Abbotsford Home.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 1 October 1925, Page 6

Abbotsford Home.

THE MATRON. .The Chapter has appointed Dcaeoness Elsie Smith as Matron of Abbotsford. The deaconess leaves Eng T land on October iJtii. She has had full training as a nurse at the Prince of Wales General Hospital,; London, for four years and the medical officers of the Hospital speak very highly of her work there. She has worked in the parishes of St. Andrew's, LamBeth; St. Mark's, Newcastle on Tyne; and All Souls, Haley Hill, Halifax; and for 3 years in a Medical Mission, principally for children. She is a very keen Church worker and a good - pianist and organist. THE OPENING. The Home will be opened shortly after the arrival of the Matron, say early in December. THE FURNISHING. Canon Maclean has had a fair response to his appeal for furnishings, including to date cash amounting to £65. There is, however, a greal deal more required yet. Some parishes have not responded to the appeal, though we know they are thinking about it. Others are still at work and will have more to send. It is necessary to get busy at once. We are sure that if the urgency of the Home's needs is once realised we shall have no difficulty in obtaining what is required. It should be understood that the Home, though situated in Waipawa, is a Diocesan, and not a Parochial institution. It will receive children from all parta of the diocese and will depend for its support upon the help of the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay as well as upon that of Hawke's Bay. At the present time it needs contributions from the whole diocese towards its furnishing. The first appeal for this purpose has been made to Hawke's Bay parishes, but we hope erery parish in the diocese will do its share. Parishes outside Hawke's Bay eannot conveniently send actual furniture but they can easily send money to be expended in purchasing it. We need the money to buy at' least 25 bedsteads, etc., at once; a large number of blankets, sheets, pillows and pillow cases and quilts; towels, fables, and lots of other things. WHERE TO SEND THEM. Canon Butterfield, Waipawa, will, take charge of all gifts until a caretaker is appointed. ENDOWMENT AND MAINTEN- ■■. 'ANCE.: We are delighted to be able to announce that the Rathbbne Trustees

have decided to- supplement their ( gift of nearly £9QOO. out of jwhjch the building was erected,, and have,no:w made a further grant of £3500 as an endowment. The total cost of main-, tenance will, amount to over £1000 per annum. This will have to be v pro- ; yided from (1) gifts specially allotted for the purpose, (2) fees received from the relatives of the children,.. (3) the interest on, the. endowment, ( £) the remainder from the General Di6cesan Fund. There are many ways in which you can help. (1) If you are within moderately easy reach, by gifts in kind (material for elothes, jam and other provisions, vegetables, etc). (2). By donations; and annual subscriptions, neither (a) direct to the Diocesan Secretary (Box 227, Napier), or (b) pel* medium of the General Diocesan Fund (Mr A. E. T. Williams, Box 227, Napier) . Donations in money should not be sent to the Home but to Box 227. (3 By increasing the endowment— either during your lifetime or by legacy. (4) By general support of the General Diocesan Fund. SOCIAL WORK. All the social work of the Church in this Diocese is under the management of the Chapter; its finances are in the hands of the Standing Committee. The maintenance of St. Mary's Home (rescue work and babies), St. Hilda's (children), Abbotsford (children), ... and all other similar work is a first charge on the General Diocesan Fund. You can be certain that everything you contribute to the Church's " Self-denial Fund" will be economically and carefully expended for the relief of suffering and of poverty, and the reclamation of the erring. The social work of the Church knows no distinction of class. or sect. It is as much unsectarian and undenominational as that of any other religious organisation. Why should it be hampered by such a serious lack of support from Anglicans who give so freely to the same work when done by other religious denominations t Give your help to your own Church and you will be surprised what; magnificent results she will achieve. To, realise this you have only to visit St. Mary's Home and St. Hilda !s and see what is already being 1 done. We have no hesitation in saying, what everyone w.hp knows St. Mary's and St. Hilda; ?g will corroborate, that there is no Children's Home in New Zealand to equal St. Hilda's, and no rescue Home to surpass (or perhaps;:, to equal) St. Mary's; and we are.con-r fident that Abbotsfoid, too,, will set a, standard of efficicsntey thai ', will ; be hard to beat. . Anglicans cannot pos-

sibly find a better administrator - of their charity than their own Churchy and when they help her they, are not only helping the outcast,! the orphans, and the poor, but they are helping their own Church to fulfil the mission which our Lord has committed to her.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it unto Me/ ; . ■ .:■ - :