SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 9

SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATED

DICKENS FELLOWSHIP IN CHRISTCHURCH j

DELEGATES FROM OTHER BRANCHES ATTEND The Durham Street Methodist I Church hall was decorated with silver ivy leaves, red geraniums and silver candelabra with red candles when a dinner to celebrate the stiver anniI versary of the foundation of the ' Christchurch branch of the Dickens ! Fellowship was held on Saturday eveni ing.

I Regret that the founder of the , branch. Mrs W. Machin, was unable j I to be present was expressed by the ] I president (Mrs J. Allott) when wel- ] I i-oming those present, including rep--1 resentatives of the Dunedin and Wel-, • lington branches of the fellowship. “The Dickens Fellowship, Christ- ■ church branch. Number 117, had its i genesis in the zeal of Mrs Machin, j l said Mr A. E. Caddick when propos-1 ■ I ing the toast of the fellowship. “DurI ing a trip to the North Island she | visited the Auckland branch of the I fellowship and admired the work done there. Full of enthusiasm she returned, determined that Christchurch should have a branch.” About 40 persons had attended the first meeting in the home of Mrs Machin on June 6, 1931. The constitution of the Auckland branch was read and formed the basis for that of the new branch. The first officers elected were: president. Mrs W. Machin; vicepresidents, Mesdames M. Leed and W. H. Clark. Miss P. M. Clark. Messrs A. K. Anderson. I. Smith and H. Free; ‘ secretary, Miss C. L. Patrick; treasurer. ’ Mr L. L. Cordery; committee. Mrs E. A. Fulton. Misses Greenwood, Mere-dith-Kaye, N Duffy, N. Enright, and . M. Smith. j In the early years the programmes tended to be general in character. 1 though there was always one book of ’ Dickens which was dealt with more e fully than other subjects on the syllaI bus. Gradually the practice of following the example of the parent ’’ body in London of selecting a book for study each year, was adopted. 7 The toast of the fellowship was re;i sponded to by Mrs Allott. Mr S. Cor,e dery proposed the toast of kindred _’ associations, and it was replied to by Miss P. Brunt.

A talk entitled “Charles Dickens" was given by Professor J. C. Garrett, and a sonnet written to mark the occasion by the Rev. J. R. Hervey, who was unable to be present, was read by Mrs L. J. Morris.

The president paid a tribute to Mrs C. T. Aschman, a life member of the fellowship, who had died a short time previously. Those present stood in silence as a mark of respect. Greetings from a number of persons and organisations, including the Sydney and Auckland branches of the fellowship, and Mrs Machin were read by the secretary (Miss P. Brunt). The jubilee cake, which was made by Mrs D. Harland, was cut by Miss V. Smith.

Three first editions of Dickens presented by Mrs Machin were handed over by Miss G. Musgrove. Items were given by Miss V. Martin. and the accompanist was Mrs B. Pollard.