November 1940 Parish magazine

THE VICAR’S LETTER

My Dear Parishioners,

It is a good thing to pause and ask ourselves whether we are playing our full part in the life of our Church.  Today the world is divided into two great camps. On the one hand there are those who stand for the Christian ideal and way of life; on the other there are those who seek to crush human personality and freedom. There is the plain, straight-forward issue. To do nothing for the right is to help the wrong.

All loyal Christians and citizens will agree with that. But in this war stark reality must be faced. If our cause is, as I believe and you believe, the cause of Christian civilisation then the Church which is the instrument Christ gave to further His cause, must find us active in its service. To slacken there is to fail God. We need its fellowship and its power and it lies within our power to weaken or to strengthen both.

If only we could all get a vision of what God could do through a Church always at full strength we should allow nothing mean or paltry ever to keep us from its worship.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

LAY READERS

Great work is done faithfully and quietly in many parts of New Zealand by these voluntary helpers. They help maintain the services and are always available for any emergency. Parishioners will rejoice to know that our Bishop, with his usual thoughtfulness, has given Diocesan recognition and status to these men by banding them together into a Diocesan Association under the leadership of Canon Watson. The first Wairarapa festival of the Association will be held at St Matthew’s on Wednesday, 13th November, at 7.30 p.m., and all parishioners are asked to be present at the service. The clergy and lay-readers of the Wairarapa will be present, robed for the service which will be conducted by the Rev. K. F. Button, B.A., Vicar of Pahiatua. We are glad to have this first service of the Association in Masterton and it will be splendid recognition and encouragement to all if everyone will make a special effort to be present.

PARISH NOTES

Visiting preachers last month were Canon J. H. Sykes and the Rev. F. C. Long. Parishioners are grateful to them for the messages they gave.

Friends of St. Matthew’s Collegiate School are invited to be present at the Annual Sports Day to be held at the School on the afternoon of Tuesday, 13th November.

Members of the Masterton Rotary Club are holding their annual Church parade at St Matthew’s at 11 a.m. on Sunday, 17th November.

The offerings at all services on Sunday, 1st December, will be given to the Maori Mission. Let us do all we can to help the Mission that day.

We are grateful to Mr H. W. Lindsey for the gift of some very fine and appropriate pictures for the Parish Hall.

At the last Vestry meeting warm appreciation was expressed of the gift by St. Matthew’s Fireside Circle of a complete set of collection bags for the early service at St Matthew’s.

At the recent examinations of the Board of Theological Studies, the Rev. T. V. Pearson passed in Latin and the Rev. V. W. Joblin in Grade IV, and in Latin. Both have now finished their course and thus gain the diploma L.Th.  Heartiest congratulations are extended to them both.

The Girls’ Club ends another very successful year in its history with a picture party on Monday, 4th November.

Necessary renovations are being carried out to three rooms at the Vicarage. This work will be a great improvement.

The Rev. Hepa Taepa will be the preacher at St. Matthew’s Church at Evensong at 7 p.m. on Sunday, 10th November

KURIPUNI NOTE

That important event in the life of the Church of the Epiphany, the annual Garden Party, will be held in the grounds of Sedgley on Saturday, 30th November, at 2 p.m. The Guild has worked hard to make this effort the usual great success. All the stalls will be there and the men will have their side-shows, too.  Gifts for the stalls will be welcome and a really splendid assortment of goods of all kinds will be on sale. A very happy afternoon in delightful surroundings is promised, and all friends of Kuripuni are asked to be there.

A happy social afternoon organised by the Guild, was held on October 24th. A delightful programme was presented, and the Archdeacon gave a talk on the world situation. Afternoon tea was served by the Guild.

CONFIRMATION SERVICE

This great service was held on Tuesday, 15th October, and was conducted by the Bishop of Waikato. The Church was full. Seventy-nine candidates were confirmed from this parish and six from Carterton.  The service was very impressive and a striking address was given by the Bishop. On the following Sunday 310 communicants joined in the first Communion of the newly-confirmed members. After the service, the Fellowship Breakfast was held in the Parish Hall. This was a very happy function. The ladies soon had everyone served, appreciated items were given by Miss R. Robinson and Mr Seymour Gilding, a fine talk was given by Mr J. Ninnes, and Mr A. O. Jones expressed the Vestry’s thanks to all the splendid helpers.

C.E.M.S

At the October meeting, addresses opening the new course of study were given by the Revs. V. W. Joblin and H. Taepa. These studies are going to be most helpful to us all, and members felt that an excellent start was made. Following the meeting, members gave good service by erecting the stalls for the Guild’s Sale of Work. The next meeting of the branch will be held in the Common Room on Monday, 4th November, at 7.45 p.m. The Church history studies will be continued by the Archdeacon, who will speak on “The Evangelical Revival.”

AN OLD FRIEND

The latest letter from the Rev. J. R. Jones in India is full of the spirit of cheerful Christian service and heroism under difficulties created by the war. The Chapra Church was packed to the doors on Good Friday and the work for God goes on. Drastic cuts have been made in monetary contributions from England. Nurses have accepted a third cut in salary rather than see the work suffer. A doctor is called up for active service so he sends part of his army salary to keep another doctor at the Mission Hospital. No further cuts are being made at the Chapra School, but it is evident that this is because Mr Jones himself has gone down to about half salary. The Training School and the Farm Training Section are sadly reduced. Nevertheless, Mr Jones writes:

“In spite of all, we are carrying on and have much to thank God for. It is a question of holding things together through this darkness--the dawn will come,”

and concludes,

“All is well. May God keep you in these difficult days.”

It is hard that the meagre stipend of Mr Jones--less than he received when assistant curate here--should be halved. Perhaps some of us could band together and send him a Christmas gift in money as a token of goodwill from friends in Masterton. The gift should be for his own personal use. Those who would like to associate themselves with this gift are asked to send a small contribution to the Vicar before Monday, 11th November. Time is short and it would be splendid if the gift could reach Mr Jones by Christmas.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mrs Cleghorn, 10/-; Mrs H. A. R. Dunderdale, Mrs Hope Cross, Mr H. Brooks, 5/- each; Mrs G. H. Collie, 4/6; Mrs N. Lee, 3/-; Mesdames L. Blatchford, E. J. Coleman, 2/6 each; Mrs Whiteman, 2/-; Mrs Reeves (“Chronicle”), 2/6; J. L. Murray, 5/-; R. S. Gerrard, 2/6.

SALE OF WORK

The weather could hardly have been worse for the annual effort of our Ladies’ Guild. Nevertheless, splendid support was given and the sale proved a very happy and successful function. We are grateful to Guild members and stall-holders for their splendid service and all others who helped in any way. This annual effort of the Guild has helped tremendously in the strengthening of our parish during the years. While we have such a splendid band of workers the future is bright for our Church. The receipts from the sale came to £108 2s 5d.

“SEDGLEY”

HOME FOR BOYS.

High Street, Masterton.

ANNUAL GIFT DAY.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1940.

2.15 p.m. to 5 p.m.

AT THE HOME

The Committee ask for your presence and support at this annual function. The new Home is a wonderful boon and more than double the number of boys are now being cared for at Sedgley. Every day the work goes on and we ask for the help of every parishioner in the Wairarapa so that our needs may be supplied. Your help on Gift Day will enable us to maintain our work for the boys who deserve their chance in life.

The Home needs clothing for the boys and food of all kinds. Flour, sugar, oatmeal, rice, dried fruits, jams, tea and cocoa will be welcome gifts. In fact, anything needed in an ordinary home will be appreciated.

Please do what you can to help. Come and see the splendid new building for yourselves. Gifts may be left at the Vicarage, Masterton, or at “Sedgley.”

All gifts in money should be sent to the hon. secretary, Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale, Perry Street, Masterton.

Our need is great. The boys are worth helping. A gift from every Wairarapa Church family will be a splendid help.

E. J. RICH

Chairman

H. A. R. DUNDERDALE

Hon. Secretary

GIRLS’ CLUB CONCERT

The concert this year maintained the splendid reputation gained by the girls for the excellence of their annual effort. The amusing three-act musical comedy, “Once Aboard the Lugger” was presented and delighted the audience. It was a real tonic and every member of the club did her part admirably. There was not a dull moment and the producers and all the girls are to be congratulated on the great success attained. Mesdames E. J. Rich and V. W. Joblin were responsible for the training and at the end of the concert both were presented with beautiful bouquets by the girls.

BAPTISMS

October

1        William James Webster

          Leonard John Webster

          Harold Edwin Webster

2        Constance Margaret Lambert

5        Georgina Mary Barton

6        Janice Patricia Watson

10      Darvall Brian Temple

12      Barbara Beresford Oliver

17      Nola Marian Udy

26      Janet Marie Marshall.

MARRIAGES

October

25        Keith Allan Morris and Kathleen Margaret Perry

26        Sydney Joseph Dickason and Freda Barlow.

BURIALS

October

15        Maria Elizabeth Mitchell

24        Elsie Evelyn Greatbatch.

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