Hartlip Parish Magazine - August, 1918.

Dear Friends,

Perhaps you are aware that a movement has been set on foot to interest the children of the Sunday Schools throughout the Kingdom in the cause of the Serbian children and Serbia generally on Sunday, September 1. The movement is meeting with success wherever it is being made known; and all denominations are assisting to make the occasion universal within the limits of the United Kingdom. The hard plight of the children in their terrible flight before the cruel enemy is a woeful tale of suffering and want: a tale which cannot fail to appeal to all our hearts. And so it is sincerely to be hoped that our children will do what they can in the meantime, so as to be able to do all that is possible on Serbia Sunday, September 1, to help that ruined heroic little nation.

While talking of sorrow, let us not forgot the two or three serious cases of illness in our midst who are, and have been, in the doctor's hands. Also the two Hartlip brave follows on the Western front reported "Missing" - they are regularly in our thoughts by name, and have a share in our prayers every Wednesday evening, as also on Sundays.

This year the Anniversary of the War falls on a Sunday, "August 4," and has been appointed as a National Day of Prayer, when King and Parliament together, for the first time during this war, go to a great service in St. Margaret's, Westminster. It is hoped that this day will be observed throughout the country, by high and low, rich and poor. That day marks the beginning of the fifth year of the Great War. We have had four years of the reign of Might on the fields of battle, and that has failed. This surely means that Right shall prevail; and if Britain will only pray on this coming Day of

Prayer, and the people acknowledge the need of God by their prayers and in their daily life, I am certain that the Powers of Evil will be overthrown and the longed-for victory and peace be ushered in on a grieficken world.

Particulars and hours of the Services on August 4th will he put on the notice board.

Special Forms of Service will be used and provided for each person.

Your faithful friend and Vicar,

J. S. McMILLAN.

Ere you read this you will have heard of the death of Mr. T. E. Denson, in his much enjoyed home at Queendown. Warren, on Thursday, July 18. For over a year he had been quite out of harness and unable to attend to any Churchwarden's business, which of course we had relieved him of, while at the same time retaining him in the office of People's Warden. This work he took on soon after coming to the parish, and has done it most efficiently, utilizing all his business experience - of so many years - in the management of the accounts, which were always most ornately rendered. His regularity at, and hearty responsiveness in the services, together with his systematic alms-giving, were proofs of his devotion and attachment to the Church. He held many offices both in and beyond the parish, therefore the gaps left are many. And one of the greatest losses to us will be his cheerful disposition and gentleness of manner, which now will only be a pleasant recollection. Our profoundest sympathy goes out to Mrs. Denson, in her sadness, as she ponders over the "knot" of devotion which now is broken. May the same brave spirit be hers in the future as has been in the recent most trying months.