ROUND THE CHURCHES.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 603, 24 January 1891, Page 9

ROUND THE CHURCHES.

Thebe are 35 Primitive Methodist delegates in Auck-\. land at present. t jfim Female preachers in the United States are said t>& number about 300. The Salvation Army is now at work in thirty-five different countres. Auckland churches are now holding their annual business meetings. Dr. Webbeb, Bishop of Brisbane, and Coadjutor* Bishop Dawes, are both bachelors. Bbv. W. S. Potter is the new President of the Primitive Methodist Conference of New Zealand. Three Salvationists have been convicted of obstructing the thoroughfare at Masterton, but no penalty was inflicted. It is said that the choir of Holy Trinity Church, North Shore « requires strengthening. 1 It requires to be re-choired perhaps. Owing to the loose system of audit, there will likely be a big steal discovered one of these days in connection with one or other of the looal churches, Messrs Watson, MoCorquodale, Murchie, Logan (2), Deverill and Mitchell are the newly-elected committee of management for Devonport Presbyterian Church. During the sixteen months chat have elapsed Binoe Rev. James Hill was inducted as minister of Devonport Presbyterian Church, the membership has increased by 44. The Primitive Methodist churches in New Zealand are valued at £22,686, while the debt on the buildings amounts to £5759. The parsonages are worth £3000 additional. An effort was made to introduce whistling into the service of the Salvation Army in Balmain, but even the maniac with the big drum revolted against the profane performance. Bbv. Scott West is not far out when he declares that Auckland Christians are only anxious to save their own miserable souls, and leave it to the Salvation Army to go down to the masses. Last year, the income of Holy Trinity Church, Devonport, was £439 3s sd, and the expenditure £444 4s sd. Balance on the wrong side. The Trinity in unity ought to do better than this. i The annual revenue of St. Paul's Cathedral is now twenty-four thousand pounds. Of this sum two thousand pounds are paid to the dean, and one thousand ■ pounds to each of the three canons. Devonport Presbyterian Church is entirely supported by the Sunday collections, which average over £5 weekly. Seats are free, but rents will have. to be imposed unless the collections are more liberal. I trust that, during the present year, Pastor Birch may not be a weeping willow ; that Pastor Chew may not take to smoking ; that Pastor Best, if again thrown from his buggy, will not be at his worst ; that Bey. Gulliver may do well on his travels ; and that Bey. Nelson may have a ' victory.' The ' split ' in tho Salvation Army has commenced, Frank Smith has seceded owing to disagreements on finance. When the General tucks in his toes, there'll be a nice little scramble for the money and some other sect will rise out of the ashes of Salvationism. An extraordinary collection was made at the Welsh Baptist Sunday School at Bhosllanerohrugog. The number of scholar" present was 625, and the amount of the collection was £307 9s. If Tabernacle Baptists could do anything like this, there would be no necessity . for Deacon Matthews appealing to the congregation for a few more ' three-pennies.' At the annual meeting of Holy Trinity Church, Devon* port, held the other day, the officers for the present year were elected as follows : - Minister's warden, Mr J. Dunning ; people's warden, Mr A. Wrigg ; vestrymen, Messrs. Cameron, MoKellar, Queree, Philoox, Tizard, P. Philcox, Gilfillan, Banks, and Waters; auditors, Messrs. O. Mays ard W. H. Brown ; parish nominator^ Messrs. W. Philcox, B. Cameron, and D. McKellar. The new Salvation Army Lieutenant came to Parnell or Saturday night. He was introduced by the local Captain, who pushed him to, the front with — 'Here, this is the new Lieutenant, lasses ; take a good look at him ; he would make a good husband.' The Lieutenant then went forward, and the lasses stood shoulder to shoulder in a ring, presenting their faces to the Lieutenant, and he in turn gave them the holy kiss, not of matrimony, but of brotherhood. Mb Gardiner, the disgraced Presbyterian parson of Sydney, advertises that his divorced wife is still dear to ' him and that ' during the two or three weeks before I left Sydney I went on my knees, I am sure, 50 times pleading for pardon for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, and for the future of my little children ; but without avail. In saying this I do not wish to throw the slightest reflection on Mrs Gardiner. She is good and true, as I have always said ; but she has had very bad advisers around her.' Meanwhile the girl with whom Gardiner carried on so O'Sheamfully has dig-, appeared, and there is a report that Gardiner means to start a lecturing tour.