Ormondville.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XII, Issue 12, 1 June 1922, Page 379

Ormondville.

. ;^(^ Rev. F. W. Wljibley. Our district -Harvest Thanksgivings were good this year. There were large .congregations, the churches were nicely decorated, and the gifts of - vegetables, fruit, biscuits, groceries, etc., exceeded anyprevious year. All were sent to St. Mary's Home. During the month a Sunday School has been commenced m the church rooms at Whetukura by Miss Mavis Ellingham and Miss Wood. The first day was made the occasion of- a gathering of children, upwards of 50 rattended and 50 adult teachers and scholars of the rdnnondville Sunday School were motored over by several kind friends. On that day also there was a flower- service and each child placed a buttonhole for a soldier m the Pukeora Sam on the alms dish and they were afterwards laid on the altar that hadbie'en used m Church Army huts -m France. Makotuku led the way with the flower service at the 11 o'clock, Whetukura at 2.30 220 buttonholes were givefn and also enough cake for every soldier to have a share. The' inmates of the San. are 163. The secretary wrote on behalf of the soldiers and said how all appreciated these little tokens showing that they were not forgotten. 79 of the buttonholes contained forget-me-nots, .one for. each soldier. We hope to make this ail annual flower service for PttEeora*. . We Jbad a light and happy Easter, the people shewed thankfulness' for the. Resurrection by their attiendance at Divine service, ;and the hearty worship that ensued filled ;;alj with gladness and hope for the future; " On Monday May 7 at the Parish Church a 801 lof Honor was unveiled bearing the. ins.criptjfoiii — "To the .Glory of God, and m: of Ormondyille soldiers anS hiirsfis who were jtiom© -afliear^aving done their ' duty to the Empire during the grje^t war 6f;iol^-18;"- After the prayer of dedication^ .the Vicar drew aside the Union Jack ajid the National Anthem was sung. : , ;

Boys and 'girls of the Ormondville Church district had been invited to bring a wreath of flowers or a sprig of Rosemary to place at the foot of the tablet on which are the "names" of 14 Ormondville soldiers whose graves are m France. • This was responded to so well that the church was filled to overflowing with the Sunday School children, their parents and friends; indeed several could not find room although the aisle was filled and the -first step of the chancel. - During the singing "of "Onward Christian Soldiers" children to the number of over 100 marched down the aisle, and left their floral offerings or wreaths at the foot of the tablet, the Boy Scouts taking the lead. In an address to the young people, the Vicar endeavored to direct their minds to the teaching of the flowers, and said:— "As our Master drew lessons from the 'lilies of the field,' so our flower services may teach us of the care, and the dependence we should have m our Heavenly" Father's Love."' The superintendents of the Sunday Schools at Makotulm and "Whetukura, and their scholars were enabled to attend, as several friends had provided the means of conveyance. On the following Monday the wreaths, etc., were taken' to the cemetery and placed on the only soldier's grave m it. As there were more than could be laid .. on this grave, the remainder was distributed among three other grave plots, where the families had a brave boy ' ' lying among the poppies."