On Wednesday afternoon the annual meeting of subscribers to Trinity Cathedral was held at H.B.M.'s Consulate-General, Mr. George Jamieson, Acting Consul-General, presiding. Those present included, Messrs. E. Jenner Hogg, A. Wright, James L. Scott. (Trustees), TI. Bullock, A. P. MacEwen, Douglas Jones, W. D. Little, Davi R. J. Sloan, stp, and C. Addis. The minutes of last year's meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr. J. L. Scott said he did not think the report called for special mention. Rents received were somewhat higher because as leases fell in the Trustees had raised the rents, and next year there would probably be a further increase. Tt was necessary to expend about £200 upon the organ, which had not been repaired since it was put up some thirteen or four teen years ago. Endeavours were being made'to get Hongkong and Singapore to cooperate in getting a man out from home, thd if that gould be done something would be saved. Hongkong was agreeable, but a reply hed not been received. from Singapore. The organ here was a valuable one and they could not afford to neglect it. The present Trustees were willing to serve again if elected.
The Chairman, in answer to Mr. P. MacEwen, said during last year fifty-three British firms and residents contributed towards the cost of the Cathedral, and eight other residents.
Mr. Scott said there was perhaps one other expense which was always hanging over them, but it never came to the front very much, and that was that the Cathedral on the south side had sunk some inches in consequence of the rotting of some of the piles upon which it was built, and if it went much further it might necessitate the taking down of the Cathedral. This had been known for a good many years, but he thought that when the Trustees had any money in hand they ought to put it away as a sort of sinking fund.
Mr. MacEwen stid he noticed that. the subscriptions from such a large and wealthy community as Shanghai amounted to about £300, so he thought there would not be much difficulty in getting further subseriptions.
Mr. Scott said he thought it took them about ten years to get the Steeple and Ongan Fund.
Mr. MacEwen said he believed a very large proportion of the congregation would like to have a surpliced choir. He had discussed the matter with Mr. Crompton, who was strongly in favour of it. In Shanghai now, with a large number of young boys, he thought there should not be much difficulty in getting such a choir together. Everyone was extremely indebted to the ladies of the choir for the kind and able manner in which they always gave their services, and he did not see why, with a surpliced choir, they should not be able to join in the services as well. Several members of the choir he believed to be in favour of the proposition, as well as a number of seat holders.
Mr. Scott said though the matter had been mentioned it had never been practically before the Trustees. Personally he thought it a rey good proposal.
'Mr. Douglas Jones said he was told that there was something in the climate of Shanghai which affected the boys' voices, and there were few worth listening to.
Mr. Scott said they could ask Mr. Crompton to find out, Mr. E, Jenner Hogg said when the question had come up before some people had raised their voices against the choral and musical services. He thought it very valuable that they should have some expression of opinion on the musical services, which, in the eyes of some few had given offence. He quite agreed that the majority would appreciate the development of the musical part of the service. He only rose because certain people had very strongly opposed the musical development of the service; it went so far that there was a sort of compromise for makin, the service in the morning less musical than the service in the evening.
Mr. Scott said the Trustees would make enquiries and see what the feeling was.
it. MacEwen thought the simpler the musical service the better. With reference to another matter, no doubt those present had seen that there was some talk of bringing the present Seamen's Church from Pogtung to Hongkew, where a piece of land had been given by Mr. 'Thorne, and a frontage had also been settled with Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. ab a certain price, to' which the firm had said they would give a substantial subscription on the distinct condition that a clergyman be brought out from home to conduct the services. He mentioned the matter to Mr. Scott to see whether there was a possibility of getting a certain income from the Cathedral Trustees towards the stipend of the gentleman who might be appointed and he was led to understand that the funds of the Cathedral were in such a state that it would not be possible to provide anything to meet the salary of the seamen's chaplain. But he thought there would be no difficulty in getting the funds required from the community. He knew Captain Newcomb did most excellent service among the seamen. here, and as the community was increasing 50 rapidly, particularly in the district of Hongkew, he (the speaker) thought it a ood opportunity to have a new church.
felt sure there wore many persons. who would join in a scheme for that purpose on the distinct understanding that a clergyman should be provided. excellent one, but he wasn't so sanguine as Mr. Hogg thought the proposal a most
to the ease with which funds could be raised. The present prosperity of the Cathedral funds was due to the increase in the rents received, and he agreed that for such a community as Shanghai the income of the church itself was small. Tf one could see the list of seat holders increased one could We more hopeful of the carrying out of such a scheme as Mr. MacEwen proposed, but there were difficulties in the way.
The Chairman suggested the election of the Trustees, with the addition of two gentlemen to assist them in considering the points raised. If necessary a general meeting of the pew renters could be called to elicit an expression of opinion, Mr. W. D. Little proposed, and Mr. Addis seconded, that the retiring Trustees de re-elected, with the addition of Messrs. G. Jamieson and A. P. MacEwen. This was carried unanimously and the business concluded.
REPORT, In submitting their statement of accounts for 1895 the Trustees have again the pleasure to report a substantial reduction of debt
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.