MISSION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 294, 11 December 1900, Page 3

MISSION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

T.y the kind permission of His. Excellency the Governor, the Mission of the Good Shepherd has been granted the use of the grounds at Goverument Hou.se for a garden fete to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon. A very, attractive programme has been arranged, including decorated bicycle compe-titions,-trick bicycle riding, maypole dance twice during the afternoon; a motor car and pony to ride. Afternoon tea and strawberries and cream will be dispensed at usual prices, and there will be a stall of needlework, chiefly useful articles. It is to bo hoped there will bo a good attendance, and that all will combine to make tho fete a great success, as this mission is doing a good and much-needed work in the city.

Six years ago this work was commenced, under the title of '"die Mission to the Streets and Lanes of Auckland." Its foundation was due to Mrs F. Williams and the Key. L. Fitzgerald, and much good has been the result, in 1800 Mi- Fitzgerald resigned the post of chaplain, and fhe Rev. W. Edward Dash was appointed to the same by the Bishop. This appointment helped to remove the impression that the Mission was a parochial organisation of St. Matthew's, and made its diocesan status more clear, a matter which the clergy had eagerly advocated. On April 2nd. 1900, Sistor Mary was installed Superior by the Primate, and tho name of the Mission was changed to that of the "Mission of the Good Shepherd." This is the only effort which the Anglican Church of this diocese has made to organise trained women workers, and it therefore claims the support of all loyal church people as the centre of women's true work. The subscribed funds at present are insufficient to pay the fourteen guineas per month from Which four out of the five Sisters have to pay for all of their requirements.

In Auckland the Sisters cannot do any real rescue work for want-of a good home, under their own management, where cases could be properly classified, and poor, misgu.'ded girls trained and taught and reformed by judicious and wise discipline, and fitted to take thoir place in the world, and become respectable women, instead of adding to tho already Immense number of "the fallen."