Subscriptions And Offertories Increase At St. Stephen’s Church

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1949, Page 2

Subscriptions And Offertories Increase At St. Stephen’s Church

“I k iow of no other test of church- ( manship than that of church going/ and church-going tends to get into the doldrums, in part perhaps, because of diffusion of effort,” said the vicar, Rev. Nigel Williams, speaking at. tne annual meeting of St. Stephen’s Church parishioners in the Marton Parish Hall on Monday night. Normally, said Mr.. Williams, he took five services a Sunday, and occasionally seven, but his regular churchgoers rarely attended more than two. “We could do very much better than we do,” added the vicar.

Mr. Williams quoted from a letter written by Bishop Holland, who attended a communion service ut Nga Tawa School: “I thought it a perfectly glorious service, just what 1 should prefer ior the girls above every othei form of morning service. That and evensong seems to me to give them the best church can offer as an expression of worship.” Mr. Williams said, that he was of the opinion that parishioners got the best from their Sunday worship at the Holy Communion in the morning and evensong to close the day. Those who attended only for the Communion service miss ed the opportunity of hearing instruction or exhortation, and those who came only in the evening failed to use the searching challenge of the Communion service.

“Whereas you can attend many of the services of the praye. book in the spirit df a spectator, I cannot imagine anyone sincerely joining in the Holy Communion and going away to be a scoundrel,” said the vicar. “Progress may be slow and is always painful, but as the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote last year: ‘Christians may not always be better people than others, but we serve a better Master,’ ” concluded Mr. Williams. Mr A. C. Birch, the people’s warden, stated that the year commenced with a balance of £331 and ended with £l5O, representing a loss of £lBl. The assessment was again £750, or £3OO above the original assessment. And a motor mower accounted for a further £lOO. To offset this £4OO, said Mr. Birch, donations and subscriptions, amounting to £414,' increased by £lOO on the previous year, while general offertories totalled £328, or £l3 .more than the previous 12 months. Considering all things, Mr. Birch said he thought it was a creditable result. A sum of £450 from the church building fund, had been paid for a section in Broadway, which ultimately would give parishioners access to the church from Broadway. Mr. J. F. Openshaw was appointed vicar’s warden, and Mr. A. C. Birch was re-elected people’s warden. The following wre elected as a vestry: Messrs. G. L. Marshall, A. B. Marshall, R. G. Kingdom W. H. Mayo, E. J. Street, G. H. Smith, J. C. Nitschke, H .A. B. Coleman, D. B. Sladden. and H. Slocombe. Mr. G. H. Smith was re-elected auditor ANOTHER HONOUR FOR MISS M. WILKIE. Miss M. Wilkie, who has been identified with women’s hockey in the Rangitikei district for many years, and last year was appointed a New Zealand selector, has won still a further honour. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Women’s Hockey Association, held in Wellington at the week-end, it was decided to form a New Zealand Women’s Hockey Umpires’ Association, which is to be domiciled in Auckland for the first five years At the meeting in Wellington, Miss Wilkie was appointed the North Island representative on the Interpretation Committee of this new organisation. Last season, Miss Wilkie umpired the representative match at Dunedin between New Zealand and Australia. She completed her A special umpiring certificate and became the only active woman umpire in New Zealand to hold this honour. RUGBY FIXTURES AND REFEREES FOR SATURDAY The main senior football match in 1 Rangitikei on Saturday will be the j game between Marton Old Boys and ■ Bulls at Marton and a splendid exhibition is anticipated between these two even teams. Fixtures, grounds and referee appointments were an- 1 nounced last night as follows: .■

Senior: Marton Old Boys v. Bulls, at Marton; referee, Mr. J. Berrett. Ohingaiti v. Rata, at Ohingaiti; referee, Mr. R. Penn. Hunterville v. Rangatahi, at Rangatahi; referee, Mr. R. Gordon Athletic, a bye. Junior. Rata v. Bulls, at Rafa; referee, Mr R. Lewis. Marton Old Boys v. Athletic, at Marton (No. 2 ground); referee, Mr. J Dickson. Rafana v. Hunterville, at Hunterville; referee, Mr. W. S. Andrews Turakina, a bye. Thirds (open): Marton Old Boys v. Athletic, at Marton (No. 2 ground), at 1.30 p.m.; referee, Mr. A Futcher. i Flock House v. Ohingaiti, at Flock 1 House; referee, Mr. O. Johnson. Ratana, a bye. Thirds (intermediate): Marton D.H. School v. Marton Old Boys, at Marton (No 1 ground), at 1.30 p.m.; referee, Mr. J. McManus. Hunterville v. Bulls, at Bulls; referee, Mr E. Westwood. FORTY-EIGHT MEMBERS NOW* BELONG TO M.R.C. At the Marton Miniature Rifle Club’s weekly shoot oi. Monday night, two new members were enrolled, making a total of 48 financial members, which augurs well for a very successful season. The following scores were registered D. Caughley, 67, 69—136; T Taylor. 68, 68—136; E. Miller, 67, 67—134; W. Munro, 68, 66 134; H. Coles, 66, 68—134; E. Green, 68, 65—133; Miss A. Rankin, 68, 65—133; D. Anderson, 65, 67 132; W. Higginson, 66, 66—132; C. Whale, 66, 66—132; C ' Oppatt. 66, 66—132; A. Nitschke, 66, 66—132; Mrs. D. Anderson, 64, 67—131: K. Rankin, 66, 65- K. Thomas, 65, 66—131; C. Hamer 65. 65—130; I. Dickinson, 62, 66- 128; W. Rankin, 65, 63—128; I. Allison, 64, 63—127; W McKinnon, 62, 65—127; T. Marshall,’62, 64—126; H. Lunn, 63, 63—126; B. Gray. 61, 64 -125: Miss S. Heywood. 62, 62 —124; M Fulcher, 58, 66—124; Mrs. C. Whale, 66, 57—123; R Whale, 59, 64 123, R. Munro 63, 58- 121; G Lucas, ' 62, 58—120; C.’Bound, 61, 59—120; T. Collins, 61, 58—119; R. Follett, 59, 59 118: G. Holder, 67, 50—117; A. Jackson, 57, 59—116; S. Goebel, 58, 56 Mil; R Goebel, 56, 55—114; F. Saveli, 1)2, 52—114; J. Hewson. 64, 42—106; R. Cameron, 47, 58—105; B. Rowley, 63, 41—104; K. Follett, 50, 50—100.