VICAR'S LETTER.

My Dear People,-

Those of you who met Mr. Edmond Bourne at my institution, and knew that he purposed to come and live with me, will be sorry to read that he died on Friday, June 19th, in a nursing home at Parkstone, Dorset. His body, by his express wish, was cremated at Woking on the 23rd. I have lost a very old and valued friend. I had hoped with his special gifts that he would have been an acquisition to the life at Hartlip. It has been ordained otherwise. No doubt the strenuous life he led as a missionary for some years in the Solomon Islands undermined his health. He never recovered from an operation last January, and his friends are glad he is spared further discomfort, and is at rest with the Master he loved, and served so well as a true soldier of the Cross.

All were grieved and shocked to hear of Miss Helena Maria Hollands' sudden death. Only an hour or so before, she had been in Church at the Sunday service, joining in our worship. God has called her to more perfect service in Paradise. I tried to express something of our feeling and sympathy at the service on the following Sunday night when special hymns were sung as a memorial of one known and respected by all.

Shortly we are to lose Mr. Southgate and his family from our midst. He has secured a more responsible position at Aylesford School, near Maidstone, sufficiently near for him to visit his Hartlip friends sometimes. He takes his departure on July 31st. His successor is not yet appointed. We shall all have an opportunity later of wishing him and Mrs. Southgate God-speed.

The Rev. D. H. and Mrs. Creaton paid a visit to Hartlip, and renewed friendship with many old parishioners. It was good to hear how well he was looking, and Mrs. Creaton has become an expert motorist.

It may interest you to know that the new Vicar of Detling, Dr. Sedgwick, was a former Bishop of Waiapu, in New Zealand. I succeeded to the position he held when he was called from Christchurch to be a Bishop. Then at Newington the new Vicar is the Rev. Noel Robertshawe, the son of a New Zealand priest, and another old friend. It is a remarkable coincidence that three clergy who have worked in the same country in the Antipodes should find themselves neighbours together in this corner of Kent. I shall look forward to having them both here sometime as special preachers.

Yours sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER.

P.S. - Sincere thanks to all who contributed towards the Sunday School Treat.

THE PARISH HALL.

A general meeting was held on the 23rd ultimo, it the Schoolroom. A sub-committee is now set up with power to act and push on with the scheme. Mr. Faussett Osborne has been busy, and very soon we shall expect to hear from him of some very definite advance.

THE CRICKET CLUB.

Good scores are being made by our local team - and good scores sometimes by their opponents. Plans are being considered for a new pavilion and dressing room, so that Hartlip residents will be proud of their excellent sports grounds.

THE PIC-NIC, JUNE 23rd .

dere mister editer,

seeing as you ast me to rite about our outin i be doin it, but i aint no skoler an you must put the spellin rite. we all injoy ourselves very much.

i seys to I women how things have alter. wen i aws a gurl we diden have srimps an no strawburys an creme. i uset to put on my wite dress wich was longer an fuller than is the fashin now an we walk to a feild an had races an tea. my faverit game was kiss in the ring. once i put a jam tart in my pocket at the back an then forget an sit on it. wen i said good nite i walked away bakwerds. i told my mother their would be more washin, but she sed never mind, wile their is life their is soap.

i larfed at deal at a womanl who lost her stocken. i spect she felt pepperie, but she diden show it. i sed a good job wulwurth sell odd ones for 6d. we went for a long voiage in a bote an none was seesick, and the man only charged 6d. the childrun enjoid theirself very well an we hope for as good a day nex yere. all thanks mrs nobel an miss donelson for been so kind to all. i sed nobel is as nobel does. if miss fausset had come she wudnt have ad that aksident so nex yere she had better come and be safe. hopen this will find you quit well as it leves me at present,

yours truly,

BURIAL.

June 10th - Helena Maria Hollands, aged 59.