VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,

Easter has come and gone, and our services were very bright and hearty. I want to sincerely thank those who generously gave to the Dilapidation Fund of the Cure. It was fortunate that I had Mr. Cosserat, a Durham University man, staying with me when I went down with a sharp attack of influenza in the end of Lent, and that he was able to maintain the services for me. He was of great assistance.

As I mentioned at the Annual Meeting, I expect to resign from this Living at the end of October. As many of you will know, my health has been far from good for some time, and with increasing lameness, due to osteo-arthritis, I feel the time has arrived for me to relinquish the work here. The Archbishop will have six months to look out a successor for the Cure. My wife and I expect to be abroad for some time and then to return and reside at "Roseneath," so it will not be farewell to Hartlip. I came to Hartlip seven years ago hoping my health would benefit, but it was not to be.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER

CONFIRMATION.

The Lord Bishop of Dover will take a Confirmation Service in our Church on Tuesday, May 17th, at 7 p.m. We hope for a good attendance of parishioners who will come and support our candidates with their prayers. God-parents, where possible, should come. The Bishop will address parents at the conclusion of the service.

G.F.S.

Our Branch is having a Garden Sale at the Vicarage on Saturday afternoon, May 28th, at 3 p.m. There will be a stall with articles made by the G.F.S. girls, a second-hand stall, and a dancing exhibition by the girls. Afternoon tea will be sold at 6d. per head. Note the date, and come and support the members.

PALESTINE EXHIBITION IN
SITTINGBOURNE.

Hartlip is asked to help. Further details will be published later on, but if there are any who feel they would be able to help, please let the Vicar know. Here are some of the things to be exhibited - a Bedouin hair tent, the only home of nomadic people in the Holy Land; models of the temple and a rock hewn tomb and a model of the city of Jerusalem; an ancient plough; water wheel, etc. There will be realistic costume lectures, book stalls, and, of course, a refreshment room. Several well-known people have promised to open the Exhibition each day, for

it goes on for a week. It will be a way of bringing the Bible vividly home to those who attend.

MOTHERS' UNION.

The Deanery Annual Festival will be at Rainham on Wednesday, May 11th, at 3 p.m. Preacher: Rev. H. Bradfield, of Canterbury. The Diocesan President, Mrs. Forbes, will also give an address.

ASCENSION DAY.

May 26th. - The first Evensong will be sung in Church on Wednesday, May 25th, at 7.30 p.m.

Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7 a.m. and at 10 a.m. on the actual day.

Children's Service at 9 a.m., after which the children keep holiday.

School Religious Examination on May 19th. - Parents please note children should be in school at 8.45 a.m., and when examined will get a half-day holiday, so they need not bring lunches that day.

Mrs. Denson has given a cross and candlestick in Italian gilt for the Lady Chapel altar in memory of her late husband. Mr. S. Hollands has had the altar cross, candlesticks, and pulpit candlesticks relacquered. All goes to beautify our Church, and we are grateful. for what has been done.

Income tax has gone up by 6d. in the £ and it was not generally expected. A few months ago everyone believed the rise would be 1/0 but lately the Italian and Irish settlements and the reported increase in revenue had made tax-payers more hopeful. Sir John Simon has shattered these hopes. By raising income tax the Chancellor has left it only sixpence behind the darkest record of the War days. With tax at 5/6 in the £ and heavy protective duties, taxation has practically reached the level of the War days. There is justification for the policy. The alternative would have been heavy borrowing, and heavy borrowing might have brought us back to the financial dangers of 1931. It is not certain we shall now escape them, as some borrowing there must be. Sir John Simon gave a gloomy speech on the wireless, he looks for serious difficulties next year when armament expenditure reaches its peak, and when business may have ceased to expand. The need of the moment is that expenditure should he carefully watched, and all needless extravagance avoided. It is important that more food should be grown in this country. Thrift is a lesson we all need to practise. England's prosperity is not what it has been, and rich and poor need to study our country's position to-day. It is not at all rosy by any means.