GARDEN PARTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 10 December 1936, Page 12

GARDEN PARTY

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH. HELP FOR AIISSIONS. A very enjoyable garden party was held in aid of the missionary liind at the All Saints’ vicarage, yesterday afternoon. The weather was fine and the function was favoured by a good attendance of the public, to whom the pretty garden and well arranged stalls proved most attractive. Among those present were Canon G. Y. AA'oodward and Mrs AA’oodward, Rev. J. S. Holland, tho Alayoress, Airs A. E. Alansford, who was accompanied by Aliss C. Jones, of Dunedin; also Aliss Dinncen, organising secretary of tlie China Mission.

Canon AVoodward explained that the function had been arranged to create interest in mission work and to collect money to realise the parish quota ; in other words, to make the missionary barometer rise. He expressed pleasure that tho Mayoress had again consented to open the garden party, and before calling upon Airs Aiansford, he introduced Aliss Dinncen, who was to address tho gathering later. Airs Alansford and Aliss Dinncen were presented with posies of rosebuds and lavender by Airs Woodward. The function was opened by the Alayoress, who said that the missionaries carried 0111 the social principle of which wo were so proud, namely, that the strong should aid the weak. She went oil to speak of the wonderful work done by the missionaries, who made the sacrifice by renouncing civilised society, and said that in return we should help them in every possible way and that one of the best ways vas by adding to the missionary fund. In declaring the function open, Airs Hansford expressed the hope that the results would exceed the highest expectations. An outstanding feature of the gathering was a talk by Aliss Diiiiieen, which was listened to with much interest. Aliss Dinncen spoke of tlie urgent need for more missionaries in Jhina and said that many large cities were entirely void of missionaries. “We go to tlie mission field at the command of God,” said Aliss Dinncen.

“That is whv people become missionaries:” It was useless to say that it was impossible for miracles to happen these days, and she quoted r.n example. In 1.925, when Communist Russia was determined to capture China the missionaries were warned by Chinese students not to hold Christmas services or all Christians would he massacred. The service was held. Afterwards they were surprised to find that the Communist students were congregated outside the church in the most friendly of moods. It appeared that Marshal Wu I’ei-i'ti, who was feared by tho rebel faction, had notified them that should they harm one Christian lie would “deal with them,” and also that he would be in theii town on Christmas day, lienee the friendly attitude. It later transpired

that the Marshal was so far away that it would have been impossible tor him to have got to the town by Christmas Gay. For many years missionaries had been working in China and up till six years ago the country was considered by the world’s leaders to be slowly crumbling to pieces, and now they, were saying that a modern miracle had happened before their eyes. The reason was that a Chinaman who could be ,i dictator if he wished to. had at a meeting of the Oxford Group been transformed into a new person. Aliss Dinncen referred briefly to the present ruler, Generalissimo (Jibing Kaishek, and his wife, known as. “Madame,” both of ' whom were earnest Christians and who openly stated that their aim was to serve Christ in China as King George and Queen Alary had done in England. The various stalls tempting guests to contribute to tlie missionary fund

were conducted by the following: Bran tub, Aliss P. AVhelan; sweet stall, Alisses G. Hands and J. AVoodward, assisted by the Ranger Company; fancy work, Aliss Gaustad, Airs Byrne, Aliss Pasley; produce, Mrs J. AV. AVhelan, and Alisses Harwood and Clarke; copper trail, Aliss H.Tucker; croquet competitions. Airs AA 7 . Snelling and Airs AA 7 . Bigham ; afternoon tea buffet. Alesdames E. Dawick, N. Metcalfe, E. Eckersley, and T. Inglis, and Aliss K. Owtram. In the evening Rev. Air Long projected a film on China, during which Aliss Diiiiieen gave another interesting lecture. A short play by the Talcaro Guides, “When the Chimes Rang,” was much appreciated by the audience. Tho play was directed by the captain, Aliss Gwen Hands.