DIOCESAN LADIES OF CHARITY

New Zealand Tablet, 19 August 1915, Page 59

DIOCESAN LADIES OF CHARITY

CATHEDRAL CONFRATERNITY, ■ , CHRISTCHURCH. (Prom our own correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Cathedral Confraternity of Diocesan Ladies of Charity was held on Tuesday evening, August 3. The Rev. Father Murphy, B.A. (spiritual director), was present, and certified to the correctness of the financial statement. The balance sheet and report for the year ended July 31 were read and adopted. Summary of Report. During the year, thirty-seven meetings were held, and the present active membership is twenty-three. The records * show that during the year visits were made as follow :To Addington Prison (women’s), 49 ; Christchurch Public Hospital, 90 ; Consumptive Sanatorium and King George Memorial Hospital, 7 ; Jubilee Memorial Home, 18 Charitable Aid Board re poor people, 6; Police Court, 4 ; State Receiving Home, 4; Waltham Orphanage, 1 ; Female Refuge, 2 ; to poor people in their own homes, 20. Altogether 160 visits to sick people were made, 22 of these to the Lewisham Hospital. Admission to the Jubilee Memorial Home was secured for one person. Two visits were made to St. Helen’s Maternity Hospital, and four to the Citizens’ (Associated) Benevolent Society. Rent was paid for two aged women, and a subject for Mount Magdala was taken there at the expense of the confraternity. New garments to the number of 109 were made up, 106 yards of flannel and 105 yards of flannelette were purchased, 7 pairs of stockings were bought, and 69 new garments were made up and distributed, also 10 parcels of second-hand clothing, 22 bags of coal, 3 bags of wood, and 37 yards of new material were given out. Apart from the usual weekly collection, all members agreed to contribute one shilling per year towards the society’s funds. Two Masses were arranged for and offered for the repose of the soul of the late Bishop, a Mass was offered for a member’s father, and another for the repose of the soul of the late Corporal Clarkson, who was killed at the Dardanelles. Letters were received from Dr. Blackmore, superintendent of the consumptive institutions, granting permission for two members to visit the sanatorium and King George Memorial Hospital. Beads and medals were purchased for the inmates of the Addington Prison, also six small hymn books, and a large one with music for use of the organist there. Two children were brought for Baptism. Acknowledgment is made of the co-operation of the Cathedral conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and its grant of seven bags of coal. The president (Mrs. Green) attended nine meetings of the Mayoral Coal and Blanket Fund Committee, and was thus instrumental in having 81 tons of coal, 9 pairs of blankets, and 4 rugs distributed among our deserving Catholic poor people. Mrs. Green also attended eleven meetings of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the full number held since her election as a member. The Ladies of Charity desire to sincerely thank their spiritual director (Rev. Father Murphy), for the consistent and much appreciated interest taken in their meetings and work, together with his valued advice, and encouragement generally, and also the many friends and benefactors who have generously assisted the funds, either by direct donations or assistance in the various undertakings promoted for the same object. Summary of Balance Sheet. The receipts for the year ended July 31 totalled £4l 19s 2ld, the principal items beingproceeds two jumble sales, £22 11s 2d; private donations, £9 12s; honorary members’ subscriptions, £2 15s; collections at weekly meetings, £2 13s; trustees Hyman Marks’ estate, £2 2s. The expenditure amounted to £2B 12s 6d, leaving’ a credit balance of £l3 6s B|d. The principal items of expenditure were Drapery, £l3 Os 3d; -groceries, £4 19 lid; boots, £3 15s 6d ; coal, £2 6s 6d.

The officers elected for the current year are as follow; —President, Mrs. F. Green; vice-presidents, Mrs. J. O’Brien and Mrs. Neilson; secretary, Miss M. Hannan; treasurer. Miss Nelson; wardrobe-keeper, Mrs. W. Mahar; librarian. Miss Plank.