The Vicarage,
November, 1927.

My Dear Friends,

Our Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held this year after a season when the weather had made the crops far from satisfactory, and the lot of those whose business lies in the cultivation of the ground, a very difficult and trying one. Yet, in spite of all, our Festival was one of the most beautiful and uplifting ones we have had in our Church. Some nice things were sent for the decorations and they were gratefully received afterwards at Keycol Hill Hospital. We had a large number of Communicants at the Celebrations of the Holy Communion, and a very large congregation at the Evening Service. So we rightly expressed our praise and thanksgiving to the Giver of all good things and our trust in His love and goodness.

The collection for the Churchyard Upkeep Fund again proved how ready parishioners and others are to help in the work of keeping "God's Acre" in good order, and how they appreciate what is being done under the kind superintendence of Mr. Luck. With subscriptions forwarded to the Treasurer direct, the amount received this year is nearly £20. This will enable us to pay the large bill (about £10) for repairing and tarring the paths, and leave us a satisfactory sum to carry on the ordinary work for the next twelve months. The thanks of the Committee are given to all the subscribers and also to the collectors.

I regret that illness has hindered me from arranging for the Hospital Collection, but I hope to be able to start it before long.

On Friday, November 11th, Armistice Day, there will be a service at the War Memorial at 10.45 a.m. and on the following Sunday (Nov. 13th) a Special Armistice Service will be held in the Church, at 6.30 p.m. The preacher will be the Rev. H. D. Dale, formerly Vicar of Hythe. It is hoped that there will be a large congregation including many ex-service men.

I remain,

Your sincere friend and Vicar,
D. H. CREATON.

Kent County Library.

HARTLIP CENTRE.

The opportunity has come at last for book lovers of Hartlip to read what they wish and to choose for themselves the books that most catch their fancy.

"What unknown boys are now within your reach,"
"What friendly signals on Life's rugged way."

The County Library van, with its shelves stocked with about two thousand volumes, visited our village for the first time on Wednesday, October 5th, and we were able to choose about one hundred books as a beginning for our local centre.

There is almost everything to be had for the asking, prose or poetry, fact or fancy. In the van one found all sorts of books, difficult and easy, scholarly and popular - provision thus being made for the young as well as for those of riper years. We in the country need never be dull or bored again by the long evenings, when there are books to read which will transport us to almost any world we will - historic, scientific, romantic or imaginative. A book is a never-failing friend, it is "a well of refreshment, a retirement from mean occupations, an inmate by the hearth ever sociable, never intrusive." In them we may read of men's deeds, their adventures, their thoughts their passions, their dreams, and the book-van offers a free choice.

Due notice of the van's next visit, probably quite early in the New Year, will be given, so that all, borrowers and intending borrowers may see the books and select any they may specially wish to read. In the event of a borrower being unable to come to the van to choose his or her books, every effort will be made, to obtain them if a list is sent beforehand to the local librarian.

It is very gratifying to note that so many are already taking advantage of the opportunity thus afforded them. As Bacon says "Reading maketh a full man." From our stock of one hundred books over seventy are already in circulation. It is hoped that when thr existence of this centre is more widely known in thr parish those who have not yet become borrowers may be induced to join.

Books may be, exchanged on Wednesday evening in each week between seven and eight o'clock, or may be kept for two or three weeks, and are free to all.

R. E. J. SOUTHGATE,
(Hon. Local Librarian)