CHRISTCHURCH CHURCH HOSPITAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 75

CHRISTCHURCH CHURCH HOSPITAL.

CANON WILFORD’S ACTIVITIES.

ENGLISH SUBSCRIBERS. LONDON, October 15. Ov, September 13 Canon J. Russell Wilford" preached a sermon in Canterbury Cathedral. He told the story of the New Zealand Canterbury Pilgrims, and spoke of the effort now being made to establish a Church hospital in Christchurch. Writing to the editor of the Church Times, Canon Wilford acknowledges certain donations he has received as the result of that sermon. “I think you ought to know’,” he writes, “ that the anonymous friend who in his kindness has sent us through you a cheque for the Pilgrims’ Hospital in New Zealand is one of several others who, reading a report in your issue of September 18 of a sermon I preached in Canterbury Cathedral, sent us very welcome help. One letter came from an old lady of 90, who 75 years ago helped to make dresses for 6ome of the children who were going out in the first four ships of which I spoke. Their great desire to do something to hasten the laying of the foundation stone of the hospital, which is to complete the plans of the Canterbury Fathers, may be gathered from the fact that the contributors have been at pains to find my address. I am grateful ft:? the trouble to which you yourself must have gone to reach me- “ I would like the hospital to have a little record of this interest the Einglish descendants of the pilgrims are taking in it. Will you let me make the following suggestion? Some of the beds of the hospital are being named. A local artist is already giving of her time to malting designs for the names. Some such inscription as ‘This bed was named by the English descendants of the Canterbury Pilgrims * would mean a great deal to the people of New Zealand. For it we should have to increase the money which has already been sent me to £IOO. It might, perhaps, be allowable for others to help in the £IOO, but if they feel they would like to leave this entirelv to thoso who are descendants they may, perhaps, be able to think of some other ways of helping us to find the £20,000 we still need.” ORDER OF ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY.

Canon Wilford tells me that no collection has been organised in this country. What he has really been doing in England for the hospital nos been to find a community to take charge of it. “ This is now all arranged,” he says. “The community is the Order of St. Elizabeth of Hungary They will be ready to take charge in two years’ time—the time we hope the hospital will be ready for them. The Reverend Mother of the Community ia arranging to make a preliminary journey to New Zealand next year with one of the other sisters. The Mother of what will be their Christchurch branch is not yet appointed. The Mother who will he making tlie visit to New Zealand is the head of the Order. It says something for the importance of the new* hospital in Christchurch that the English sisters are willing, in very busy days, to spare their Mother that she may go and learn for herself our exact requirements.”