ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2146, 19 April 1928, Page 4

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS. The Vicar of Te Awamutu, Rev. R. Hailey Trill, presided over a good attendance at the annual meeting of parishioners of St. John's Church on Tuesday evening, and he was ed by his principal office bearers. . ? The treasurer, Mr J. G. Wynyardj read the report and balance sheet,, which made reference to the improved financial position this year as compared with a year ago. Accounts are £B4 behind expenditure of the past two years. During the year a legacy of £IOO from the late Mrs Pollard was received, but it has not yet been utilised. Exclusive of the Pollard legacy the bank overdraft stands at £213 17s 3d. There is still £94 3s due on the motor car. The envelope system has been re-introduced at St. John's, and also at Pirongia and Kihikihi, with satisfactory results. It is hoped to extend the system. The report concluded: No body, not even the church, can function without the necessary funds, and can only function satisfactorily, when the required amount of finance is in hand. The annual sum received, as shown in the annual balance sheets 'provides merely for bare necessities,, out of which we can only offer our vicar and curate barely a living wage, and if you parishioners, individually and collectively, desire your church tobe the power and help that it ought to be you must cease looking about for the small change when setting forth for worship. We each must be prepared to take our share of the financial responsibility as well as the church responsibilities.—The report, and balance sheet were adopted. The annual report of St. .John's Women's Guild pointed out the small active membership, and appealed for accessions to the ranks. Articles made by members realised £9 15s, the children's fancy dress ball returned £l6 0s 6d, the autumn flower show £6, the bulb show £4l, the garden fete £42 13s 7d. All these amounts, including £7 from the Guild account, were hand--ed to the Vestry for current expenses, instead of, as intended, clearing off the debt on the vicarage. The Sunday School statement of accounts showed a credit of £4 19s, which had been paid over to the vestry. The Bible Class report showed that attendances are larger now than formerly, but there is room for more girl members. After describing the allocation of funds raised, the financial statement was shown as "all square." The election of officers for the current year was then proceeded with and resulted as follows: Vicar's warden, Mr K. A. Swarbrick (re-appoint-ed); people's warden, Mr H. Holt; treasurer, Mr J. G. Wynyard; auditor,, Mr G. O. Jourdain; vestry, Messrs J. G. Wynyard, W. Mensforth, H. Y. Collins, W. Osborne, H. Focke, C. A. Finch, T. E. Todd, B. Morris and F. O. Aldridge. The vicar, reviewing the year's work, said how much the co-operation of the office bearers and parishioners, meant to him. The wardens especially had been helpful, for when he came to the parish the extent of his charge almost appalled him? however, he had. been encouraged and assisted most loyallv. There had been great cooperation among the parishioners in the out districts, and everywhere a. bright helpfulness was annarent. The lay readers had been most helpful, and really had enabled him to satisfactorily ai*range services for all the districts during the very difficult times when the parish had no curate. MiTrill said during his nineteen years as. vicar in various parishes he had never had such an able secretary and treasurer as Mr J. G. Wynyard; he had never known the work of parish accounting done so well as is the custom in Te Awamutu parish. He regretted that in so extensive a parish it had been impossible for him to attend the Sunday School and Bible Class as he had hoped to do, but he realised, and appreciated, the value of the work done by the secretary, superintendent and officers of the institutions referred to—they had carried out the work very satisfactorily indeed. The achievements of the Ladies' Guild had been truly wonderful, considering the.small,, number of members. The vicar went on to express regrets that Mr Mizen had not been abel to carry on his helpful work as organist; at the same time he voiced his sincere thanks to those ladies who had nobly come forward to assist. Since his induction, Mr Trill said, it might be a matter of interest to Parishioners to know that no less than 560 services in St. John's Church, and the usual number in the. out-dis-tricts, had been held. Sunday schools at Kihikihi, Pirongia, Paterangi and Te Mawhai had been commenced, with very satisfactory results; also Ladies' Guilds at Pirongia and Kihikihi. He was very cheered and gratified to note the earnest endeavours of the various church organisations to work together unitedly. It was this whole-hearted cooperation that enabled the very best and most satisfying work to be carried on in the parish. After the business had been dealt with, a social hour was spent, Meidames J. Oliphant and Osborne, ajd. Mr E. White contributing delighted musical items. A tasty supper served by the ladies. ~ -