ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3439, 19 April 1879, Page 3

ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS

ST. JOHN'S.

The annual meeting of parishioners in connection with St. John's Church, Latimer square, took place last evening in the schoolroom, the attendance being moderately good.

The chair was taken by the Incumbent, the Rev H. C. M. Watson, who briefly sketched

the church history of the past year, and congratulated the parishioners upon the generally satisfactory state of things which existed. Ho mentioned that he had received a letter froru Mr Luudi'rgan, who was coming by the Claud Hamilton, and would doubtless be here at the Litest l>y the first Sunday in May. Mr "Watson nexfe referred to the Sunflay school, and stated that Mr Twent.yman had kindly undertaken the duties of Suporin-

tendent, so that it might be anticipated that 1 lie condition of the school during the nextyear would materially improve. The attendance at the church had been remarkably good, and so great had the application for

seats been that at least 100 additional could be immediafolj let were they available.

Mr Curnow, on behalf of the Vestry, read ;he following report : —

" Notwithstanding the fact that there have been fewer offertories this year than there were lust year, yet the total amount of money collected exceeds Unit or 1 lust year. The financial sheet of 1878 shows a sum of £607 fis od derived from that source in 1877-8. This year, although the offertories were fower in number, tho sum received from the same source is £(iil 3s 2d. But this does not mark the whole of the increase to the revenue of tho church from tho offertories. Omitting tho special offorlories of the Indian Famine Fund in 1877-8, and for tho Kai-

anguta Kelief Fund in 1878-9, it will bo seen

that the offertories of lust year were £54G 18s 9d, while those of tho presont year are £576 5s 9d, showing an advance of nearly £30 over those of tho former jear. There is also an increase in the amount receded irom seat ront9 (£322 17s ugainst £298 10s). The total income from those two sources is £931 Os ?d ; out of tin's tho sum of £897 11s 61 has ben p lid for tho ordin >ry expenses of the year. There has been an extraor. iioarv expenditure for re-roofing orguu ohumlier, asphalting footpaths, fencing, glazing, &c., of £70 5s 9d. To meet this extra ex pcmliiurc utid other necessary expenditure for repairs and additions to church, grounds, and parsonage, the Vestry resolved to make an appeal to tho parishioners, and authorised the printing of a circular letter, in order to give effect to the resolution, but on reconsideration it was thought desirable to abstain just at

present from making the appeal. The consequence has been, of necessity, an increase in tho overdraft. The Vestry would recommend to their successors to collect so much as will pay tho extraordinary expenditure incurred, ns mentioned above — say tho sum of £150— and (hey trust Hint Hie congregation and Bcatliolders, by increased liberality in their offerings and subscriptions, will assist tho incoming Vestry to curry out tho necessary work of the church during the year upon which they are now entering.

Tlio statement of assets for tho year endiug March 31 showed receipts as follows: — General offertories, £433 16s 9d ; special collections, Melanesian Mission, £12 19s 3d ; Kaitangata Relief Fund, £46 ; Oxford church, £ •!• ; Maori Mission, £10 ; assisted parishes, £39 1s j Pension Board. £10 Is 9cl ; Sunday school, £9 17s 6d j total, £605 los 4d ; pew rents, £322 17s ; Mr Mountfort, cheque returned, £19 7s Od ; cash, in liand, £H ; balance due to Bank, £451 19s 2d ; total, £1401. 19s 3d. Tho statement of liabilities was as follows : — Lighting, £29 ss ; repairs to organ, £30 ; small accounts, £1 9s 8d 5 total, £60 14s Bd. The assets were — arrears of seal; rents £27, of which £12 hud been received.

On tho motion of Mr Carruther?, seconded by Mr Hobbs, the adoption of the report, and balance-sheet was agreed upon, and it was resolved that printed copies bs obtained for distribution.

The Incumbent nominated Mr Dohson as his churchwarden for the ensuing year. Mr Henry Thomson, who was for tho third time nominuted as the parishioners' churchwurden, was disposed to declino for two reasons. The firsi w*is that the affairs of the Church generally went Die wrong way, and that tho churchwardens were placed in a very nasty position. It v.as very unpleasant to have to do with an institution which was always in a bankrupt condition. The congregation should supply the necessary funds', so as to lighten tho duties, when doubtless there would bo rnoro aspirants for tho office. He felt that thero was great room for improvement in tho amount of the offertories, for it could not for a moment bo considered that £600 was a sufficient total for a year's collections in a church which had upwards of 500 people both at tho morning and evening services, giving an average of about £12 as tho contributions of 1000 people. He did not think pooplo looked at this matter in tlio proper light. It was just as incumbent upon thorn to go to church provided with the proper contributions as it was to go in proper clothing, and their failure in the matter of contributions was no doubt owing to thoughtlessness. As ho had a great objection to hearing this subject referred to from the pulpit, it remained for him, as a layman, to embrace an opportunity liko the presont of calling attention to the defect — to the frequency with which the collecting bag was passed by. His second reason was that so much unnecessary trouble was caused by the affairs of tho Church. A certain amount of trouble was always expected, but he did not aco why bo much should bo given in collecting tho pew rents. This, again, was the result of thoughtlessness. Were promptness observed a great deal of interest would bo saved ; and at present they had to pay from £30 to £40 in this way. All churchwardens would tell them that this was a serious matter, and would have to relate much the game experiences.

Eventually Mr Thomson acquiesced in the unanimous desire that he should again act as churchwarden. The following gentlemen wore elected as vestrymen : — Messrs Curnow, Manning, Hobday, Carruthers, Murphy, W.-D. Wood, Williams, Ross, H. H. Paul, and Jas. Collins. On the motion of Mr Dobson, seconded by Mr Hobbs, a vote of thanks was accorded to tho ohoir and Sunday School teachers. The Chairman stated that the markod improvement in the ohoir was due to the cordial manner in which all worked together. Evon

ab the last Wednesday evening pm-'iiro UJ gentlemen and 12 ladies were piv.-eni-, and strangers found it a pleaairo to drop in and listen to the singing. This happy slate of things was mainly due to Mr Mackintosh, the choir master, and to the fact that the organist worked in entire accord with the-ehoir. There were now 12 gentlemen acting as teachers in the Sunday School, and Mr L'weirynun would greatly assist thair efforts.

On the motion of Mr H. H. Paul, seconded by Mr Cuff, a vote of thauks was accorded to the outgoing vestrymen ami churchwardens for their attention to the affairs of tho parish during the past year.

The subject of a now hymnal was introduced, and i 1 ; was stated that the Special Committee would in due course bring up a report on the subject. T\\>i meeting was closed in the customary manner.