METHODISTS AND MEN OF THE FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 14

METHODISTS AND MEN OF THE FLEET.

CHEERY ENTERTAINMENTS. The efforts of the Methodist Church to g-'ve as many of the sailors as possible a feeling of being among friends, have met with great success. The Pitt Street schoolroom has been turned into a social hall, and fitted up with all sorts of table games at the disposal of the men. Tea or coffee and cakes, etc., can be had at any time between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., and already the number of men who have accepted this hospitality runs into hundreds. A distinct advantage of this centre has been the opportunity it has given the men to meet people who have been glad to invite them to their homes. Quite a large number of men have been booked for Sunday afternoon and evening, and some for the week-end.

Among the special features of the Methodist endeavour to cater for the fleet has been the preparation of a guide to Auckland, showing the main roads to all places of interest in and about the city, also much printed matter concerning* the city. Knowing that there were over 1500 Methodist men in the fleet. 2000 "guides,'' with 2000 welcome cards were distributed through the chaplain.

The Rev. J. Ernest Parsons, Methodist naval chaplain on the Auckland station, has been responsible for all the local arrangements, and he has been well supported by all the churches.