Hartlip Parish Magazine - on-line archive
July 1912 : page 2 (of 2)
HARTLIP PARISH MAGAZINE.
JULY, 1912.
Hotel Victoria,
Chexbres, Switzerland,
June 19, 1912.
Dear Friends,
I write you this month in a quiet village of this fascinating country, some 2,000 feet up, situated on the side of a great mountain, overlooking the lake of Geneva, with its numerous steamers plying to and fro to the many places of call on its shores. On the further eastern side rise the precipitous mountains of Savoy, with their rugged peaks partially snow covered, while two or three of the distant ones in the Rhone Valley are quite white. I saw the sun rise at 3.30 (2.30 a.m. in England), which made the snow peaks golden, while the sunset made the rocks appear copperlike.
The lower mountains are very fertile, the steepest slopes are covered with vines, which the women are now "tying," while the men are washing them with sulphate of copper. The hay crop is heavy, often the height of my stick, and they get two or three crops.
As June 7th turned out a wet day, all our plans were upset, so the Sale had to be held in the Schoolroom, but our loyal helpers were none the less keen, while our good neighbours and friends in the countryside came to cheer and buy, and were refreshed in turn by a cup of Mrs. Locke's excellent tea and attractive sweets.
Notwithstanding the uncongenial weather, some £18 were taken, which was quite surprising. Some pounds of this were earmarked, seeing that baskets, fancy goods, work material, dolls, cocoanuts, etc., had to be paid for. However, before leaving home Mrs. McMillan sent Mr. Locke a cheque for £6 out of the proceeds, which, together with £5 5s. which the Dean and Chapter of Rochester promised us, and since paid, quite clears off the debt of £11 4s. 7d. which remained on the Church Heating Fund. We have, therefore, since September, raised the whole £202, which is most gratifying.
As regards any overplus, I believe Mrs. McMillan has dim ideas of raising a fund to number the graves in the Churchyard. Not being there at the close - owing to sudden illness - I take this opportunity of
thanking the mothers who laboured much, the G.F.S. members, and all the many other helpers, who in any way gave their valued assistance on the day of the Sale; also my niece, who spent her brief visit to us at Easter in teaching the girls to make the wicker tea trays and stands, which sold so quickly; as also Mrs. Kelly, for providing all the materials with which to make the trays.
It is very pleasing to say that the Woodwork Class exhibits were greatly admired at the Sale, and some were even anxious to purchase them.
Death has been robbing us of friends recently.
On June 6 our former parishioner, Mr. Fred Knight, suddenly passed away at Eastbourne, though he was at a cricket match the previous day. His cheerfulness under great trials we will long remember.
Our neighbour, the Rev. Thomas Cobb, Vicar of Stockbury, was found dead in his bed on June 8, just before my starting for Switzerland. Only some two or three days previously I had received a most kind letter from him about the duty in my absence. Many of us will miss him, though of the old school, and admire him too, seeing that the weight of four score and five years was borne with courage, and he died as he wished, "in harness."
Some weeks ago Canon Jos. Hammond passed away at the residence of one of his daughters. He will be remembered as our special preacher last Harvest Festival, and on other occasions. I hoped he might have taken my duty this month; but death regards not the plans of man.
I remain, yours sincerely,
J. S. McMillan.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OFFERTORIES IN MAY. | ||||||
| £ | s. | d. | ||||
| May | 1 | - | S.P.C.K. | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| " | 5 | - | Church Expenses | 0 | 13 | 4 |
| " | 12 | - | Sick and Poor | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| " | 26 | - | Friend of Clergy Corporation | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| " | 19 | - | Church Expenses | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| " | 26 | - | Diocesan Clergy Fund | 1 | 6 | 2 |