September 1939 Parish magazine

THE VICAR’S LETTER

My Dear Parishioners,

Who can doubt that through all the events of these crucial days God is speaking to us? There has grown up a slackness and apathy in recent years which has had disastrous result. Many deplore the weakening of the fibre of the human race. We need again that self-reliance which is one of God’s greatest gifts to those who serve Him. Public worship brings man, as nothing else can, into a strong and intimate relationship with God. Too many people are willing to allow selfish and unworthy motives to interfere with their duty to God. Surely a moment’s thought will reveal that our human relationships will never be right until we are right with God. When man fulfils his duty to God there will be some hope that he may begin to fulfil his duty to his neighbour. The call today is for a return to God. That concerns each and every one of us. The response is left to us. God grant that we may all be found worthy of His trust.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

GUILD SOCIAL

A social afternoon to which all are invited will be held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, 13th September, at 2.45 p.m. It is fitting that as we are thinking of the coming of Christianity to Masterton, 75 years ago, we should hear something this month of the great work that is being done in China. The speaker at the afternoon will be Miss V. Bargrove, Matron of the C.M.S. Hospital, Hangchow, China. Miss Bargrove has a great story to tell, and it is a privilege to have her visit us. We ask everybody to make a special point of being present.

CONFIRMATION

The junior classes of preparation will resume on Sunday, 17th September, at Upper Plain, at 2 p.m., at Kuripuni at 4 p.m., at St Matthew’s at 4 p.m.

The special class for adults will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 19th September, at St. Matthew’s Church. Remember that no one is too old to be confirmed. A good number of adults have already handed in their names, and we shall be glad to see them and as many others as possible on Tuesday, 19th September, at 7 p.m.

PARISH NOTES

It is a great privilege to have a share in leading the worship of Christ’s church. It is a great joy, too. The Choirmaster would be glad to welcome a few more members, especially ladies, for the Choir.

We acknowledge with thanks an anonymous donation of £10, allocated thus: Deficiency Fund, £5; Sedgley, £2; Magazine, 5/-; Grounds Improvements, 15/-; Junior S.S. Building, £1; Masterton West Building, £1.

It is hoped to have the opening of the new Sedgley Home Building early in December. There is a good deal of work still to be done, and the furnishing, but it is evident that the new Home is going to be a great acquisition for the work.

Parents of children in the country are reminded that there is a splendid Mail Bag Sunday School available to help give the children the religious instruction they need.

The Clergy are always ready to administer the Holy Communion to the sick. We are particularly desirous that no old parishioners should miss the Holy Communion during our Patronal Festival. Any unable to attend at that happy time are asked to notify the Vicar so that they may share privately in our happy celebrations.

We are grateful to all who have responded to the call to help meet the deficiency caused by the loss of endowment revenue. If you are not already a member, we ask you to join now either the envelope system of weekly free-will offerings or else the annual subscribers.

TENNIS CLUB

Yes, our Club will soon be starting its new season. We have three splendid courts and we have vacancies for quite a lot of new members. Young men and women are invited to come to the annual meeting of the Club, which will be held in the Parish Hall, on Monday, 18th November, at 7.30 p.m. Plans will be discussed and officers elected. Our club has a great record. The facilities offered are splendid. Why not join up? There is room for both senior and junior members.

KURIPUNI NOTES

The Girls’ Club concert attracted a large and appreciative audience at Kuripuni and a splendid entertainment was given.

The Guild invite all interested, including the men, to a social evening to be held in the Epiphany Hall on Wednesday, 13th September, at 8 p.m. We hope there will be a large attendance to meet and hear Miss Bargrove, who will speak of her experiences in China.

On Sunday, 24th September, Kuripuni parishioners will want to join in the services at St Matthew’s to mark the 75th Patronal Festival of our Parish. Archdeacon Bullock will be the preacher, and there will be no evening service at Kuripuni that night.

It is not too soon to be thinking of how you can help Kuripuni’s annual Garden Party. The last Saturday in November has for many years been the day for the annual effort by the Guild. Please keep the date free.

Many look forward to the Kuripuni annual Sunday School Concert. This popular event will probably be held on November 1st.

SALE OF WORK

This important annual effort of the Ladies’ Guild will soon be held. The exact date will be announced next month. Now we just want to tell you that the Guild has decided to have only one effort this year instead of the usual two. So there will be no Garden Party, only the Sale of Work. Parishioners will appreciate that there is to be only one call on them instead of two. We believe that with the help of everybody the one effort will supply all that is needed. So will you help? We want all to have a share in stocking the stalls--let the Sale of Work be the united effort of the ladies in every corner of the parish.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mrs L Moore, Mr N. Blatchford, Mrs G. Olliver, Mr J. L. Murray, 5/- each; Mrs McWhinnie, 4/-; Miss Colquhoun, Miss Fannin, 3/-; Mrs Cummings, J. B. Sutherland, Senr., Miss Ashwell, Mesdames Alderson, Betteridge and Skeet, 2/6 each.

PATRONAL FESTIVAL

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the erection of the first Church of England building in Masterton. Actually services were held in a building in Lincoln Road before that date. We must mark this great anniversary in the life of our parish by services worthy of the occasion. Will you all help in this?

Our festival will begin on Sunday, 17th September. On that day the Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. (choral). All Communicants are asked to join in one of these services. At 7 p.m. there will be a happy service when the Choir will render a musical service of praise. We should like to see the Church filled for that great service.

Thursday, 21st September, being St. Matthew’s Day, will be marked by celebrations of the Holy Communion at 7 a.m and at 10.30 a.m. There will be a parish social at 8 p.m., in the Parish Hall.

The festival will conclude on Sunday, 24th September. On this day there will be Holy Communion at 8 a.m. Matins and Sermon will be at 11 a.m. At Evensong, at 7 p.m., the preacher will be the Venerable Archdeacon Bullock, Vicar-General of the Diocese. Parishioners will rejoice to have him with us on this great anniversary. We hope to have every church family represented at this closing service of our Patronal Festival.

C.E.M.S.

One of our members was in England and Europe during the critical days of last year. Mr L. I McGregor is going to tell us something of his travels at the monthly meeting of the branch to be held at 7.45 p.m. on Monday, 4th September, in the Common Room of the Parish Hall. This should be a great and helpful evening and all men interested are very cordially invited to be present.

BIBLE CLASS

So successful was the last Bible Class dance that there has been a tremendous demand for another to be held. This has been arranged for Friday, 15th September, in the Parish Hall. The committee are leaving no stone unturned to make this dance even better--if that is possible--than the last. The dance is for Bible Class members and their friends. Invitations may be obtained from the secretaries, Miss Joan Wylie and Mr Peter Parsons.

Sunday, 17th September, is set aside as the annual Day of Prayer of the Bible Class Unions throughout New Zealand. All members are asked to join in the Holy Communion in the morning and at Evensong in the evening.

Both Bible Class Unions are holding their annual camps in Masterton at the end of this year. The Girls’ Camp is to be held at St. Matthew’s Collegiate School, and the Boy’s Camp at the Wairarapa College.

CENTENARY CAMPAIGN

The funds continue to grow. What finer memorial of the centenary of our country’s life could there be than a great Cathedral at the centre of our national life? That would be a fine memorial to the pioneers and an inspiration as we enter on the second century of our national life. Will you share in this great enterprise?

One good way of helping is to take a Cathedral box and just place a coin in it whenever you can. Any Bishop’s Helper will be pleased to give you a box, or you can get one from the Hon. Secretary, Mr A. Owen Jones.

Remember, we want everyone to share in this campaign for God. The Cathedral should be lasting symbol of our faith. Let every Church of England member feel that some part, be it small or large, was placed there to the Glory of God and the spiritual benefit of New Zealand, by their efforts.

PARISH SOCIAL

The Choir is organising a parish social in the Parish Hall on St. Matthew’s Day, Thursday, 21st September, at 8 p.m. The Choir will be responsible for the programme, so we can be sure of a splendid evening’s entertainment. The social will help us in our special celebrations of the 75th anniversary of our Church. We want everybody to come. There is to be no charge for admission, but ladies are asked to bring something for the supper and there will be a collection in aid of the Choir Music Fund.

DEVOTION

Mr F. W. Gilligan, of Wanganui College, in a great address in the C.E.M.S Conference, said: “We must first be with God before we can go forth to service Him. Neglect of God resulted inevitably in the loss of vision, without which no aim could effectively be pursued. It could never be anything but a dangerous snare for a man to think that the care of his soul did not matter very much. ‘Apart from Me ye can do nothing.’ was the saying of which possibly men might need to be reminded at the present time.”

BAPTISMS

August

6 Beverley Margaret Burt

12 Beverley Joyce Reid

13 Josephine Ethel Hill

Gladys Noleen Mount

19 James Terence Sharples

23 Judith Goodwill Childs

John Hill Childs

27 Karen Leigh Walker

BURIALS

August

7 Herbert Belford Dakin

18 David Waley

19 William Brown

23 Josephine Ethel Hill

Annie Kate Dixon

STAFF AND OFFICE HOLDERS

Clergy--The Rev. E. J. Rich (Vicar), Church Street, Telephone 1096

The Rev. T. V. Pearson, 18 Wrigley Street. Telephone 1502

Student-Assistant, Mr V. W. Joblin, 31 Worksop Road. Telephone 2231

Churchwardens--Messrs R. E. Maunsell and J. Ninnes

Vestrymen--Messrs E. J. Coleman, E. Hale, W. L. Hunter, G. Hyde, A. O. Jones, C. R. Mabson, T. C. H. Miller, P. G. Ramsay, R. G. Russell and W. E. Vowell.

Lay Readers--Messrs F. H. Dunderdale, V. W. Joblin and J. F. Jaine

Organist--Mr A. Miller Hope

Choirmaster--Mr Wm. C. Mann

Synodsmen--Messrs A. O. Jones and P. G. Ramsay

Hon. Secretary--Mr A. O. Jones

Sec. of Envelope System of Giving--Mr V. H. Heath, 183 Dixon Street

Sec. Magazine--Miss R. Robinson, 66 Essex Street

Verger--Mr G. F. Knapp, 79 Pine St.

St. Matthew’s School for Girls--Principal, Mrs Max Cleghorn, B.A.

Hon. Treasurer--Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale, Perry Street

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