MARRIAGE.

July 11 - Horace Thomas Hogbin to Dorothy Nellie Hills.

BAPTISM.

July 5. - Barbara Edna, daughter of William Henry and Ivy Matilda Nelson.

July 5 - John, son of Albert and Frances Mary Hilden.

July 5 - Nelson Arthur, son of Albert and Frances Mary Hilden.

CHURCH COLLECTIONS.

£s.d.
June28-Choir Fund230
July5-Quota1138
July12-Church Expenses1127
July19-Church Expenses200
July26-Church Expenses265

VICAR'S LETTER.

My Dear People,-

There is little to write in the way of parish news this month. Most of you are busy with fruit, and I have no doubt get very tired at the end of each week.

By the time this Magazine is circulated we shall have lost Mr. Southgate from the School, and when it re-opens we shall have a relieving teacher in his place. The delay in filling the appointment is not due to any fault of the Managers. Their powers are strictly limited by the Kent Educational Authority. When two bodies have to co-operate delay seems inevitable. Mr. Southgate has been a painstaking teacher, and will be much missed; he goes to Aylesford with the good wishes of the Managers, the Staff, and Vicar. After seven years residence a school generation has grown up which has known no other Headmaster. He has helped forward matters connected with the village life, such as the organisation of the Fete two years ago in aid of the new Parish Hall; he has been an efficient secretary of the Gardeners' Association, and has been a considerate Librarian. We shall miss him from the choir, too. For some time he acted as Choirmaster.

There is a County scheme under consideration which will mean that our older scholars will have to go to a Central School, probably at Newington. When this happens the school will be reduced by a third of its number, and will lose much of its present importance as it will be a small junior school only, with two teachers. We are told by experts this leads to greater educational efficiency. But such centralisation tends to weaken village life, and Church Schools in towns have to be enlarged. The Managers are finding great difficulty

in meeting the claims of Government requirements. That is why our Archbishop launched his appeal some time ago for £25,000. The Church naturally wants to keep her own schools, and to be sure that sound religious teaching is imparted. Churchmen believe there is no true education when divorced from definite religious teaching.

Yours sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER.

MISSING WORD COMPETITION.

A small prize will be awarded to the winner. Every missing word is the name of a Hartlip resident, and in some cases must be used phonetically. Address competitions to the Editor at the Vicarage. Solution will be printed next month.

HARTLIP ROMANCE.

It was on a ........ when ........ met the Village ........ who announced that the ........ ........ had run amuck, and thrown ........ into the pond. What a ........ for me he was heard to ........ , I shall soon have a ........ through worry. Did the brute think I had ........ feet? But eventually he got it back through the ........ , and then fixed a ........ on the door. It was a piece of ........ no damage is done.

Great ........ cried his wife when she saw him. Here, you must take same ........ or ........ tonic. As for me I shall not, go near the brute, but when I go to the ........ I shall get over the ........ even if it means ........ further, and it is a ........ day and ........

Her boy called ........ giggled, so she gave him a ........ saying: You would make the ........ swear. My name is ........ he said as he fled through the ........ and startled a ........

Dear Hubby, said the wife, I might have had for go into ........, but you are as bold as any Tommy ........ Drink up and ........ off a chill. Do not go into ........ study for you can have your match at .......