HARTLIP PARISH MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1912.

Dear Friends,

Our oldest male parishioner, George Black, passed away an Friday, September 27, at the advanced age of 87, just five years after his respected wife. Providence had blessed him with perfect health and a strong constitution, hence he was able to dig graves when turned four score, which was at least somewhat remarkable. In our ex-Sexton we lose a decided link with the remote past.

The Dedication Festival Services on September 29 were marked with a becoming brightness (thanks to our Organist) and festive character, combined, as they had to be this year, with the Harvest Thanksgiving. The prospect of having many decorators seemed, two days previous, to be unlikely; but some made - though it was Saturday morning - a supreme effort and came, and worked vigorously, with the result that our dear little Church looked all that we desired, which I trust was a due reward to the devoted workers.

The prayed about, much anticipated and hard-worked-for-by-some-of-us, S.P.G. Missionary Exhibition was held on Monday, October 21, in the School. Soon after the stroke of twelve a band of men surged into the room; carried the desks out, folded or took down the partitions, and put up the platform. At 1 p.m, the stallholders and others arrived, fixed up the portable stalls, and arranged the curios in order, some four hundred in all. At 3 o'clock we began - in the presence of a good-sized audience - with a hymn and prayers; then the opening speech by the Vicar, who called upon his Churchwarden, R. G. E. Locke, Esq., to open the Exhibition. Mr. Locke, in the course of his remarks, emphasised the pressing importance of furthering the great work of Foreign Missions, the need for which they had heard so definitely in the sermons on the previous two Sundays.

After jocularly referring to the gaily-dressed "Japanese," "Chinese," "Indian," and "Palestinian" girls and boys on the platform, he declared the Exhibition open. Mr. T. E. Denson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the opener, after which the Guild children sang some Native melodies, which were highly appreciated.

The stallholders then displayed, not their wares, but their curios. This was followed by Mr. Perry's fascinating "talk" at, one of the stalls. Tea was then handed round, at 2d. each. At 4.30 the school-children were admitted, at a half-penny each. They heard the melodies and listened attentively to a description of Indian idols by Mr. Perry, the expert. The Exhibition was closed from 5.30 till 7. This gave the workers, and especially the Expert, a much-needed quiet interval.

When the door opened, at 7, the parishioners - old and young - flocked in in such numbers as to swarm

the stalls, and made movement in the room difficult. The quaint Chinese and South Indian melodies easily gained the rapt attention of the crammed room, as did also the instructive and amusing "talks" on "Japan" and "New Guinea" by the Expert. The "curios" were an unceasing source of attraction, and the Bookstall did a splendid business throughout. Nine o'clock came too soon for many, when it was time to sing the "Doxology." This was sung after a few remarks from the Vicar, and the "Grace" brought a most successful and inspiring Exhibition to a close. I would express my warm appreciation of (1) all the painstaking work of the Stallholders (who are too numerous to mention), both before and after; (2) the men who took charge of the door; and in particular (3) the men who helped so heroically both to prepare the room at noon for the Exhibition, then at its close in transforming the whole in readiness for school next morning, which was all done before 10 p.m. So ended once of our most successful efforts.

The charges for admission - 3 to 4, 6d.; 4 to 5.30, 2d.; 7 to 9, 1d. - being so exceedingly small, the profits for the Society are consequently tiny but I was anxious to have a full house, in the hope that what was seen and heard would stimulate a keen interest in Foreign Mission work. That this may be the result is one's sincere prayer; therefore I hope that a large number of you will either take a missionary-box or become a subscriber. Should this be so, it will be a very encouraging outcome of our successful Exhibition, and an indication that you are trying to fulfil the petition, "Thy Kingdom come."

Yours sincerely,

J. S. McMillan.

OFFERTORIES IN SEPTEMBER.
£s.d.
Sept.1-Church Expenses103
"8-Diocesan Educational Society139
"15-Church Expenses118
"21-S.P.C.K.016
"22-Organ and Choir Fund1011
"29-Rochester Hospital374
BURIAL.
Sept.30-George Black, aged 87 years.
CALENDAR.
Nov.1-All Saints' Day. Holy Communion, 10.30 a.m.
"3-S.P.G, Sermons, 11 a.m. Preacher, the Rev. E. G. Evans.
"30-St. Andrew, A. and M. Holy Communion, 10.30 a.m.
"13-Address to Communicants 7.30 by Canon Denham, Rochester.