Holy Trinity Church.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 326, 18 July 1889, Page 2

Holy Trinity Church.

fas annual meeting of the above was held on Tuesday night. There were over forty Church members present, including many ladies. The flev. J. E. Fox occupied the chair. The annual report showed a very hopeful tate ot things. The revenue from the offercries and pew rents shows a decline on that of be previous year, but according to the ability >! the parishioners the Church has been heartily supported and the services well ittended The marked feature in lhe finance >f the Church is the large amount raised by voluntary efforts and special donations within lhe year, In aid of lhe Sunday-school building 6207 14s 5d has been raised, to which amount trust be added £l7 5e 6d from the Hapara Fete, and donatione by the Bishop of Waiapu ind Ven, Archdeacon 8. Williams, which increased the sum to £329 19s ltd. The Sunday school has been completed at a cost tf over £5OO. on Church property granted by he Von. Archdeacon 8. Williams, but this has been done without raising the permanent debt by more than £26o—it is now £770, £173 lower than in 1886. As the building is earning ten per cent, on its total cost, the permanent debt will entail no additional burden during the year ending June 80, 1890. The Vestry recommended the continuation of the Rev. A. Gardiner’s services for one year, at the same stipend, £l5O ; though in making the recommendation the Vestry wished it understood that the aid of £5O now given from the Diocesan Fund may have to be withdrawn, and that a clergyman will probably soon be appointed to take oharge of the Coast and VValapu district. The report referred to Mr Gardiner in high terms. The Sunday-school (superintended by Mr Greenwood) is largely attended, and many new teaoh*rs have joined, though more men, qualified to teach, are atill urgently required, The scholars number 119 girls and 103 boys, In his Pastoral address the Incumbent noted the different points of interest that had occurred during the year. He alluded in a most thankful way to the assistance received from Mr Gardiner, and also to the sympathy apd help of the Churchwardens (Messrs DaLautour and Davies) and ot the Vestrymen, He regretted that some ot those who naturally belonged to the Church seldom joined in public worship (especially is thia the case in regard to the country), and he appealed to them whether it is right to let any cause to interfere with this—if it arose from any neglect on his part he was sorry for it and it was quite unintentional; he earnestly invited them to co-operate in what is, after all, a duty independent of human excellence or defect, One pressing need in town just now is that of Sunday-school teachers. It was resolved that the number of Vestrymen be ten. Mr D. Johnston proposed the former Vestrymen, They had done so well during the previous year that he would like to see them re elected, Mr DeLaqtour thought it better for them not to be proposed collectively, as that might deter some Church members who had intended to make nominations from doing so. He was sure tha previous Vestrymen would not shrink from giving their services in the future, nor from the holding of an election. He would be sorry to discourage persons from taking part in Church work. Mr Davies and he knew how to value the work of the previous Vestry, but if they could get additional help eo much the better. Mr Johniton said, in proposing the old Vestry, ho did not mean to deter others from coming forward, nor should it have that effect.

The Chairman pointed out that one of the Vestrymen, Mr Weetman, was absent from Gisborne, Sixteen names were then proposed, the election resulting as follows G. L Greenwood, 26 ; W. Morgan, 25 ; C. Gray) 22 ; G. Humphreys, 22 ; W. E. Akroyd, 21 ; G. F. Butt, 21; C. Dunlop, 20; A. Kempthorne, 20; G. Beere, 16 ; W. Pe.tie, 16. Messrs Chrisp and Pierse were re elected Auditors. Mr Johnston proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring officers. Dr Pollpn seconded the motion, and |n doing so said he would like to make a few remarks which the proposer of the adoption of the report had omitted. It was with a feeling of pleasure, which he was sure was also felt by all the parishioners, that be noted the action of the Vestry in making arrangements for c -ntinuing, at least for the coining ygar, thp seryioefl of the Rev, A. Gardiner. He (the speaker) travelled about a good deal, in the oomee of his professional duties, and could see and judge as to how things were going on tn connection with the Church, and he could assu-e that meeting that in every place where Mr Gardiner had visited the sick or persons otherwise afflicted, the rev. gentleman's services had been very much appreciated. (Applause.) The parishioners ought to congratulate themselves on having the benefit of Mr Gardiner's services for another year, and he hoped by the end of that time they would be iu a position to permanently retain the rev. gentleman's services, (Applause, Mr DeLautour, In proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman, expressed his regret that ladies were not allowed to vote at Church meetings, and he hoped that some provision would be made |n the direction of giving them votes. The only reaaon he had heard against it was one he had heard that day ; if they had votes the gentlemen would retire altogether, leaving the ladles very much to their own efforte. In moving a vote of thanks to the Chairman, he also in his own name and that of the parishioners, asked him to take courage anfl not altogether judge tha members of the Church froin their actions; it was very difficult for them to express themselves as they -might wish in ma'ters of a spiritual kind. While they might not be making the progress they would like, the Incumbent would, he hoped, recognise that a steady progress was he|ng made throughout the parish. Their pieumbent was doing a work which entailed much self sacrifice aqd |t ryas, as fsr as he could judge, producing good results. He the speaker, was quits sura he felt stronger, and he hoped better, for Mr Fox's administration. (Applause), The Bev. A. Gardiner thanked Dr Pollen anfl the parishioners as a body for the kind remarks made in reference to nis work. Ha had tried to do his best, abd would continue with tljat object in view. He had never met pebple'anywhere who had been kinder to him than they had been in Gisborne. He hoped to be able to do more work than he had done in the past few months, and that it would be productive of good results, The Bev, J, Fox also expressed his gratification at the feeling of sympathy that was sho#n, In'teferring to Church work gene, rally he hoped that more members Would join the Church Unbn.. In regard to what had been Mid he wa< afraid the parishioners looked at him with rosy spectacles while he looked at them with white cnee. The work had been yerv difficult for him that year, as he had suffered ao much from bodily weakness, and he was glad Mr Gardiner's setvloss had been retained, as without his assistance be could not have carried on ths work. Two clergymen could hot possibly; work more amicably together than he and Mr Gardiner had always done.’ ( Applaud.) The ffieetjng was then closed with prayer,