CHURCH MEETING, GREYTOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 149, 2 May 1879, Page 2

CHURCH MEETING, GREYTOWN.

There was a very good attendance of the Parishioners of St. Luke's Church present on Wednesday at the Town Hall, Greytown, for the purpose of hearing His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington explain the proposal for the establishment of a General Church Fund, The Rev. Mr Fancourt having read the paper already in circulation, pointing out the need of such a fund— The Bishop in an able and lucid manner explained the proposal, and the. way it ■which it would be best to carry the same into effect, and wa!> followed by the. Rev.

Mr Fancoijrt, who further urged upon '] his hearers the necessity of the establishment of such a fund. The Bishop then asked for an expression of opinion. Mr St. George said there was one matter which those present would do well to remember, and that was that they had been encumbered with a, heavy debt, on i their Church, and there was still a largo i amount due, and that by the adoption of the proposed scheme they would be. able 1 to get rid of tlie debt. Mr Wm'. Skeet wanted to' know if they ' intended to enrol members, if they did not he could not see that it would make any difference. • Mr Cuff moved the following resolution That this meeting heartily approves of the scheme, and pledges itself to do all that is possible to make it a success." Mr Haines wanted to know if the ' stipends of the Clergy would be tho first , charge made on the. fund. ' His Lordship explained that he thought so, but that there was no definite rule to that effect as the Synod would have to go more particularly into tho matter. Mr W. G, Beard thought that if. the scheme had failed in the past, and that the few who were willing had to bear all tho burden, he did not seo how it would be otherwise now, as those willing would still have to come forward, He also wanted to know what was intended with respect to pew rents, 1 The Bishop said that the matter of pew 1 rents would be left an open one, and left i with the Vestry to deal with, as there . were Churches foi and some against having open pews. Mr Haines asked if it was likely that it would bo brought before the Synod that assistance would be given to Clergy who were incapacitated from work. The Bishop thought not just yet, but no doubt it eventually would, but there was already a pension fund of over £2OOO with an incomo of £2OO. Dr H. Spratt, who seconded the resolution proposed by Mr Cull', supposed that the district would be canvassed at once, and that one canvass would do, as no one would promise without performing. Tho Bishop-put the resolution to the meeting, and, it was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Bishop terminated the meeting.