Girls Friendly Society, Annual Report for 1936.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 26, Issue 12, 1 December 1936, Page 9

Girls Friendly Society, Annual Report for 1936.

In reporting on the work of the Girls' Friendly Society during the past year, we are all thankful for being able to carry on so well. ,No Society justifies its existence without progress, therefore we feel we can say it has progressed since it is still m existence all over the world, after sixty-one years. ..... ,< : . .-..■. The Girls' Friendly Society was formed m 1875 by Mrs Townsend. What is the Society? It is a Society to unite for the Glory of God m one fellowship of prayer and service the girls and women of the Empire, to uphold purity m thought, word and deed. It offers friendly comradeship to those m need of. such help. It introduces 1 , by its integral working, women and girls from one country to another, or from one town to another, as the case may be. This is one of the most useful pieces of work. No Associate or Member should feel a stranger m a strange land, knowing that she has been commended to a Lodge or branch of the Girls' Friendly Society. Girls of any denomination may be members of the Girls' Friendly Society. St. Augustine's Branch. — This Branch has held successful meetings during the year, and Associates and Members continue their interest m working for the Melanesian Mission, and for the sick and needy m St. Augustine's Parish, also m helping Church funds. St. Matthew' Branch, Hastings. — This Branch is the outstanding feature of the Girls' Friendly Society's work m this Diocese. Their activities and interests are wide m helping their Church and Mission funds, and the sick and needy. Their fine efforts for the building up of additional funds for their proposed Girls' Friendly Society Lodge, keen workers, good membership, is much to be admired. They deserve much appreciation m keeping, their flag at masthead. Miss Millie Dalton is a very busy young woman, arid gives up much of her spare time. She is a very energetic Secretary, and is to be congratulated on the success of her Branch.

The Mahora Sub-branch,. Hastings, wmch was m abeyance, has been reopened, and is very . enthusiastic under Miss Mitchell, Presiding Associate. Seventeen candidates have been admitted there. Deaconess M. a. Holmes is a tower, of strength to mis sub-branch. Taradale Candidates'. Branch.— Mrs. Angell, who is a busy .woman, gives up much or her time to this important work of the Girls' Friendly , Society, and sends a good report of j the work there. We are grateful to ! Mrs. Angell , for her work with the j G.E.S. Candidates. " ,j Pukehou Branch, — The Secretary, ' i sends m subscriptions from ' the few ' j members there. : y\ IVuhaka Branch. — The report from "i the Nuhaka G.F.S. is very interesting of the work of the Native Associates, ']{ Members and Candidates. ■ , Their Vicar says they. . are most | helpful m Sunday School and i. Church- work, also needy work. $ Miss Ra Tanta is keen on her work i as their Secretary. ty| The Girls'. Frinedly Society Lodge | is carrying , on with permanent) boarders, and many transcients com-], ing and going. We trust, the number j of permanent boarders will,'increase.|j The G.F.S. Lodge is now under the | capable guidance of "Miss B. Roe as | matron. The Annual Day of Thanksgiving and Intercession for the Girls' Friendly Society all over the world was celebrated this year on Sunday, 20th June, 1936, m Napier, St. John's Church and St; Augustine's Church, Holy Communion, 8 a.m. The attendance was fair. The Hastings G.F.S. Branch celebrated the Annual Day of Thanksgiving and Intercession on Sunday, sth July, 1936, m St. Matthew's Church, Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and Tea at 5.30 p.m. m St. Matthew's Hall, at which 48 were present, afteiY wards all going on to Evening Service m St. Matthew's Church. The Diocesan Secretary and Literary Associate were invited, and were present. There has been a little advance m the financial position since last year.

The -Diocesan and Girls' Friendly Lodge balance-sheet will show the financial position of the G.F.S. ... , . . MARIE S. WHITE, G.F.S. Diocesan Secretary, Waiapui Diocese, v 31st Octobery 1936. , - ' ANNUAL REPORT. At the conclusion of the twentyfirst year since the institution of the j Girls' Friendly Society Lodge, the ; Committee, have much pleasure ■; m i reporting that progress .continues , satisfactory, , except from a financial point of view. I Recently the G.F.S. Lodge has been |- ! re-roofed and painted outside, and ! other necessary renovations done. j\ Mrs. ;Dill, after being with us, for i nine years as Matron of the Lodge., ; sent m her resignation. The ComI mittee wish her well m her, retirement. I Miss Cora Maris Clark took -up I duties as Matron of the Lodge on Ist August, 1935. The Committee thank her for interest m work of the Lodge. The House Committee wish to thank all the friends who have assisted the Lodge by kind donations m money, flowers, fruit, vegetables and other ways. The number of permanent boarders during , the year averages five per week. The number of transcient boarders during the year has been 197, which is an increase of 71 transcients for the year. We trust during the coming year permanent and transcient boarders will increase. The balance-sheet will show the financial position of the Lodge. MARIE S. WHITE, Secretary. Napier, 3 1st March, 1936. ' ST. AUGUSTINE'S BRANCH. We opened our session this year m June with a social evening for Mem- • bers, Associates and friends, which was very enjoyable — and will close end of November. On Sunday, 21st June, 1936, Members and Associates attended the Corporate Communion m St. Augustine's Church for the Day ol Thanks- '

giving and Intercession for the Girls' jtrienaly Society all over the world. uunng me session we nave had interesting addresses: — Miss Evelyn liaiiey, on "iiealtn," very interesting; bister Margaret, on "Use o£ Herbs," most educative; Miss Fawcett, on "Tne British and Foreign Bible Society," very instructive; Miss B. Roe, "Talk on tne League of Nations," was listened to with interest; Mrs. Bruce Barnett, "Chat on Good Literature," was much enjoyed. m August we had a Jumble Sale, and from the proceeds allocated: — Annual subscription to Melanesian Mission, £5; to Vicar of St. Augustine's Parish, for Sick and Needy, £2; from Working Expenses Fund was donated to Church Fund, end of June, 1936, £1; for Church frontal, £1; from G.F.S. Room Fund, given for St. Augustine's Church heating, £5. There will be an Admission Service before the end of the session. I hope this coming year someone will come forward to take up the work of the Girls' Friendly Society Candidates, which is the most important work m the Girls' Friendly Society. Our thanks are due to Rev. S. Gardiner and Mrs. S. Gardiner; also to Mr. A. M. Retemeyer, for auditing Girls' Friendly Society accounts. My thanks to Associates and Members for help m G.F.S. work; also to friends who sent gifts for Jumble Sale. MARIE S. WHITE, Secretary St. Augustine's Branch of the G.F.S. Napier, 31st October, 1936. The Annual Festival of the Girls' Friendly Society was held m St. Augustine's Church on Saturday afternoon, 14th November, at 2.30 p.m. The Bishop of Waiapu gave the address at the Festival on "The Aims and Objects of the G.F.S." It was most interesting and instructive. This was followed by the annual G.F.S. meeting m St. Augustine's Schoolroom, the Bishop of Waiapu m the chair. The Diocesan report and balance-sheet and the G.F.S. report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The G.F.S. Branch reports were read. The election of officers .resulted :— President, Mrs. Williams; vice-presi-dents, Mrs Brocklehurst, Mrs Hansard, Mrs. H. Fannin, Mrs. T. H.

Lowry, Mrs. V. G» Langley, Mrs. M. E. Bedford, Miss Pallot; council, Mrs. E. Cornford, Mrs. A. Young, Deaconess M. B. Holmes, Miss Twigg, Miss Pasley, Miss D. Wakelin, Miss M. S. White, Miss Rainbow, Miss King; G.F.S. Lodge Committee, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. R. W. Hansard, Mrs. X Cornford, Mrs. M. X Bedford, Mrs, W. Dale, Mrs. A. D. Waddell, Miss Pallot, Miss Twigg, Miss White; G.F.S.. Diocesan Secretary, Miss. ivi. S. White; Diocesan Treasurers, Mrs. E. Cornford, Mrs. M. E. Bedford; Literary Associate, Miss Helen Pasley; G.F.S. Executive Committee, Mrs. R. W. Hansard, Mrs. V. G. Langley, Mrs. M. E. Bedford, Mrs. A. Young; Deaconess M. B. Holmes, Miss Pallot, Miss Pasley, Miss White; Advisory Board, Mr W. P. Finch, Mr. W. J. Pallot, Mr. J. P. Williamson, Mr. R. W. Hansard, Mr A. E. Bedford; Auditor G.F.S., Mr J. P. Williamson; Treasurer G.F.S. Lodge, Mr. W. G. Pallot. His Lordship the Bishop of Waiapu was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for presiding at the annual meeting of the G.F.S. ST. MATTHEW'S BRANCH. We opened our session on the 22nd April, 1936, and have since then held our weekly meetings. The opening service was held m the Chapel, with an address by Canon Mortimer Jones. The following people gave us interesting Lectures and Talks during the session: — Dr. McPhail, "Oxford Group"; Miss Smythe, "Life m China and Japan"; Miss Taylor, "Life m Africa"; Mrs. Lovell-Smith, "Pioneer Women." Mrs. Mardon gave a floral demonstration. On nearly, every first Wednesday m the month Deaconess Holmes has taken Bible study. We observed the world-wide Day of Intercession on the sth July with Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and a Tea at 5.30 p.m., at which there were 48 present. During the session we held four Social Evenings, one being an open social and one m honour of the Secretary. We' have held a series of private parties m aid of our funds. We have knitted and made quilts and slippers for the relief. We are pleased to report that our Mahora Sub-branch has re-opened, and is very enthusiastic under Miss Mischell as Presiding Associate and Miss Hopcroft as Secretary. Seventeen Candidates were admitted there.

We have approximately twelve Candidates waiting to be admitted. The average attendance this session has been 23. Several members have been assisted from the Sick Fund. Many sick people have been visited by the members, and books and flowers have been sent to them. Donations have been made to St. Matthew Vestry (2) and also our Mahora Sub-branch. We have invested a further £150 (of the Lodge money on mortgage at 5 per cent. Our thanks are due to Messrs. Rainbow, Hobbs and Nesbitt for their work as Honorary Auditors, and to all others who have assisted us during the session. Yours faithfully, M. DALTON, Hon. Sec. MAHORA BRANCH. The Mahora G.F.S. was re-started on 10th March, 1936, and the meetings are held every Tuesday, at 7.15 p.m., m St. James' Hall, Duke street. Two Admission Services have been conducted by the Vicar, and our membership is now five Associates, five senior and fifteen junior memoers. A Library and a Sick Fund have also been started. Bible Studies have been taken by Deaconess Holmes and our Presiding Associate, Miss Mitchell. Two peggy square quilts have been made. The play, "The Spirit of the G.F.5.," has been staged twice with great success. Social evenings have also been held. MAY HOPCROFT Secretary. NUHAKA BRANCH. Dear Miss White, — I am m receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, and am pleased you mentioned about the cards and magazines. As you say, I really thought they were gifts, but, nevertheless, your explanations will be dealt with m our next meeting. As for the G.F.S. work, we enjoy the work, as we know it is the work of the Lord. I have been unaware of the finance disposals until you mentioned them m your letter. I hope m future we will endeavour to help the G.F.S. objects by sending half of our funds to the Diocesan Secretary. Yours sincerely, R. TAUTAN.