ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 30 May 1923, Page 10

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

] .MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. | The .annual parish meeting of St. Mary’s was heid in the St. Mary’s ! Schoolroom last night, when there was ' a large and representative attendance, line Yen. Aremieacou Julius presiding. I . The Archdeacon said that they met that evening under unusual circumj stances. 'they had not a report ami i balance sheet to present to the meeting as both church wardens were out or die district: .Mr Simpson was in England, and Mr Bryan King was indisposed. Without them the vestry could not submit a report. Continuing the Archdeacon stated that the outstanding event in the past year was the arrival of the Rev. Mr Gerard. Mr Gerard was beginning bis ministerial work, and his stay so far showed that lie was going to do things later on. The Archdeacon acknowledged his indebtedness to Mr Gerard and Mr Smith who had been most loyal and devoted assistants, it was owing to his loyalty to the parish and to him (the Archdeacon) ihat Mr Smith had refused to leave the parish. (Applause.) In regard to the deaconesses, the Archdeacon prais--1 ed 'their beneficent and humanitarian i work. Referring to the building activities during the year, the Archdeacon spoke of the completion of the school at St. John’s, where the Sunday School had grown 100 per cent, since the building was opened. The building was in other ways proving a valuable adjunct. He referred in eulogistic terms to the cuergotic work of the St. John’s Guild, and also spoke of the work at Y\ aiimuaitai. This, ho considered, would be an important part of the town later on. and the church there was going; steadily on. Sandietown nan a very flourishing guild‘which was preparing for future developments in that locality. .Kensington Was not over nourishing so far as funds were : concerned, and badly wanted a hall j and a school. Not to he daunted the I i ,eo P ,e tiiere had set out to do the I work with their own hands. (Applause.) One could not speak of the spiritual work There had been a large immber of confirmations as was usual o(,m ld oI - St . Ma , v , s ])adbcon b Yith the requirements of the church alld vc ‘y the magnificent carSt ; co ' ei '' ll « the whole Of tile chancel floor ' like to b s°no PUt Cl °"’"'- i He Wou]d a,so nive to see a memorial to the earlv nmmbers and pioneers 0 n the chancel As fai as the vear ahead wis irsWrW "ir, ' service durino* * * f 1 ni devoted n'ocAi™ ofiSl’Si re V, His !‘»n ask a o Teat j J ad doi l e made and lie did not tl-inf- 1 them > them more faith in \i ie - Coldd show »'oped God b|Ji ,e a' ' Vork ' He tW work of the oarfe ■ T a]| and -Hr M J j If; 1 " 11 u \ the future. Vestry, subnihted ° U b . e,la,f of He Mol ‘k and tiie financmf P ° r: u™ cl, urch timreh. Re stitvl P°, sitl ? n of the Piled the report 'on ■ - lud co.mpas available. The VosE-t " n ? at,on to report tint $ ' vas pleased shoumd a Sti fam C ° me - for the year The general 7 im Provement. -j j t , oirei i>oi iey wpj’p tmotq i 1 ~ d > against £UOI U 9d Hst L ls vear sho vL g ; UnSt £BTD 4s 8d last > snowing an increase of £sl m J t, Th e seat rents were £129, JgainS ~1-3, and the Stipend Fund £472 4s -d. against £444 15s 6d. As the weekly o/lei tones were not sufficient to meet ne ordinary expenditure it was hopdd that all parishioners who did not give regularly to the offertories would con}.l nu( j to give liberally to the Stipend •*T nd ‘ , k lG P ai V s h had been fortunate, after a long period of anxiety, in securing the services of the Rev.G. V. Gerard as assistant curate, and his faithful services, together with those of the -Yen. Archdeacon Julius and the-Rev. H. \V. Smith, were verv much appreciated by the parishioners. On December .14 last a meeting of parishioners authorised the raising of a sum of £I6OO on debentures, at oi per cent., for the following purposes:—(l) Installation of electric light in churoh and schoolroom; (2) building of additional room at Kensington; (3) towards building of curate’s residence nt Highfield. Of this amount' the sum of £IOOO had been raised. The whole of the money required for the neiv curate’s residence had been provided temporarily, but the amount required for interest on loans and sinking fund, was heavy, and it was lioped that the parishioners 'would show their appreciation of this fonvard movement by liberal donations to the offertories, and by otherwise helping to increase the church funds. The Deaconess Fund required more liberal support than had hitherto been given. 'Pile thanks of the parish were due to Miss Priest for time and attention she had given to this fund. Tho cordial thanks of the parishioners were due to the Sunday School teachers, lay readers, deaconess, organist and choir,together with the members of tho various guilds, councils of the suburban churches, and all other church workers. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted—Vicar’s warded, Mr C. G. BrynnKing: parishioners* warden, Mr H. Bakm , vestry, Messrs H. .1. Mathers. M. J. Kmihlev, C.-E. Tori esse, A. O. Oborn, IV. Priest, A. C. Murray, IV. D. Re veil, E. G. Beckett, G. A. .Bridges, and S Andrews; delegates to Arc-hidiaconal Conference, Messrs E. G. Bec-kett and S. Andrews. GENERAL. Mr A. C. Murray, on behalf of Mr R. 11. Bryant, rend a letter in which several matters connected with the church were discussed. The method of church collection was criticised, and free scats in the clmrcli were advocated. He suggested posting notices at the clmrcli doors: “All seats free.”

.Ho also suggested the “building ol a [■*" new altar, and various improvements, winch received approval. It was decided to refer Mr Bryant’s fetter to the vestry for consideration. The Archdeacon put forward a plea for a .fourth member ■ of the Timaru j clergy whom he suggested should la- | hour in tire Melanesian Mission. He I understood that this woidd amount to j something like .-£l5O per annum, and j v oidd give the church a real interest j in the mission, '[’lie children last year i collected some £SO for the mission, and j other contributions brought in about ! j £2O. and he hoped the necessary funds 1 i would be forthcoming. ; j Birring the evening musical items ■ were rendered by Mrs P. \V. Rule, Mr A. Wheeler, and Air IV. Bmnsdeii, Mr Vino and AH' Brunsden, jun., actirrg as ; j accompanists. i A very enjoyable supper was also , served up and greatly appreciated. I It was decided that the meeting ' stand adjourned until sucj.i time as the annual report was ready for adop- j tion, and the pronouncing of the benediction terminated the proceedings.