ST. MARY’S GUILD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 201, 22 May 1936, Page 4

ST. MARY’S GUILD

Election of Officers The annual meeting of St. Mary's Guild was held yesterday morning in the Diocesan Room, Mulgrave Street, Canon James presiding. The committee's report referred to a successful year and added: There are 93 gins and children in the homes—3B in the main home, 32 in Lancaster Street children's home and 23 in the Dunean Cottage. There have been a few changes in the staff. Miss Lockhart left her post of assistant-matron at the Duncan Cottage after eight years’ devoted service to thb homes. Miss M. Christophel has taken the place of Miss Lockhart at Duncan Cottage, while her sister, Miss K. Christophel has been added to the staff at the main home. It has been a great pleasure and satisfaction to the Guild to have Miss Pannifer at the head of the Lancaster Street Home again, much benefited in health by her time away. On the whole, the health of the homes has been good. The conduct of the girls and children has been good. It is a pleasure to notice that seven have been confirmed at St. .Mary’s, Karori, during the year. Old girls have continued to use the home as their real home and there have been two weddings from the home which were made occasions of real rejoicing for all concerned. The committee are again most thankful to Miss Parlane for all she does at the homes and particularly for the atmosphere she creates among all the girls and staff of a truly Christian and reformative nature. The school reports have been good, and all the children who sat for their proficiency examination passed it.

The outstanding event of the year as far as the Guild is’ concerned is the resignation of Mrs. Sprott as president. Mrs. Sprott decided to resign as from January 31 on Bishop Sprott's retirement from the post of Bishop of Wellington. The committee asked her to reconsider this decision, but she felt constrained to abide by it, and it now only remains to endeavour to put on record the very great debt of gratitude which all connected with the Guild and homes feel that they owe to Mrs. Sprott. Her tirelessness in organising ways of increasing the funds is only a small part of her work; her mature wisdom, her genuine friendship for the committee, staff, girls, and children, her constant and unfailing attention tp all the affairs of the puild, combined with her long experience of its work, have made her loss a very great one. But the Guild are glad to know that they will still have the opportunity of her advice and help, whether she is able to be present with them or not. Mrs. Wallis was elected to her place at the February meeting. The following are the officers for the coming year:—Patroness, Lady Galway ; visitor, the Bishop of Wellington; warden, the Archdeacon of Wellington; chaplain, the Rev. F. M. Kempthorne; trustees, Sir George Shirtcliffe, Mr. E. Hadfield, Mr. H. D. Bennett, Colouel G. F. C. Campbell; president: Mrs. Wallis’, 21 Hatton Street, Karori, Wellington; vice-presidents, Lady Shirtcliffe. Mrs. Sprott, Mrs. R. E., Hayes, Mrs. Rawnsley. Miss Baber; hon. secretary: Mrs. Wilsone; hon, treasurer, Mis's Powles; committee, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Bristow.. Mrs. Webster, Mrs. G. Wilson, Mrs., Pope. Mrs. James, Mrs. Hansell, Mrs. Gillingham, Mrs. Park, Miss Nicholls, Miss Francis, Miss Cooper, Miss Didsbury.