Hartlip Parish Magazine - July, 1919.

Dear Friends,

Our Parochial effort on behalf of the "Central Church Fund" on C. of E. Sunday, May 25, amounted to £2 16s. 10d. For some time after that date the average amount arriving at the Central Office daily was between £4,000 and £5,000.

I would offer our congratulations to my Churchwarden on his recent promotion to the rank of Lt.-Colonel.

On Tuesday, May 27, we held our Rogation Service - for the ninth consecutive year - in the Churchyard, favoured with ideal weather. Four clergy assisted me, together with a very attentive and responsive congregation, who closely followed the Service, which latter being now mature, I managed to get printed in book form, and it fully justified the expenditure venture, in enabling the worshippers to follow the Service more closely.

Not being able - owing to pressure of work - to write my letter earlier, it is possible to include the Tait Missioner's visit. Fine weather enabled the people to turn out. The morning sermon was a clear and practical discourse on Rom. xii. 12, R.V. "Continuing Stedfastly in Prayer." He gave the children at 3 o'clock a black-board lesson on the same subject in such a manner that it must have been written on their little receptive minds. At 6.30 his text was "Son, remember," St. Luke xvi. 25. He showed how each one of us is forming now every day his or her own character; that it is inclining either towards God, or away from God; death does not change it, and at the judgment Day God will merely decide whether our character is fit for Heaven or unfit. Each soul is daily forming a character; but of what sort? If for Heaven, then we shall be making use of the helps which God has given us, such as daily Prayer, Bible Reading, Worship, the Holy Communion, etc.

The Missioner made an eloquent, soul-stirring appeal to each man and woman to realise that EVERY DAY they are forming a character of eternity. One feels very much indebted to him for his earnest and powerful words to us on June 22nd.

The Offertory was in aid of the Diocesan Mission and amounted to £1 18s. 3d.

The Peace Treaty is still unsigned - when writing this letter though we are expecting it daily.

Of what value will it he when it is done? A proof that Germany has still no idea of honour, integrity, or of keeping her bond, is seen in her action at Scapa Flow, on June 21st., when she scuttled her surrendered Fleet. The past verily has its lessons for us. Years ago, a German naval officer, who had outwitted his English confrere, said to the latter:- "You will always be fools! We shall never be gentlemen!" These words apply to Scapa Flow, and to quote Lord Fisher, "on the whole I think I would prefer to be the fool (even as a matter of business!) Suppose we make the Germans, who have heaps of coal, supply the Allies all next winter, and perhaps more winters," &c. Yes, make German mines keep our home FIRES burning as a penalty for Scapa Flow.

If, and when, they sign the Treaty, of what value will it be? Let the Vorwarts answer, for it declares "that the oppressing coercion under which Germany has to sign takes all the value out of the signature. The peace of Versailles is based merely on violence, and is only valid as long as violence exists. The signature is all an act of formal indifference."

They repudiate the signature beforehand. It is the "scrap of paper" over again. Therefore it becomes Britons to be very restrained in the celebrating of that which the Huns have not the least intention of keeping.

Believe me, your faithful friend,

J. SMEDLEY McMILLAN.

HOLY BAPTISM.
"Suffer the Children to come unto Me."
June1-Gwendoline Agnes, daughter of Thomas P. C. and Florence B. Rose.
"8-Muriel May, daughter of Petty-Officer Wm. G. R. and Gertrude M. Friar.
"-Cyril Eldric, son of Ernest E. and Agnes E. Friar.