MISSION WORK IN CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19203, 17 December 1925, Page 13

MISSION WORK IN CITY.

ORDER OF GOOD SHEPHERD. MOUSE AND CHAPEL FUND. GREAT PROGRESS DURING YEAR. A most encouraging report on tho state of the building fund for tho new Mission House now almost completed in Grey Street was submitted to the annual meeting of the Order of tho Good Shepherd yesterday afternoon. It, was stated by the Rev. W. E. Lush on behalf of the general committee that only £SOO remained to be raised to make it possible to open both the mission house and the chapel adjoining free of debt. The annual meeting of the Order was held in the day nursery of tho Campbell Creche, next to the new building, Archbishop Averill presiding over a large attendance of supporters and friends. The annual report stated that the year had been one of ceaseless activity. About 5000 visits had been paid under the direction of the clergy. This visiting discovered sick and distressed folk, unbaptised children and absentees from Sunday School, etc., and was a link between the vicar and those people whom time did not permit him to reach. Teaching was given by the Order both at Sunday Schools and in other ways. Public institutions had iieen visited regularly. Nurse Mary, who had done much valuable work at the day nursery for so long, had been compelled to carry on under great difficulties. The depot retained popularity and usefulness. Clothing was constantly being given away, but tho Order had many friends who preferred to pay tho little asked and they were encouraged to do so. The following committee was elected : Canon F. W. Young, the Rev. Gordon Bell, Mesdames Averill, Hugh Campbell, G. Hunt, Misses Bent and Nicholson, and Messrs. 11. S. Brabant, W. Brabant, L. Armitage, W. J. Crowther and G. Kissling. -Mr. G. B. Osmond was reappointed honorary auditor. In dealing with tho state of the building fund the Rev. W. E. Lush said there was still about £SOO to raise. The committee had decided to endeavour to raise this sum by £lO debentures bearing current rates of interest payable in two years. If they could raise this money in this way it would be possible at the opening of the building to ask His Grace to consecrate the chapel. They could make tho house bear these debentures and thus leave the chapel clear. Mr. Lush's unexpectedly good report was received with warm applause. Archbishop Averill congratulated the committee. He said that if tho sisters of the Order did nothing but remain in the house they would be setting a wonderful example of devotion, but their devotion and helpful work was of great benefit to the community and especially to the suffering. portion of the community. He was more and more convinced that there was a work in the, parishes which could be done only by women, and trained women. The Church was looking forward to a considerable increase in the Order, he continued, for as the city continued to grow there would be more need for the work. He thohght they would find enough friends of the Order to take up tho debentures. Afternoon lea was provided bv the sisters and those present inspected the almost completed house and chapel. BUILDING NEARLY FINISHED. AN ATTRACTIVE STRUCTURE. The handsome new Mi ssion House erected in Grey Street for the Order of the Good Shepherd is Hearing completion and should be ready for opening early in the New Year. The new chapel at the rear of the Mission House and overlooking Myeps Park is also well advanced and should be ready for consecration when the Mission House is opened and dedicated. In style the Mission House is an 18th century Georgian mansion, consisting of two lofty floors, a basement and prominent and attractive gables, while the massive chimneys oi the period lend distinction to the building. Tho construction is in brick with a cover of warm-toned stucco, rough-trowelled. The ground floor has several excellent arrangements. Inside the main entrance there is a waiting room on one side and the superior's room on the other. Several well-planned rooms provide for the various activities and duties of the sisters. The large diningroom is on this floor and is provided with an open fireplace of unique design. Immediately behind this room is the well-arranged Servery, with convenient built-in fixtures, and this opens on to the modern kitchen. At the rear is a :oom with a sunny balcony that could be used as a sick-room, should the needs of the children make it necessary. Below is the basement, with a large airy schoolroom and other rooms, including the depot for the handling of clothing received as g'fts by the sisters. The upper •floor is mainly devoted to bedrooms and sittingrooms and abovo that again is the spacious attic. It is not intended to use this at present and it is being left as a large open space sealed off from the accommodation below. However, it will be possible by a. moderate expenditure to fit a staircase and the necessary divisions, and thus provide about a dozen additional bedrooms when this extension becomes necessary. An innovations introduced by the architects minimises the risk of fire. The electric wires for the lighting of the building are carried from floor to floor in a brick cavity on tho outside walls so that fusing of the wires at one point would not cause damage to the rest of the building. The whole building is ahead of immediate needs but it has been planned with a view to the anticipated growth of the order. The ch .pel is early English in style, with the very steep and high gable characteristic of some of tho very earliest Anglican churches in and around Auckland. The construction and finish aro similar U, those of the Mission House.