The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-14
PARISH OF ST. JOHNS.
Interesting Annual Meeting of the
 Members.

The parish meetings of the Episcopal Church according to the canons are to be held on Monday after Easter, or such other time as may be fixed on that day On Easter Monday the meeting of St. Johns Parish was postponed until We'd nesday, the 18th, 8 D. m. At that hour last night the Rector, Rev. E. E. Cobbs. who is the presiding officer when present. called the meeting to order, and Hard- wick Ruth was chosen as secretary.
 The Rector read the canons governing parish meetings. and congratulated those present on starAtig eths good work of at an interest in the temporal affairs. IL was time for them to understand that a part of the responsibility was on them, and not all upon the gentlemen who composed the VeStry. The latter only represented them in looking after the affairs of the church. so that responsi- bility primarily rested with the parish meeting and the parishioners. He stated that the Diocesan year ran from May to May, so that there was yet month ahead and for that reason a full report of the years transactions could not be made. He suggested that hereafter par ish meetings be held on the first Monday in May.
 The first business in order was the cleo ton of eleven vestr s-Inen for the ensu- ing year, the Senior and Junior Warden to be afterwards chosen by the vestry from the number elected
 pr. B. J. Baldwin congratulated those present on the happy change indicated, for 1t showed an interest which he be- lieved would grow from year to year. He said that it had become the habit of few members of the vestry to meet on Easter Monday and as no others took interest enough in the matter to attend they generally reelected tho old Yestry. On last Easter Mon1v the few, members meeting concluded that 1t was time to try to effect change and to get the congregation to take part in considering their own affairs. It was in his judg- the same men in position from year to year. New blood should be interested and this would have a corresponding ef- feet in increasing interest throughout the congregation. He then stated that 1t should be the rule to continue those serv- ing as Senior and Junior Warden. as long as they would serve or unless some emergency called for change, but not so as to the general membership After this statement he said that in order of ser- vice as members of the vestry himself, H. C. Davidson. F. M. Billing and E. c. Andrew were next to the Senior and Junior Warden and that the four named had consulted together and reached the conclusion that four others should be elected In their stead and he then placed in nomination the following: R. F. Mich- el. w W. Screws, J: S. Wilcox, W, NJ. Shoemaker, C. G. Abercrombie S. B. Marks, Jr., Hardwdck Ruth, E. R. Taber, F. G. Hammond, w. D. Westcott and G. O. Willis. The first seven have been on the vestry several years, one of them, pr. Michel, being Senior, and another, w. " Screws, Junior Warden. The last four were the new names suggested
 Colonel M. L. Woods said that he be- ileved that he voiced the sentiment of all present and others who were not in saying that the retirement of the four members of the present vestry would be received with the greatest regret. He had been connected with a vestry for several years in Washington and he wished to correct the impression that the parish meetings in St. Johns Church were different from that in other cities Only a few, just as St. John's attended on Easter Monday and that few year after year elected the vestry. It was his observation that this was done In all the parishes In Washington and he doubted not in many other places. Washington was essentially an Episcopal Church city and the greatest in numbers and infu- ence there, yet they had not lost in in terest or in amount of good done by what the few did on Easter Monday. if was good sign, always to have the congregation take an interest in the nar- ish meetings and the gathering tonight Is matter of congratulations, but he did not believe that there was any de- sire to make any change in the Vestrv as at present constituted. and while he had the highest regard for the four gen tlemen who had been placed in nomina