VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,-

By the death of Mrs. McMillan the parish has lost a sincere friend and supporter - one whom many will miss as a link with former days. Writing personally, I shall miss her because she gave me a warm welcome on my arrival and constantly afterwards showed little tokens of kindliness towards this parish, being interested up to the last.

I have written elsewhere of Lent and its observance; here I want to state that I do hope we shall all take advantage of the time as a help to growth in our spirital life.

The Bishop of Dover is to hold a Confirmation Service in the Rainham Parish Church at the beginning of May. Those wishing to be confirmed should give in their names to me as soon as possible. Classes will begin this month.

I am just despatching, as a gift from the parish of Hartlip, £2 worth of theological books for Stephen Sage, who is now a theological student at St. Columb's College, at Wangaratta, Australia. His Principal of the College has written in appreciative terms of the progress made by Mr. Sage, and this parcel of books will be a useful and pleasant surprise to our friend and it lasting reminder of his youthful days spent here and of good wishes and prayers which go out to him in his future ministry.

The Rev. H. H. Trencher is coming as our special Lenten preacher. He is the Vicar of St. Barnabas, Gillingham. The nights which were alone suitable to get Mr. Treacher were Mondays. This is an unusual night, but I considered it better to have that night with the help of our friend rather than another with myself as preacher. I know the value of a fresh voice, and it will give the opportunty of hearing another preach, a privilege now very rare for me, and, at the same, I can take my place with you at the services.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER.

LENT.

Why keep Lent? The answer is, because our Church, with the experience of centuries, knows it is a good practise.

How shall I keep Lent? By practising some kind of self-discipline and self-denial. Give a little more to some worthy cause from your self-denial. It may be for missionary work, or to some charity. Some give up smoking, or do less of it, others give up use of sugar and abstain from sweets; many refrain from spending on amusements.

It is also good to read some devotional book and increase your Bible reading.

Extra time given to prayer and intercession will help us. This can be done by making a point of attendance at the special week-day services, and more frequent communion. We all have the ten-

dency to grow slack and careless. Lent is a time for self-review and self-questioning. It is all summed up by asking oneself seriously: Am I doing my best? Is God and the things which belong to my eternal welfare occupying the position it should in my daily life?

A service will be held on Monday nights at 7.30 p.m. On Wednesdays the Holy Communion, preceded by Litany, will be celebrated in the Lady Chapel. On Thursday a Children's Service will be held at 9 a.m. in the Church.

This Sunday scholars will be offered boxes for collecting for the Waif's and Strays Society, which is the great Church of England work for orphans and neglected children.

BAPTISM.

Feb. 5th. - Doris Irene, daughter of Ernest Richard and Emily Elizabeth Shaw.

BURIAL.

Feb. 14th - Fanny Emilie McMillan, aged 83 years.

IN MEMORIAM.

The death of Mrs. MacMillan, widow of a former Vicar, came suddenly on February 11th following a heart attack. Up to the last she took a keen interest in all that was goin on around her, and kept in close touch with her friends, and was specially interested in her former home at Hartlip.

The Funeral took place on Tuesday, the l4th, when the Church was filled with a large number of relatives and friends. The Vicar, assisted by the Rev. W. Parker, Headmaster of the King's School at Rochester conducted the service. The choir sange the xxiii. Psalm, and the hymns "Peace, perfect peace" and " Abide with me". As the body was born from the Church they the chanted the Nunc Dimittis". A beautiful number of floral tributes were laid on the grave, including several from friends in Hartlip, witnessing to the affection and esteem in which the deceased lady was held.

On the following Sunday evening a memorial service was held, at which the Vicar preached. His text was "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." He referred to the work of the late Mrs. McMillan and her husband, and reminded those present of the difficult days of the Great War, when all had been so closely joined together in the face of a common peril. Mrs. McMillan was a keen helper in the parish - still remembered for her work in the the Sunday School and amongst the women. She has passed on to the fuller light and to re-union with her departed one. She had attained to a ripe age, and the time had come when she was conscious of failing bodily powers. So many of her real life's friends had passed over and sometimes a sense of loneliness descended on her spirit. The earthly ties weakened with advancing years, and so, when the call came suddenly, as she always wished, she was prepared to answer it, and her burden was then laid down forever. May God's perpetual light illumine her soul, and may that soul rest in the peace which remaineth to the people of God.

MOTHERS' UNION.

The Annual Meeting will be on March 25th. Service in Church at 3 p.m. Members please note.