With many tokens of respect and affection, the Nation has expressed its sense of loss in the passing away of the Queen Mother and its sympathy with the Royal Family.

We bless God's Holy Name for His Servant departed this life in His faith and fear.

The Vicarage,
27th November, 1925.

My Dear Friends,

The Ceremony which was performed by the Bishop of Dover on November 11th, sealed to Hartlip the additional ground for burials which has been so much needed. It is now "consecrated and for ever set apart from all profane and common uses, to be the resting-place of the dead until the glorious resurrection of the last day."

Those who were present must have been impressed by the solemn and dignified Service and by the words which the Bishop spoke to us from the pulpit. Many parishioners and visitors from other parishes were in the Church but probably some were kept away by the rain.

However, we were glad that the weather cleared up just in time for the Ceremony in the Churchyard, and we were able to carry out all the arrangements just as we had planned, including the procession to the War Memorial and the placing of the Wreath at the foot of the Cross, with prayer by the Bishop, to commemorate on Armistice Day Hartlip's Men who gave their lives for their country in the Great War.

The Collection for the Churchyard Fund amounted to £6/9/2.

We were much indebted to Miss Faussett-Osborne and the other ladies who arranged for the tea in the Schoolroom after the Service and to those who gave the things for it. Some of the provisions were sold afterwards and the result was a free tea and 8/6d. for the fund!

We may, I think, congratulate ourselves upon the satisfactory completion of our task. Owing to the lower level of the new ground it has not been an easy one, but we have been able to make the addition one with the old Churchyard, in a way which at first did not seem possible.

The fine old Arch at the West Entrance, and the old stones built into the Wall, give an interest and a dignity to the Churchyard.

The cost of the work in the new and old ground has been £163/18/10. This is in addition to the value of the land and the cost of a part of the Wall and the fencing and some of the printing expenses, and we may feel pleased that we have now a debt of only £10/11/10. It is not a serious amount but we must get it paid off as soon as we can.

We thoroughly enjoyed the excellent entertainment provided for us in the Schoolroom on November 25th, and our hearty thanks are given to Mr. Lilwall and his friends for it. The takings amounted to £5/7/7 and the whole of the amount went towards reducing the debt on the Churchyard fund. So that we might have no expenses to deduct and avoid Entertainment Tax,

many gave their services free. Mr. W. Miles carted the chairs and he and Mr. P. Harriss and Mr. S. D. Hollands helped in arranging the room, Mr. Luck lent his car to convey the performers and Mr. Hollands drove it. We thank all for their ready help. Mr. Lilwall said that the "Versatile Quartette" would pay us another visit later on. We shall look forward to the fulfilment of that promise!

The house-to-house Collection for St. Bartholomew's Hospital amounted to £7/0/5. This is not so much as was given last year but it is well above the average of former years, I think, and it is a good sum to raise in our small village in addition to what is subscribed in other ways. Mr. Fyfe the secretary of the Lebombo Mission gave us an interesting lecture in the Schoolroom on November 9th and showed us some beautiful slides but we did not have as good a light as we should have done owing to an unexpected leak in my gas generator. However, Mr. Friar, with his usual willingness, kindly came to the rescue with a car generator which gave sufficient light to show the pictures.

A very interesting and instructive paper about one aspect of Missionary work is enclosed in each copy of this Magazine. It is entitled "The Moslem World today." It shows what a great opportunity the Christian Church has at the present time for bringing home to Moslems the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we really believe in our religion and that Jesus is for all mankind, we cannot fail to see how important it is that we should do all we can to help on the missionary work. I hope you will all read and re-read the paper.

The Season of Advent, on which we enter this year on November 29th, reminds us of the approach of the great Festival of Christmas and bids us prepare to keep it as it should be kept by Christian people. The Social festivites, good and right as they are, must not dim the true meaning of the Festival or hinder the religious observance of it. On Christmas Day there will be celebrations of the Holy Communion at 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and midday. Carols will be sung at Evensong on the following Sunday.

I am,

Your Sincere Friend and Vicar,
D. H. CREATON.

Extracts from the Register.

Marriage.

October 3rd. Thomas Clout and Annie Rosetta Fry

Collections in Church.

£s.d.
Oct.4th. St. Bartholomew's Hospital656
Oct.11th. Quota to Diocesan Fund1167
Oct.18th. St. Luke's Hostel1122
Oct.25th. Church Expenses185
Oct.28th,&c.Vicar's Fund026
Nov.1st. Quota to Diocesan Fund218
Nov.8th. Lebombo Mission241
Nov.11th. Churchyard Extension Fund692
Nov.15th. Church Expenses1110
Nov.22nd. Church Expenses1142