ST SAVIOUR’S GUILD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 9

ST SAVIOUR’S GUILD.

OPENING OF NEW GIRLS’ HOME. Built to accommodate 140 children, the new Girls’ Home in connection with St Saviour’s Guild was officially opened this afternoon by Archbishop Julius- The building is made up of an administrative block with offices, two large open dormitories and cubicles for the older girls. It is situated in Stapleton’s Road, Shirley. The old building, which had accommodation for under ninety children, has been re-modelled. There was a large attendance of Guild members and friends. Addresses were delivered by Archibshop Julius, the Mayor (Mr J. A. Flesher). Mr C. E. Jones (representing St Saviour’s Guild), Mr K. Matheson (chairman of the special building committee) and Mr M’Gregor Wright (St Augustine’s Lodge). The Mayor said he had seen the growth of the institution from its commencement, about twenty-five years ago, and he knew of its great value to the little ones and to the community. Places of this kind should be called homes. That was what they were. In and around Christchurch there were 600 children in these homes, 106 being under the care of the Church of England. In Timaru, there were seventyfour children in the Guild’s boys’ home. He congratulated the Guild and all concerned on the success which had attended the work, and he wished them full success in. the future. It was a grand work, a work that must appeal to everyone.

Mr Jones said he agreed that the building should be called a home. Such plafcps were homes in the true sense of because they were ruled over by the spirit of love. That the present additions and alterations had been carried out Was due to the people of Canterbury as a whole- The children were fed, clothed and educated and their spiritual education was well attended to and it was hoped to do more. A house had been purchased at Sumner for a babies’ home, so that where necessary a child could be taken over virtually at birth. The guild would always do its best to make the children happy.

Mr Matheson thanked contributors to the building fund for their generosity and described the methods in which the campaign had been conducted. The sum of £BOOO was in hand already. The next work was the erection of a new block in Timaru. When they got that they would be a happy family indeed. Mr M*Gregor Wright, representing St Augustine’s lodge, referred to. the cot founded in memory of the late Mr B. Bishop, a former master of the lodge.

Archbishop Julius said he had many cares and many anxieties, but he also had some red-letter days in his life. This was one of them. Few things gave him more pleasure than to see their children’s homes extended. He remembered the beginnings of the guild, when they bought an old house, and how they had seen the work grow under their hands. They had had to build more and more, but the hearts of the people were turned to this work. He could never believe evil of a people that thought of the children aYid their welfare. Money came in for the homes and for the schools, and the work went on. God’s hand was there, helping them and bidding them not be afraid. They would not be afraid, and the work would go forward, and after they were dead it would keep growing. They would have more and more homes for the care of the little ones.