ABBOTSFORD HOME

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 1, 1 July 1929, Page 8

ABBOTSFORD HOME

Abbotsfoi'd Hbnie was -founded -by the' Lissie Rathbone Trustees and given to the Church of England. The land on which it is built is part of "Abbotsford" the Rathbone Estate m Waipawa — hence its name. It has no endowments, which means ' that Church" ' people throughout the district over wihich the Bishop of Waiapiu presides are responsible for its upkeep. The Church of England did business m another house m Waipawa before Abbotsford Home was built, but this article is concerned only with Abbotsf ord Home' — not an Orphanage but a Children's Home. 1. Most Church people, especially those m its immediate vicinity ■, seem to .have a very hazy idea as to how this Home is governed. Quite simply it is managed by the Bishop and all the clergymen m the Diocese ivith additional prefixes to their names. Thus the Rev: Canons, Yen. Archdeacons, and bhe Very Rev. Dean are all Governors of the Home. These have also a few gentlemen acting with them who are not clergymen, but who assist voluntarily m the work of the Church. These acting together are called the Cathedral Chapter. Plain "Reverends" are not directly responsible for the government of Abbotsford. The Bishop wished for some more local touch than the Chapter 'could supply and a House Committee was tried . But the House Committee appeared to be "not wanted" by the Chapter, by the Matron and by the House Committee themselves, so they went where "not wanted" lugage goes out of the way. Who knows? They may be wanted before the ship gets to port. T.heir place has been taken by a '-Visitor" m the person of Mr AVilder of Wallingford, a place about forty miles from the Home. Mr Wilder's keen interest and thorough practical knowledge of the running of a farm is proving of the utmost value to Abbotsford. 2. For the first few years the position of Matron was filled by Sister Elsie Smith who came out from England for the purpose. Feeling the strain of the large family and the general worry connectcxl with running the establishment too great she resigned m 1928 to take up parish work m Marton. But the piety of her character and tlie love she bore the children under her control has made a lasting impress on them. Sister Elsie Smith's place was taken by Miss Alice Jones who had been 'working on the Maori Mission at the Ruatoki Mission House. . Although she has only been a little over a year m her post there are many noticeable im-

provements chiefly perhaps m the discipline of the children; manners have improved and boys and girls now possess neat school uniforms Miss Thomas has held the position of Chief Officer during the terms of two Matrons; coming from Hukarere she has served the Church with conspicuous loyalty and is always able and willing to take charge of the whole concern when either sickness or holidays necessitate the absence of the Matron. The other assistants m the Home are Miss Anderson and Nellie Williams one of the senior girls who has left school and has now started to earn her living. 3. People sometimes enquire — what is the work of the staff? It is just the same as m any other large family. If any father or mother can picture a family of thirty they have a fair conception of the worry on the staff. It is largely a question of discipline, supervising other children's work, and the .hundred and one worries of a large home. Twenty-five children to get ready for school every morning, hair brushed, nails cleaned, school bags ready, twentyfive hats to find, twenty-five children to get back from school without loitering, boots to dry, sox to dry, and twenty-five coats to dry m the wet weather. As the Home is a quarter of an hour's walk from the school naturally the work is very much increased m the winter time. There is no freedom from worry for the staff except actually on their day or .half day off a week. At every meal there are manners to watch, each child's job done properly, knives not put m mouths, Bob must pass the bread to Mary and Mary must spread the dripping for Jean, lan is eating too much, Beryl is not eating enough, is she sickening for something?

After meals they must clear the tables, sweep up the crumbs, wash the disli.es, go to prayers, get hack to school, get the home work out as the case may he. Then their teeth have to he watcliecl — one is starting a cold, another has swollen glands — is she getting mumps? — a hoy has fallen and sprained his ankle — half of them have chilblains, one has burst this morning and needs dressing. , 4. The advent of the new matron synchronised with the end of a slump and better times throughout New Zealand. Lots of things were wanted and the Church had more money to spend on the Home. More drying racks for the twenty-five wet coats, boots, sox and other things. More wardrobes were built, cork linoleum, was laid m the passages, an extra out-house was built for storing fruit and vegetables, and rnanj' other things were done and gifts' received from sympathetic friends and parishes. The Church means to make Abbotslord Home go! 5. Then there is the garden. There are about five acres of land attached to the Home and it needs putting m order, but the Cliurcli is getting a move on here at last. This part of the work has been attended to by Mr Mitchell. He has done useful jobs as a ■carpenter m and around the Home, but the grounds need planting and the garden continual working. An extra man Mr Prattley, has been put on to this work and a hedge is to be planted . right round; plane trees planted for shade, a shrubbery at the bottom of .the. drive and '» row of walnut trees from the road to the Home will not only improve the look of the place but will also be of market value later on.

All this Mr Wilder, "the Visitor", lias well m hand. 6. No account of Abobtsford would be complete without mention of the spiritual side of matters; the children under our care are brought up m a religious atmosphere. The Vicar of Waipawa is Chaplain, and as the Matron takes the place of mother to the motherless, so ■he ' tries to take the place of father to "the fatherless The children are taught to go to the parish Church and Sunday School, to say their prayers and attend family prayers. Besides iihis the Chaplain goes up once a week, takes prayers' and senior instruction class and has tea with the children. ■'■ . Saints' Days are observed by Holy Communion at 7 a;m. m the little Chapel after which the Chaplain is entertained at breakfast by the Matron and family . The happy co-operation of staff children, chaplain and all concerned with the running of the Home is beautiful and already we see signs of fruit m God's vineyard, one young boy, aged twelve, manifesting a desire for . the mission field. Nothing can free us from our responsibility of caring ourselves for Christ's little ones. , "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." This we, are humbly trying to do. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these My little ones ye have done it unto Me." And we, like the owner of the Inn at Bethlehem, have to cry — no room, no room. Abbotsford is full up. J.P.