Hartlip Parish Magazine - October, 1917.

Great Malvern,
Worcestershire.

Dear Friends,

When the Dilapidation were about completed, we were then at liberty to think of a holiday, which we managed to arrange hurriedly, and also to get my duty taken by the Rev. R. G. Ryott, and decided upon Malvern, which is a lovely place in "the hill country" of this otherwise flat county. The Worcestershire Beacon - 1,396ft. high - is close above us here, which we have climbed two or three times, by the help of a char-a-banc which takes you the greater part of the way. At the top there is a granite dial which gives the direction and the mileage of numerous places and points, i.e. Worcester and its Cathedral quite plain in the N.E., while the Bristol Channel is seen in the S.W. Abergavenny and the Radnor Forest due W., with the Wrekin in the N., and what you would see by the aid of a glass would be legion. A lady who has lived in this hotel 38 years used to meet Jenny Lind here. Up near the Roman Camp, which is at a considerable height, is a white house surrounded by trees, in which Jenny Lind resided. Her grave is in the Great Malvern Cemetery. Another visitor tells me of seeing Queen Victoria riding up to the Beacon in 1862. For very many years the air, the soil - both dry - and the scenery of the Malverns - there are six here - have been famous.

I have seen very few Hops here about in the plains but the fruit trees are very heavily laden, hanging in many eases like strings of onions.

The corn crop is not like ours in Kent, it is still out in the fields - when I write - and some not yet cut. As for straw it will be very short. Therefore, we are much better off in Kent than are the growers in this county.

This terrible war still presses upon us the need of economy in general, but particularly in regard to food. One weekly paper says, "We do not think the public has grasped the Food situation. Three years, of war have produced conditions that are unprecedented in history. We are dependent on imports for our food. Therefore, as the Huns continue to sink our big steamers, from ten to twenty of which go down each week, this means hundreds of tons of food are lost every seven days; and we are not able to build ships at that rate to take their place.

Hence we can see what a supremely diffcult job the Food Controller has, while trying to arrange that everybody shall have an EQUAL share of sugar and other foods as far as the limited and often lessening stocks will allow. Let us practise patience, and give his scheme a chance and trust that "as the plans made come into working we shall find that our privileges are far in excess of the trifling inconveniences we must endure and cannot avoid. It cannot be too often emphasized that greater economy is needed."

And as regards the war itself, the Premier gives no hope of an early end, indeed he tells us the testing-time has come. It is a life and death struggle, and the sooner we recognize this the better; for our foe is mighty, and he is staking his all on the result. Hence, the Premier bids us "Keep on" and "Keep on," not only on the many fronts and on the high seas, but in EVERY HOUSE, in every workshop, in every trading concern in the Motherland.

Dear friends, we have a serious ordeal before us, which should call us often and earnestly to our knees, to seek for His Grace and Peace which passeth all understanding, that these may keep our hearts and minds during the trying days that lie ahead.

Your faithful friend and Pastor,

J. S. McMILLAN.

COLLECTIONS IN AUGUST.
				£	s.	d.
Aug.	5	-	Church Expenses	1	17	6
"	12	-	Diocesan Quota	1	0	7
"	19	-	Church Expenses	1	8	5
"	26	-	Church Expenses	0	12	9
Wednesday - Clergy Orphan Schools				0	2	7
"		- S.P.C.K.		0	7	2

HOLY BAPTISM.
Sept.	9	-	Douglas, son of Harold and Beatrice Charlotte Brinchley, Bromley.

CALENDAR.
Oct.	18	-	St. Luke, E. 10.30 a.m., Holy Communion.

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