ST. MARY'S CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3621, 10 May 1886, Page 3

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, GERALDINE.

PARISHIONERS' MEETING. The' annual' business meeting of the parishioners of St. Mary's Anglican Church was held m the church, Geraldine, on Friday evening. The Rev. J. Preston (Incumbent) presidod, and there was a fair attendance of parishioners. Tho incumbent's roport, which was read after the minutes of last annual meeting had been confirmed, showed that 75 children had been baptised'Bince the previous Easter, being an increase of 11 over tho last return, , There had been 7^niarriages and 16 burials, being on increase of two and three respectively. The Sunday schools established at Geraldine, Woodbury, Peel Forest, and other places woro working very satisfactorily, and the Bible classes held twice a week m tho publio school were, fairly attended by boys ond girls. The parish. was grcntly indebted to tho Misses Fish for their valuable services as organists, having attended to their duties with unwearied zeal. He thanked all the church workors also for their services. In rofcronce to the funds for which he was personally responsible, ' namely, the bonovolont aid fund, Sunday 'school fund, and the Sunday school library fund, the credit balance at the bank, for the former amounted to £9 4s lid. Tho latter stood tho samo- as last.year, .being still indebted to him m the sum of 7s 9d for

expenses paid m connection with the last box of books from England. The Sunday school account showed receipts £5 4s, and expenditure £3 Is, leaving a balance m hand of £2 4s Bd. The receipts for tho Sunday Bchool treat account woro £18 9s 4d, and the expenditure for treat, Sunday school prizes, etc., £18 14s lid. In regard to the forthcoming five days' mission of tho Revs. Mason and Boddington m the parish shortly, ho suggested the incoming vestry should elect a working committeo to arrange all matters connected m tho mission, which would last from the 27th May to Ist Juno inolusive. Mr Hughes read tho Churchwardens' report showing a deficit m the "general account " of £7 12s Bd. Mr Barker, treasurer of tho stipend fund, then roportcd that the receipts' during the year had been £292 14s sd, and that thero wero 211 subscribers to- the fund, being a light increase m numbers to that of tho previous year. The reports and balanco-sheots wero unanimously adopted. Tho election of officers resulted as follows : — Incumbent's churchwarden, Dr Fish ; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr H. W. Mooro ; vestrymen, Messrs Hughes, Coltmnn, Slack, Kelland, Pye, Pearpoint, Hawko, Briscoe, .Willoughby aud Pizzey. Mr W. E. Barker was re-elected treasurer to tho stipend fund, and Mr Moore's namo was ndded to the list of Btipend collectors. Tho usual votes of thanks to past church officers ond tho chairman terminated the meeting. VESTRY MEETING. At a meeting of tho vestry, held immediately after the parishioners' meeting, it was decided m regard to the forthcoming mission, that tho matter be left to the Revs. J. Preston, Hamilton, and the Missioners ; to report lo a meeting of tho vestry on Wednesday evening next. It was also resolved to hold short services m tho old church on Wednesday ovenings m each weok till the arrival of tho Missioners and to continue them afterwards, tho Verger to receive au addition to his salary for his oxtra services. It was decided to hold a soiree ond toa meeting shortly, tho ladies m tho district to be asked by the incumbent and tho members of tho vestry if thoy would asaist m tho undertaking, and to roply to a meeting of tho vestry on Wednesday next.