Ormondville.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume III, Issue 2, 1 September 1912, Page 39

Ormondville.

Vicar: Rev. M. CockcrilL Ji.A. The yearly meeting of Parishionars was held on the iilst Juiy. The night being wet and cold, the attendance was only moderate. The accounts for the year ended 30th June were passed. They showed a deficit of £7. The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year : — People's Warden, Mr. Thomas Fothergill ; Min.ster's Warden, Mr. Samutl Doc'.tary ; additional mtmoers of the Vestry, Messrs Bagley, Benson, Williams, Saunders, Tnomas bmith, Robert Groom, Ernest Smith. Ihe Vicar read an exhaustive repoit on trie year's worK. Below are a few extracts : — 'ihe past 12 montns hd\e been marked especially by two features. First, the loss to the Church, especially m Ormond\iue, of several oi its most active members. (Here followed a list oi o5 to 40 names of adult members of the Church.) Their places have either not been filled at all by new arrivals, or else the newcomers have, as a rule, been members of other Churches. Such losses cannot, of course, but profoundly affect the liie and well-being, spiritual and temporal, of the Church. The second general fact that has been so prominent during the last 12 months has been the topsy-turvy character of that fickle element, the weather. The spring was marked by 10 weeks of almost gales of wind, the summer* and autumn had a minimum of sunshine, and the winter months so far ha\<e been the most severe for many years. Where so many m every place, it is to be feared, make pleasant weather an indispensable adjunct to Church attendance, the above conditions cannot fail to have a prejudicial effect upon the spiritual tone and level of congregations. But I fear my tone seems, like the weather, damping and despondent. It is not intended that it should be. There are elements of encouragement, too. The truth appears to be that the Parish is passing just now through a phase of depression. In a year or two, when probably several blocks of land will be cut up m the Parish for closer settlement, we may again hope for our losses to be made up, and other active helpers and interested helpers; and interested members of the Church to take the places of those who have gone. Meanwhile the drawbacks that beset us by reason of the diminished . numbers of our most interested Church members should stir up all who remain to fill up what is lacking m life and zeal for the welfare of the Parish. To speak m commercial language, there should be no sleeping partners m the firm of the Consolidated Church Trust of unlimited liability. Losses by Death.— Foremost among our losses has been that of the late

lamented Mr. Robert' Groom, sen., whose constant attendance at Churcii and interest m Parish affairs has' been so well Known to you an ror many years. ' The past 12 moncns has indeed been a period 01 trial and of change to his iamuy, lVuay they, through it ail, have leit thiinaeivoo rooted m " Him, who is tne same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." ivxr. ±iansen has aiso gone beyond the veil. Jb-xe was a man weil known ,n h.s younger and stronger days xor hus sterling qualities and. public spirit. Mr. liklgecomtie t^ivopua), after three or four years' weaKness, followed by sickness, has also passed away, tie was a man widely respected lor his honesty and straightforwardness. Mot only the old, but the young, too, have been called to their account. Miss Lilian Watson faded gradually before our eyes, a victim to> consumption. It was not the only bereavement her parents have borne during the past year. " Whom the Lord lbveth he chasteneth." Church Services. — *lt Kopua &. monthly service has 'been held for the past six months. This has been due to the kindness of Mrs. Sanders m allowing the use of her drawing room, and to the help of Miss Saunders m playing for us. .J udging by the attendance at these bright and homely services, I think they have come to stay". Ladies' Church Guilds.— l cannot yet say whether the ladies of the Makotuku Guild intend to hold a bazaar this year. At Ormondville the Guild is again steadily working. Their assistance is invaluable. Since the proceeds of the bazaar held by them goes to the General Church Fund, a claim exists upon all the Parish to assist. lam glad to, be able to state that two ladies at Kopua have made an offer, which has been gladly accepted, to prepare a stall at the Ormondville bazaar 'to be called the " Kopua Stall." It would be encouraging if other centres did the same. Such a method of helping would have the double effect of stirring up a spirit of friendly emulation among the stall-holders, and also would call out to some extent the help of parishioners m all parts af the Parish. Whetukura Church Buildings.—During my ministry here, now over three years, we have worked steadily to create this Fund. It now reaches a little over £250. Of this sum, half, or £125, has been lent to the Vestry, and the G-lebe has been purchased with it. The loan is due to be repaid by next Christmas. So far only £25 has been subscribed. This has been given by parishioners m Ormondville. The subject of the repayment of this loan will be brought forward as part of the business of the evening. If the loan were repaid, there should be nothing to prevent , the Whetukura Church being built m the ensuing spring or summer. The Glebe. ��� Unquestionably the most important matter, outside the ordinary routine of Church work, is : '•■ subject of the Church Glebe. The sum of £125 will shortly be" due to

the , Whetukura Church Building Fund, this being the amount of. their l,oan to the Vestry. Of this £25 only has so far been collected. Some adverse criticism has been made of the action of the Vestry m purchasing this land.' I may say its purchase was authorised some 18 months ago, at a full meeting of the Vestry, there be.ng only one dissentient to the proposal. Personally, I quite agreed with the gentleman, Mr. Warmington, who brought the proposal forward. Thes-j two facts should never be lost sight of m criticising this subject : (i.) Had the Vestry not bought it when they did they would have lost it perhaps lor ever. It was the oniy convenient land, contiguous to the Church, that was, or is ever .likely to be, available. (ii.) The second consideration is that the Vestry had no foreknowledge of the wholesale departure of so many of our best Church people. Let me say this m a general way. The possass^on of the U-lebe nas been most convenient to me as a grazing paddock. JSiO't only has there been an abundant supply of grass, but a winter supply of hay, too, has been found for the clergyman's hjrs 3. Partly out of a sense of appreciation of the use of the Glete 1 have planted and fenced, at my own cost, . some 200 ornamental trees around the paddock. I think it is difficult to overrate the value of this Church property. The present Vicarage is fast falling into disrepair. In a few years the Parish, after selling the present house, may be ready to undertake the erection of a fresh Vicarage an the new land contiguous to the Church, where it should be. Meanwhile, a shelter hedre will be growing up.. The Ulotoe only awaits draining, stumping, cleaning up, and lay'na; down m English grasses to conivert its somewhat desolate aopeaxance into what, with the P^creation Ground, will become tli3 prettiest and most attractive paddock m Ormondville. It will t»e a .valuable and most useful Church property.