attract children from the pursuit of tho knowledge of the things which matter and which should come first always. School material: The Vestry has kindly given

us Bibles and prayer and hymn hooks. Wo trust that with the aid of these books wo shall be able to give Christian teaching on more definite Church lines. Sunday school treat: A very successful picnic was hold at 801 l Block last January. Airs. Choimcley kindly allowed us the use of her paddocks, and a very enjoyable day was spout there by a largo number of teachers, scholars and parents. The library: As the result of tho gifts of books from friends of tho Sunday school and the hearty support given by tho parishioners to the scholars’ concert held at the end of last year, we were able to rc-open tho library during the year. The scholars seem to appreciate very much this department of Sunday school work. .Melanesian scholar: Tim scholars of the Sunday school have undertaken to support a .Melanesian scholar—Wilson Kaumaran. at the Panina Central School, Solomon Islands—ami they bring contributions towards his support on the first Sunday in each month, which is known to the scholars as ‘‘.Missionary Sunday. 5 ' At the animal meeting of the teachers hold on Tuesday. April 13, the following resolution uas passed unanimously hat the members of tho Sunday school stuff undertake T-o raise tho contributions of this paiish to the Melanesian Mission to £IOO per annum, in order that the parishioners may claim a European priest ir. the Melanesian Mission ns their enrato on foreign service.” Teachers’ classes: Classes for teachers have been hold regularly •hmughout tho year. Wo urgently need two move teachers in the afternoon schojl. and a secretary for the morning Sunday school, and I hope workers will oiler themselves for Hie work. I shouil like to call tho attention of the paush: uu rs once again to the urgent tujcosmlv there is for iho building of i new schoolroom in which tho scholars of the primary department may he taught A sale of work will bo h< id in H.-iol er for tho purpose of raising r. ..ney tor the building fund. In coucuismij, 1 wish to record that it lias been a g i.it pleasure to me to have worked with such an earnest and loyal baud rf workers as wc have in the Sunday school. I tinst parents will sliow their arureciation ot the staff’s work by sending ihe scholars more regul.irlv and punctually to Sunday school.

The statement of accounts, read by Mr. S. W, Shaw, .showed that there was a a deficit of £2 IDs lOd. Reference was made to tho necessity of n new building for the primary department. At present the Brougham Street Hall was used for the infant*, but the building was inconvenient and unsuitable.

The n-port and balance sheet wore adopted. CHOIR REPORT. The choir report, read by Mr. HillJohnson. was as follows:

| The written report of a year's work | by no means fully records the efforts | that go to make up the -history of 12 | months' work: nor can any report filly epitomise the results of that effort; the only worthy record is in the* characters of the persons taking parr in the work. .It is uerhnps worthy of nolo that a more determined effort lias been made of Jaio to set aside Friday as an evening for preparation and rehearsal; a short time past the frequent interferences that took place were practically noticeable; it is a decided improvement that this evening should be set apart particularly for this work., and nothing permitted to clash with this permanent engagement. If the half-holiday question is settled by an alteration of the day. it will probably be found necessary to change the night of rehearsal. From every point of view Friday is the ideal evening for the work ; it is to be regretted that a change may prove necessary. For the first time for some years the. choir organised an invitation social evening, which was spent in rhe schoolroom. The hospitality extended to the members m the past by Mrs. Homo and tiio Vicar and Mrs. Colvilc gave the incentive, and an enthusiastic committee. organised by Mr. Kiddles, got tho details om and carried the evening lo a most successful issue. The many guests of the evening much enjoyed themselves; one and all expressed tho hope that a further effort might be put forth. But the opening of the present war made it quite evident that such occasions were very much out of place; with intimate friends, close personal relations, and many acquaintances, risking life in the struggle, it was felt that such evenings muse stop. With the restoration of happier times we hope to renew these pleasant gatherings. It is a matter for some proper pride that the choir of St. Mary’s is being well represented at the front; Messrs. M. Guy, J. E. Simpson and K. Dowling having all boon at ono time or another connected with the choir. In addition, wo have to record the loss of Mesdamos Weller, Trent, Kossiter; the Minscs Gideon, Hooker. Herbert. Naysmith, Trcoby , and Lewis; and Messrs. Trent, Kiddles, ; Mitchell, Cooke, Hill and'Weller. Wo jure in need of tenors, but men’s voices I generally will be welcome, and always provision must be made for removals and sickness. It is not safe to work on a bare minimum. It is a matter of tho greatest importance that the church people should realise that on them alono depends the responsibility of supplying the church’s workers. Persons who aro Communicants must wako up to the fact that they have pledged themselves to carry on the work of tho church, and tho annual roll call of workers removed to another sphere should bo tho call at onco to others to take their vacated places. Work that is worth doing is always the product of effort and labour, tho lack in St. Mary’s is that, very few, if any, make provision or preparation to take a serious place in this most important department of church \vork. Choir ■work means selfdenial in time, hard work both in preparation and actual rehearsal; it is to men and women of grit and pertinacity that such facts form the inducement to join hands and work together. Specialised work means a special preparation, this alono spells success; if there is no success look to tho beginning of things, and yon- will find that weakness of preparation is the cause in this, as iu all departments of life. On the motion of Messrs. Paton and Hutton the report was adopted.

LAY-READERS’ REPORT. The lay-readers’ report was as follows: The work of tho lav-readers proceeds much as usual. Further volunteers for this branch of church work would he very welcome, a-s the members of the present staff arc called upon to conduct services more frequently than thev should be. These calls will probably become heavier when Mr. Crawshaw leaves the parish. IN fen who own bicycles. or other means of conveyance, and who would be prepared to undertake journeys to the outlying churches arc specially required, and it is earnestly hoped that further help may be

forthcoming in this direction. Tho departure of Mr. Trent, one of our readers, for Christchurch is much regretted. He had only been with ns a few months, and his services were mnch appreciated. Tho attendance at most of tho churches at services conducted by Jayreaders loaves much to, be desired, hut Omata is an outstanding exception in this respect. The congregation at Bell Block, for instance, on Easter Sunday evening consisted of thirteen, no organist being provided, and- this was the only service there on this important day in the church year. -The average attendance at Moturoa has dropped to almost nil. If people could bo brought to realise the privilege and duty of attending. divine service, irrespective of who may bo officiating, it would be a great thing for the welfare of the church in the outlying .districts of the parish. Wo should like once more to appeal to tiio young ladies of St. Mary’s to help with t’uc musical portion of the services at the Old People’s Home. This is at present left to a faithful few. Such help would. I am sure, be much appreciated by both the lay-readers and our aged brethren. On the motion of Messrs. Baton and Kingdou, the lay-readers’ report was adopted. OFFICE-BEARERS. Following arc the office-bearers for tho ensuing rear Vicar’s warden, Mr. S. W. Shaw ; peopled warden, Mr. D. E. Hutton; Vestry. Messrs. T. G. Hirst, H. T Footes. R. Hill-Johnsoti, E. Lash, A. CrooUe. H. G. Srt’goll, .1. Baton, S. Bush. C. E. Baker and E. B. Kmgdon; auditor, Mr. B. C. Morton. The Vestry was empowered to nil any vacancy arising during the year.

tf, hexui and bell block

111 referring to the paragraph in the Vestrv’s report in connection'with the severance of the To Henui-Bell Block portion of the parish from St. 'Mary’s, Mr. C. £. Baker said that fresh life had been infused in the district, and there was now a strong desire for “home rule.” 110 moved'the following resolution: ‘‘That this meeting of parishioners having heard the financial arrangement proposed between the Vestry of St. Mary’s and the committee representing the Tc Henni and Bell Block portion of the parish in the event ot that portion being formed into a separate parochial district, approves of and confirms the same, and, subject to it being also confirmed and approved by a meeting of parishioners in that district. requests the synedsmen representing this parish to hiing the matter before the next Synod, and take all necessary steps to bring the matter to completion/' The proposed arrangements were that immediately the proposed arrangements for separation shall have been passed bv Svund and confirmed by the bishop, St. Mary’s Vestry shall hand over to the now district one-third of the present endowment permanently, and shall further supplement it by a sum of money sufficient to bring the whole, amount up to £9O for the first year. Tins supplementary amount to be granted annually, but subject to a reduction ot £lO every vein'. Tiio Vicar said he favoured the proposal. 'Die idea ot working a largo parish with one head and three curates would be, ho considered, an unworkable one. and the proposed arrangement was more satisfactory. masks of appreciation. Reference was made to the loss to the parish of the late Mr, C. \\. Govett, and Mr. S. Shaw moved: “That this meeting of parishioners place, on record its appreciation of the services of the late Mr. C. W., Govett.” Mr. Shaw also moved; “That the parishioners of St. Mary’s dosiro to place on record the loss the diocese and the

parish have sustained in the death ot the late Archdeacon - Walsh, and that a suitable memorial be erected.” A suggestion was made that memorial windows could ho placed in the portion now being added to the church. The resolutions were carried. . GENERAL. . * A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. S. Lush and others who had assisted in the erection of the Vogeltown Sunday School.

THE GREY CAR . MYSTERY.

,'COPYRIGHT.]

By A. WILSON BARRETT.

Author of “The House Ovor the Way,” ‘‘The Silver Pin.” “A Soldier’s. Love,” etc. CHAPTER V.

The next morning Laurence Carton, descended late to his breakfast in his rooms in Victoria Street. He had had .a restless and disturbed night, perhaps a little due to his festive dinner the evening before, but probably more to the strange adventure which had delayed him upon his homeward road. And so, with a trifle of-a headache and a rather gloomy outlook upon life, ho turned his handsome face to an examination of the breakfast prepared for him, and turned idly over the pages of the neatly-folded daily paper laid by the side of his hot plates. But he had not given much more than a glance at tho printed sheet before, his breakfast, neglected, he was devouring one of its printed columns with the intenscst interest, and such a thrill as a newspaper had hardly ever given him before. For this is what he read: “MURDERED LADY FOUND IN THE MALL. “TERRIBLE DISCOVERY BY A SWEEPER.

“At an early hour this morning a startling discovery was made by one of the sweepers employed by the County Council in St. James’s Park. “The man, named William Brown, was on his way to his work, and had occasion to cross the Park in the direction of Carlton House Terraco. Taking a short cut across the grass, ho was startled to sec lying upon the ground the body of a woll-drosscd woman, in evening clothes. A closer examination of the motionless form assured him that the woman was dead, and, quickly shouting for assistance, he succeeded in attracting the attention of the constable on the beat, who speedily convinced himself that the unfortunate lady had been dead for some hours. It will bo remembered that tiiere was a particularly bad fog in London last night, and for a time it was imagined that the deceased lady might have in some way or other become lost in the darkness and so have succumbed to the fog and the cold night air. A further examination of the body, however, showed that she had met her death by violence, having been stabbed to the heart by a sharp instrument of some kind.

“The deceased, who was about twenty years old, and has not yet been identified, was of small stature, rather thin, and fair-haired. There were no marks upon her clothing, but by her dress and the jewels she was wearing it was evident that she occupied a superior station in life, and was a person of some considerable position and refinement'.” “Good heavens! How extraordinary!” thought Laurence Carton, putting down the paper at length, and gazing into the fire, regardless of his rapidlycooling breakfast. “Why. the Mall seems to have been buzzing with tragedy last niyln,. Fortunately, this cannot have anything to do with my mysterious adventure, for this body was found on the grass some distance from where ‘my’ car was. and this woman was small and fair. I almost thought for a moment that my jealous friend had vented the rest of his wrath upon that poor woman in the car. But she was dark, and a tall woman, too. Besides, he cleared right out after, he had thrown me down. Still, I think I’ll look in at Vino Street during the worning and tell them about my experience. The two things might he connected; one never knows. They are both mysterious enough.” Alter he had finished his breakfast, still determined to pay a visit to the police-station, lie put on his things and strolled out, noticing that tho evening papers were already upon tho streets, and that their bills were unitedly shrieking with the thrilling discovery of the morning. There is something about tho atmo-« sphere of a pouce-statioii tnat is calculated to que.i the spirits of the boldest, me cold glances- oi cno constables going about tneir duty, the eiasl) ql keys, tbe uistont closing oi Heavy aiid chilling doors, the stern, summing-up glance oi tne oilicer in charge, all help to depress tile most enterprising individual; and -Laurence, as lie stammered mut his story, surrounded by uio chilly stone wans, aud beneath tne searching eye of the inspector, felt all this unsympathetic atmosphere at its coldest, aud knew himself tailing to impress. After leaving the police-station, he made his way, a little dishevelled and red, into Piccadilly again. As he strolled down the street, from which, all signs of last night’s fog had now disappeared, he stopped suddenly with a slime. Ins thoughts reverting to the little silver medallion from the belt, which he had crammed into his dress trouser’s pocket after the disappearance of the Hying motor-car. “I forgot to mention my trophy of war,” ho murmured. “And I’m glad I did. They would have thought 1 had stolen it, X believe.”

CHAPTER VI. Tile mystery of the murdered girl, so strangely discovered ill a London park, iomaiacd ns inexplicable as ever, Laurence saw from his paper as ho turned it over next morning at his meal. But in truth he bore a certain spite against that extraordinary occurrence since his visit to Vine Street on tho previous day, and in any case a letter which he had received by post, and which lie returned to again and again during breakfast, interested him much

It mine from an old and much-loved aunt of his—a woman who had taken a. warm interest during the greater part of. his life in her handsome barrister nephew .and who had helped him substantially upon various occasions when his finances were not in eo flourishing a condition as at present. Tho old lady’s letters at any time would have been of. interest to him; hut ou this occasion her communication bore an importance in his eyes unwarranted by many of the affectionate chatty documents ho was wont to receive from her. For it suggested a pleasant way of spending the afternoon on a day when he hadn’t quite known what to do.

“My dearest boy,” the letter ran. 'I haven t seen yon for an ago, and your old aunt is beginning to think you have (juitft forgotten her among the new friends and fresh interests that are

doubtless surrounding such a nice and fortunate young man. “I hope, however, my dear boy. that those friends and interests do not include any beautiful and fascinating young ladies, and that you haven’t lost lately that rather impressionable heart of yours, because I want your help and advice. You will wonder what' those two valuable things have to do with the Joss.of your heart. Well, if you will come to tea with me this afternoon (Wednesday, when you receive this), you may perhaps guess. My dearest boy, she is the loveliest, most adorable, and most mysterious creature that ever dropped from the skies in the strangest way ... but I will tell you all that when I see you, and when yon see her. . . . But come to tea, and you will understand. —Auntie.” ‘‘Shall I understand?” thought Laurence, smiling, as for the dozenth time Bo read this intriguing letter. “Well, I may, and in tho meantime all I can gather is that I am to meet a young iady; that she is, according to my aunt's ideas, an exceedingly attractive person, and that her description certainly sounds strange and fascinating. I wish it was four o'clock.” Four o’clock—the earliest hour at which Laurence felt that ho could proceed to tea —came at length, however; and, dressed in his smartest clothes, he started out to hear and sec more of his aunt’s new and wonderful discovery. He was shown by the old manservant, greeting him as a favoured guest, straight into his aunt’s drawing-room, where the latter, an applc-chcekod, homely old lady of the style of other days than those—when no one is old — received him warmly.

“I thought you would come, you naughty boy,” she said, offering him her check, which he saluted gallantly. “Then why 'naughty boy 1 ” he .asked, smiling. “If you had thought I wouldn’t, t could comprehend.” ‘.‘Because I had to tempt you,” smiled hack the old lady. "It isn’t me you have come to see, but my treasure.’’

“But who is this paragon who has captured your soft heart? What is she, and where docs she conic from?”

His aunt looked at him—a rpicer little glance, half smiling, half doubtful. “To none of those questions can I give cxen the faintest resemblance of an answer,” she said, slowly, “No answer?” Laurence stared still more.

“Not a vestige of one. and I doubt, I very much doubt, if she herself could do any better than I.” “Good heavens!” And this time Laurence really did look startled. “Not know wiio she is. or where she comes from!” ho ejaculated.,

But I will tell you alf about it. You shall see her and speak to her, and then you will love her ns much as I do.”

“That sounds interesting.’’ said Laurence. “Proceed.’’ “Well, last night I went to dine with old General Mordaunt at Buckingham Gate, as 1 always do on his birthday. Afterwards wo sat and listened to -Matid playing the harp. Then I ordered ray carriage. Wh.cn I came out, to my horror, I couldn’t see my carriage, I onldn’t see my horses, or my coachman, or the street. It was a real, thick, pea-soup fog. However, I couldn’t go back and listen to Maud on the harp again, so I started off. We got as far as Buckingham Palace. Then Fulham got lost. Ho has driven me for twenty years, but ho got lost outside Buckingham Palace, and for at least an hour he wandered round and round the geranium bed and the Victoria Memorial, trying to find the way to Hyde Park Corner. At last I mildly suggested that James had better get down, find out which was the way, and then lend the horses. Fulham objected; I think ho was afraid of being loft up there alone. But I won. James descended, and vanished. When he at last returned he was accompanied by a lady. “‘What is this, James?’ I asked.

“ T have found this lady,” he replied. T don’t think she is very well.’ And there, in his hand, so to speak, was the most lovely girl I have ever seen. I looked at her, and, my dear Laurence, I fell in love with her without a second's hesitation. For sweetness, for gentleness, for a sad, appealing, pathetic, imploring youthfulness and helplessness I -. But you are going to see her for yourself.”

“But she spoke, I suppose?” said Laurence, staring. “She could explain how she cams to wander into James’s hand, ns you put it, 1 suppose? She wasn t dumb?” “I shall tell you no more,” said his aunt. “You shall come straight in to my snuggery and see her for yourself.” Laurence followed, and ns’the door of his aunt’s little sanctum opened he started. The dark-eyed beauty sleeping softly there was his goddess of the restaurant dinner! (To bo continued.)