VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,

I want to thank all the kind friends who kindly contributed towards the expense of the Sunday School outing. We had a perfect day at Sheerness, and the children had a happy time there. They find great joy in paddling in the water and going for steamer trips. The ladies of Holy Trinity Church catered for our teas, and they did it well.

During the first four Sundays in August I am giving the Sunday School a holiday. We reassemble on the 29th instant. The day school breaks up for the "Hopping Holiday" on the 10th. A very good report from the Diocesan Inspector has been received after he had examined the scholars in religious knowledge. Four children leave us this month to go to the Rainham Central School and the Commercial School at Gillingham.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER

BAPTISMS.

July 18th - David Hubert William, son of Herbert Henry and Dorothy Alice Golder Down.

25th - Nicholas John, son of Francis Justice and Laura Joan Webb.

REPORT OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

"I am much pleased with the result. The Infants were very keen to answer, and gave a very good idea of the trouble and care taken with them. After them, I expected much of the elder children, and was surprised at their answers. I wish other small schools were as

well taught as these, or rather that what they were taught lingered on. I congratulate the School on reverence and keenness, and a knowledge of the Gospel which I hope will remain."

(Signed) J. W. HORSLEY,

Diocesan Inspector.

MOTHERS' UNION.

There will be a Service in Church on Wednesday the 18th, at 3 p.m. This will be followed by a meeting and tea in the Vicarage garden. We hope for a good attendance.

YOUR CHILDREN'S SLEEP.

Dr. Ponder, the Kent Education Committee's School Medical Officer, has issued a pamphlet on the above subject, which should have been delivered in every home of school children. The Vicar has been asked to mention this. There is a general complaint in the Kent County schools that the children do not get enough sleep and rest. Children come to school tired instead of fresh, and start yawning as if it were bedtime.

If parents really considered the welfare their children they would make an effort to put them to bed early, and so prepare the children to be at their best when in school. It is impossible to teach children who are heavy eyed for want of rest, and both parents and teachers really want to do their best for the children is quite certain. The long, light evenings are a temptation to the little ones to remain up, but as the Doctor says in the pamphlet "sleep is equally important as right food," and growing children need plenty of rest, even if they do not sleep directly they are sent to bed. There is an old saying "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."