April 1940

Now that Lent is over, our various parish organisations will soon be holding their annual meetings and making plans for another season of service for God’s work. There is room for all in one or other of these organisation. The more members there are, the more will be accomplished, and the strong will be those spiritual forces which make for righteousness and a just and enduring society. Nor should we ever forget that the driving force for such service comes through Christian worship. It is only as we ourselves get power from God that we can serve our day and generation. By faithfulness in worship we can generate the spiritual power needed by our world today.

I want to thank you all for your very generous Easter offerings. They were a real help.[1]

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

ANNUAL MEETING

Once a year parishioners are invited to attend a general meeting, where the Vestry give an account of their stewardship. Reports are made on the year’s activities and full statements of all monies received and all paid out are presented. Then the work of the coming year is discussed and officers elected. The meeting this year will be held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, 17th April, at 7.45 p.m. and we hope there will be a large attendance. Then the work of the coming year is discussed and officers elected. The meeting this year will be held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, 17th April, at 7.45 p.m. and we hope there will be a large attendance.

LADIES’ GUILD

This important organisation will hold its annual meeting in the Common Room of the Parish Hall on Thursday, 2nd May, at 2.30 p.m. The Guild has rendered great service over a long period of years. We want all the ladies of the parish to link up with this--their own organisation and join in the practical work they do to help on God’s work. Do not wait for a personal invitation, but just come to the meeting on Thursday, 2nd May, when plans for the year will be discussed.

PARISH NOTES

Boys have a habit of growing out of their overcoats. Perhaps you have one or more overcoats like that. At Sedgley we have 27 boys and we could do with a lot of such overcoats there. The boys are of all sizes and such gifts would be most welcome.

St Matthew’s was packed to the doors for the special Palm Sunday service. The children’s Procession of Palms was most impressive. In the evening the Choir gave a splendid rendering of Stainer’s “The Crucifixion,” which was appreciated by the large congregation.

Thursday, 25th April, being St Mark’s and Anzac Day, the Holy Communion will be celebrated that day at 9.45 a.m., at St Matthew’s.

Parishioners are very grateful to the Bishop for conducting a splendidly helpful Three Hours’ Service on Good Friday at St Matthew’s. The congregation was very large indeed.

Our churches were beautifully decorated for Easter and inspiring services marked this happy festival. Communicants for the day numbered 491.

St Matthew’s Badminton Club is holding its annual meeting in the Common Room of the Parish Hall on Tuesday, 9th April, at 7.30 p.m. New as well as old members are invited to be present.

A very beautiful and worthy service in memory of our late Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, was held in St Matthew’s Church at 11 a.m., on Sunday, 31st March.

There were large congregations at our Harvest Festival services. Much useful produce was given and our churches looked very beautiful. Sedgley Home is very grateful for all the harvest gifts. Parishioners are grateful to the Rev. F. O. Ball, Vicar of Martinborough, for his message as special preacher at Evensong.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

EVENING POST, VOLUME CXXIX, ISSUE 74, 28 MARCH 1940, PAGE 15

So far, our parish has given just over £101 for the work of our Church among our soldiers. This is a fine response, and one which will, we believe, he maintained. At the end of the month our beloved Archbishop[2] laid down the burden of his high office. Before doing so, farewells were extended by State, civic and Church authorities. The good-will so shown was a magnificent tribute to Archbishop Averill, but even then the thoughts of the Archbishop were with the lads in camp and overseas, and in those busy weeks, one of his last official acts was to issue an admirable and clear statement about the work so near to his heart just now. Here is what he wrote:

On the very day the regulations issued by the Government in connection with the collecting of monies for providing social amenities in the camps were issued, the members of the Military Affairs Committee of the Church of England which was meeting in Wellington at that time, waited upon the Under-Secretary dealing with these matters and made application that the Church of England should be exempted from the regulations in order that she might have the collecting and controlling of all monies collected by the church for spiritual work in the camps. It was pointed out by the members of the committee that the distinction between spiritual and social work was almost impossible to draw and the Church claimed exemption from the regulations for the purpose of carrying out spiritual work as laid down in the regulations. This was agreed to by the Under-Secretary.

We would emphasise that this exemption was granted before any other body was authorised by the Patriotic Board to collect from the public for social work in the camps. The suggestion, therefore, that has been made in certain quarters, that the Church of England refused to work with other religious bodies is not according to fact, for no such religious bodies were then in the field.

It is necessary to be perfectly clear on two or three points:--

1. The Church of England receives nothing from the patriotic funds for her work in the camps.

2. That all huts, although managed by the Church of England, through the Church Army, are open to all boys in camp, irrespective of their religion or non-religion.

3. That the Church to whom more than 50 per cent of the men in camp belong (under the voluntary system of enlistment) looks upon herself as responsible not only for the social welfare of the men, but as supremely responsible for the spiritual care of her sons. The Church huts, therefore, concentrate very largely on spiritual matters, and in every hut a properly equipped chapel is regarded as an essential adjunct.

4. That everything within the Church of England huts is provided free as in the last war.

5. That our huts endeavour to provide an environment of comparative quiet where the men can read and write in peace at all times.

6. The Church does not appeal to the general public. This is in accordance with the regulations, but she has the right to and does appeal to her own members to see that her sons are provided not only with games and amusements, but with spiritual refreshment.

7. The Church huts are also the bases from which the chaplains in different camps do their work.

COMPLIMENTARY

Tangible evidence of the good wishes of parishioners to Miss Armstrong and the Rev. W. V. Joblin[3] on the occasion of their marriage was seen in the number of functions held before that event in their honour. St Matthew’s organisations combined in one of the happiest social evenings ever held in our Parish Hall and many were the gifts received. At Upper Plain, both adults and children had their functions, with presentations, and the Scouts, too. Kuripuni had a welcome home social and presentations from both adults and children, on 3rd April. The wedding itself was fully choral and was a very happy occasion. That their married life may be long and happy is the sincere wish of all members of the parish.

KURIPUNI NOTES

A meeting of the Kuripuni Ladies’ Guild will be held in the Epiphany Hall on Thursday, April 11th, at 2.30 p.m. This is the first meeting of the year and all ladies are invited to be present--and if possible to join this very important church organisation.

St Matthew’s Choir have very kindly agreed to come to Kuripuni and render Stainer’s “Crucifixion.” The evening set down for this important event is Anzac Night, April 25th, at 7.45 p.m., in the Church of the Epiphany. The attention of all Kuripuni parishioners is drawn to this great service, and it is hoped that there will be a large congregation.

MAORI MISSION

The following letter has been received from Canon W. G. Williams, Superintendent of the Maori Mission:--

“I feel I must write on behalf of the Maori Mission Committee, and all who are responsible for the work of the Mission, to express our very real gratitude to the people of Masterton for the wonderful response made to the appeal for the Maori Mission Fund.

“The amount which St. Matthew’s Parish was asked to raise, under the system of suggested quotas adopted by Synod, was £24 for this year, and the latest statement received from the Diocesan Office shows that a total of £32 1s 2d has been sent in. I thought at first that possibly this included a quarter’s contribution towards the stipend of the Rev. H. Taepa, but the office has assured me that the whole of this amount is a free contribution from the Parish, in addition to the portion paid towards Mr Taepa’s stipend. Will you please let your people know how very much their generous offerings have been appreciated. If every pakeha parish and Maori pastorate could respond as freely the Maori Mission Fund would soon be in a flourishing condition.”

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mrs D. James, 10/-; Misses Morrison, 6/-; Miss Creswell, 5/6; Mesdames Chalmers, Long, Perry, Spencer, Emery, Joyce, Miss Rockel, 3/- each; Mesdames Williams, Skeet, 2/6 each; Mesdames Caldwell, Davis, 2/- each; Mrs Smith, 1/6.

BAPTISMS

March

2 Frances Ann Walker

3 Ngaire Valerie Harman

Lorna Ann Harman

Alister John Harman

Mervyn George Harman

Raymond Maurice Harman

5 Colin William Henderson

9 Graham Darrel Henson

16 Natalie Jean Rapson

Roger William Lyon

16 Vernon Cecil Robertson

31 Dawn Elizabeth White

Elaine Phyllis Bennett

Brian Douglas Bennett

MARRIAGES

March

2 John Reginald Gillions and Edith Lilian Ralph

2 Roy Thomas William Kerr and Beryl Wells

16 Edward James Clarke and Mabel Violet Lock

16 James Macfarlane Laing and Marion Ivy Robinson

16 Norman McGregor Watson and Sybil Frater

16 James Kenneth Welch and Joan Margaret Hatch

23 Frederick Ryder Bodle and Peggy Myra Sellar

25 Alfred Martin Doggett and Josie Iris Thompson

25 Colin Purvis Francis Innes and Ina Doreen Boyes

26 Vernon William Joblin and Eleanor Louise Armstrong

27 Gordon Stanley Grylls and Peggy Daisy James

30 George Austen Robinson and Joan Speedy Holdsworth.

BURIALS

February

26 Emily Annie Edith Ross

Alexander Stewart.

March

2 John Edward Dickason

7 Frederic John Hunn

16 Charles Henry Robbins

CENTENARY APPEAL

It is hoped to mark the centenary of Bishop Selwyn’s arrival in New Zealand by laying the foundation stone of the new Cathedral. As the fund grows, that hope is brought nearer reality. We need that symbol of a living faith at the heart of our national life. Those who have made promises are now fulfilling them and they will appreciate a reminder of when promises are due. The income from the money already given now amounts to a substantial sum so that the more quickly instalments are paid the sooner will our goal be reached.

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

Original scanned image 120918-0028

St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Masterton, Parish Magazine--1940-04 (April) -

[1] Until relatively recently within the Church of England (Anglican Church), the Easter offerings were paid directly to the Vicar, as a “bonus” on top of what was then usually a very meagre stipend. In recent times stipends have provided a more realistic level of income and the practice of paying the Easter offerings to the vicar has ceased.

[2] Archbishop Alfred Averill was enthroned as Bishop of Auckland in 1914, after being consecrated Bishop of Waiapu in 1910. He was elected Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand in 1925, a position he held until his retirement on 31 March 1940.

[3] The Rev. Vernon William Joblin (later Archdeacon), was at the time Assistant Curate at St Matthew’s. He married Eleanor Louise Armstrong in St Matthew’s on 26 March 1940. Born in 1913, he went on to hold appointments as vicar in a number of parishes. He died in 1990 and his wife 2003. They are both buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Masterton.

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