MEETING OF PARISHIONERS OF ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIV, Issue 4197, 31 March 1882, Page 3

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS OF ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.

o i ■■■"■ A! -spiiciAi meeting of the parishioners l of St. George's was held in tho Sohool-house, Rolleston-strpet,'last nights •• : ; J-j;' | The Calder explained wore two' important, points 1 ;! becon-sidered-rtlie; chan'geVqf and : the . financial (affairs. |, With f to (the •latter, they:,must: take, into, .ponsiileratioi not only present responsibilities ,but those which'- they - were i about Vonter 'upon, as the .result of • the ; mk'de 1 at the anniial ! 1 liiefcting. l • He' was pleased to bo able to say tliafr there were' a great ;number' oftliirigs'in' 1 train.; whiih would shortly be developed.'lt ' Hy/is ,yery satisfactory to,- him to notice tlje iit>j>rovement that had taken place . during tlio few months ho had beenere-r-tho ; a,ttontiyeness of the . congregation, l the -.increase of church -workj' and; the • more liberal; offertories, The reason why-it wasineoegsary to select a'lnow -hymn-book was that the edition of the "NewiZealand Hymnal" notf in use was out .of p|int, and!thero was not suifficient'"clbiiiand to' indiico tlio publishers to issue a' further supply. Ho suggested that the choice had better be between " Hymns Ancient and Modorn," " Dr. A. Sullivan's Church Hymns," and "Barnby's Hymnary." nlt.,was not absolutely,necessary that tlio : change should ' have effeot.); immediately, ;; :J but -. ; }2 timp could bo fixed- by the'meeting. _ : Mr D. M. Beero moved as an.initiatory step;that;, it:-is desira.bre -to.v oliaugo the hymnbook,'';;iilr . Mi- reason for dosiritig.tlip change-waspartly because n? other cbngi;egation was using the" New Zealand ; : Hytiifial;V \therc. ought to be 'no. a : 'mbnopoly of the present';supply. Ho had personally it strong objection to " Hymns Ancient and Modern," as smacking stronglyof ritualism, which was repulsive -to tho great mass of the congregation.' He; was aware that in soino churches ! certain hymns <■ wore by resolution struck- out of : tho book, but that was a most oxtraoi'dinary procedure when a reformed church was obliged:,to adopt li hymnal tfliich necessitated; such, a practice/ -It' was ati any rate-; sailing;,vory olosd" to the 1 wind.'' The " New. Zealand Hymnal "rIM' 1 served 1 the puiposo of asMstingi,the; ; devotions, : of 1 '• tho congregation for a number'of years, and might do, s.oj-foj'the future, ,Ho,jsaw no rcasoh.;for. iphange, ixoi adequate ; groiiudp liaving'beon sliown.v l; :> f . .i.-.uT i i Rev. Mr Calder said ho had thought # the question 1 of monopoly himself) and had spoken of it to Mr Upton, there wero'veryfew copies extant, Of,course it might be possible to obtain second-hand copies, which would last them for twelve months, but that would hardly be satisfactory. !' Hymns Ancient andModerii" was used throughout -England and' Australia, and' lVad i been 1 ordered by tho' Authorities for use in tho army and navy. 110 .might stato that ono gontleman had offered to 'supply 250 Copies of ! 11 Hymns': Ancient arid'Modbrnj" for thb'use of'thofcdngrogation. If tho . miJOtitig . should deeido t'o continue with tlio 'present books'it would bo noccsfery ! at'loast'to-liavo tin'edition of tunes.

Tho motion was' put- and carried by 2G to 18. . A discussion, then ensued as,,to,,the direction 'tho change ' should take.'' ' Mr Adams said tho only objection was in regard to" Hymns Ancient and Modern," and not to t|io ; mere fact, of a, change, He considered that the book referred to was directly opposed to Protestant teaching on several points, and tho people would be risking a great mistake by:adopting,it. \ Mr Horatio. Phillips suggested tliat " Mercer's Hymnal" could bo used. , Mrf the con, sidofation of tho matter be postponed for threp.; months,, iand in tho meantime the Vestry bring up a .report on tho matter, j Mr F. 11. G; 1 Woodward seconded tho motion. . . t j • '-'The aspect of financial affairs' was next 'cbnsidpred.'i;; •; , :I J.V •! i ,Mr,,oalder,,read froinva mpmorandiiiii showing .thai,", tho . fti;st,y loan ~ou tlio cliurcli f:of ,! £300 j . had'beep,, issued in;-tho, year,.1872. .In August,.lß7s,'this amount had.been reduced by £125, leaving a balance iof £175, tho- intei'ost> on which; at 8 percent., was £35, makihgin rill 1 £210.',Tlie second • loan bad bedri raised' in, 1872,' for '£300;' live' yearsilt 8 per cent.,; atid, ! int6r6st' amounting to £72j TheiiVoyerdraft at'the' .bank' was' £35pj's6 tliat their'total debt ; was! sbuiothingiiko £030.,.' Ho ,had.;rcaspnito' .b.clie.yo' :tl)ht jf action! . was .tflken -tlio, .loans, .jio reissued, by the '. Standing .Committee at.6 •per cent. ,dHe. suggested] i that'! a. Gif t .iiucj tion might be promulgated, or that .mem bers ofitho'-'congrogation 'shouldi'agrS'e to give; ; periodical contributions 1 towards tlio reduction,of tlio" liability. ! A : good method'Voi" pro nib ting t ;' th 6; t ! ;! tno Veine p t Ayoiild; I 'bo!toV/.^vgdriiso-; at. tlio , jbngregation : .cqiild bo discussed.'!,!;! 'j,. ' j . A-jongthy discussion ensued i's to, ways and. means,; and : it'. was decided- that the Vestry again: toltho Standing; Oom-f mitte'o for a reduction oftlio into of interest; Tho "Vestry; : '\vere ! authorised to : invite tlio;parishioners' to becpmo members' of tho' cominittdb' to i! inaiiglirato' 'tlio'' gift auctiotf. ' 'Messrs' Speight and Tizard Wrp appointed a cp.mmittoo.t9 .collect^subscWpf tionsJoVassjst! iniwiping off ihq po\ver! to, add, to. |heir number,, Tljese gentlemen proceoded to action immodiaipjy and £13 vßs in passing around tlio room', arid obtained promises of monthly payments ! amounting to £3 : 9s.' It • was arranged ' 'tliat 5 ' the Yesty diaiid' 'over the ciiafgo of •tlib'Rbllestbh-street building, to the cqmmitteb a source of!reveriiib,!'.' I '. ; !' 1 '"! i ', j ThW/!meetitig! f vofc of thanks 'to the ;:;.!;!,,!!, j:,! j