Hartlip Parish Magazine - August, 1920.

Dear Friends,

The first meeting of our newly constituted Parochial Church Council was held on Wednesday, July 7th, in the Schoolroom, at 6.30 p.m., when thirteen out of the fifteen members were present. After prayers the Chairman spoke of the great care and judgment required to pilot these Councils through their early days, till we reached firmer ground. The P.C.C. is on a higher level than that of the Vestry Meeting, the qualification for the latter being a ratepayer, whereas for the P.C.C. you must be a Communicant, therefore a full member of Christ's Church, and consequently a force and an influence for God in the parish.

Mr. Labrum was elected Secretary, and Miss Faussett Osborne, Vice Chairman. The amount received on behalf of the Porch "Record" Memorial Fund was £57 odd, and the liabilities just over £60. An offer was made on behalf of one who had not yet subscribed to wipe off the balance, this was gratefully accepted.

The question of Finance it was decided to leave as at present, seeing that the powers of the P.C.C. were as yet undefined.

The walls of the Church Porch have been treated as they probably were in their original state, viz. whitewashed; the oak beams oiled; the two new oak boards of three panels each being of a dark shade, stand out on the white background the centre panel of each being highly polished and contains the names of our Men, in gilt block letters. The whole forms a stricking picture as you enter the gates, worthy both of the aim in view, and of the building also. If you stand on the mat you see the whole to perfection.

Our Parish has shown its appreciation for what was done in the Great War, by erecting the Granite Cross, with wall, to the fallen, in the Street, and by placing in the Church Porch the Oak "Record" of those who served.

By the death of Lord Fisher, on July 10th, Britain mourns the loss of a great Admiral, and Father of the modern Battle-Fleet. He was linked on to Nelson's days, inasmuch as he received his nomination for the Navy in 1854 from Sir Wm. Parker, the last of Nelson's Captains. From this starting point, where penniless and friendless, he won his way by sheer hard work and capacity to be Admiral

of the Fleet, and to have the Honour of breakfasting alone with King Edward on Trafalgar Day, 1904.

He was probably not fond of sea life as such, for he suffered severely from sea sickness all through his life. But when he did go afloat he; could put more work into a week's cruise than many another admiral would have put into a month's. His reforms included 3 great strokes, 1. Sea-going Fleets to be - as far as possible - instantly ready for war. 2. Scrapped the ships of no fighting value. 3. Introduced the Dreadnought. Hence it was mainly, that our Navy was ready, and the ships placed at the strategic points, when the war came; he told us in 1910 that it would come in 1914, and that Jellicoe would command the Fleet. The motto of this great Seaman - on being raised to the peerage - was "Fear God, and Dread Nought" because "fear not" (or dread nought) occurs, he said, over 80 times in the Bible.

The Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign parts (or for short S.P.G.) is suffering greatly from the lessened value of our sovereign, or "the fall in the exchange" as it is termed, and the increase in the cost of living overseas. Therefore this Society requires its income to be increased by £100,000, if the present Missionary work is to be maintained; if not, then Missionaries must be withdrawn, Schools closed, and the natives abandoned. God forbid. Well, the thing can be done, if everybody prays about it, and gives something for this special object. Perhaps many are not able to give a large sum, but let everyone help as much as they can, so that God's work shall be maintained in heathen lands, and no worker withdrawn. I can supply Boxes, or receive special offerings for this above fund.

Your faithful Friend and Pastor,

J. SMEDLEY McMILLAN.

HOLY BAPTISM.
"Go ye .... and baptize them into the name" etc.
June6th.-Bernard, son of Fred G. and Margaret M. Harrison.
Calendar.
Pray daily for the Bishops assembled in Conference, from all parts of the world, at Lambeth.
August24th.-St. Bartholomew, A.M. Holy Communion, 10.30 a.m.