QUAINT HARVEST GIFTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 278, 18 November 1908, Page 3

QUAINT HARVEST GIFTS

t la the matter of harvest thanksgirings the old urdi'r is changing, and gi.--iiig way in many places to a form of service adapted to tile immediate needs of the district. On the East Coast of England the thanksgiving embraces the harvest of .the-sea as'well as the land. At-St. ihoimis's Church, Scarborough, which stands in tin; old nuarter of the town, herring-fishing nets are. used in tlio decoration ol the building for tne festival, and are very attractive t» the fishermen and tneir wives who attend the service.

But I'olkestone has been even more thorough than Scarborough in this respect. A few years ago, at the wejknown Fishermen's Chapel in the town, fresh fish were introduced with startling effect. The finny representatives comprised cod, crabs, mackerel, plaice, and soles. From the ceiling some line codfish were suspended, and one of these caused a small sensation hy fallin» amongst the congregation. * ° Prize pumpkins and huge vegetable marrows figure largely at thanksgiving services in the rural districts; and in ft Gloucestershire church a few seasons ago there was seen in the chancel a couple of thriving young plum trees, heavily laden with fruit. They were fixed one on each side of the Conimmion table, and had been potted for the occasion.

In a Northumberland parish two or three years ago two huge lumps of coal graced the chancel during the thanksgiving service. They were sent i n response to the vicar's appeal for things with which to dscoratc the church, and they were probably used, not because they were regarded as appropriate for the purpose, lmt became the reverend! gentleman did not want to ofl'end t'ie sender hy rejecting the grimy offering. At Blackburn there was once a "cotton harvest thanksgiving" service. It was arranged by the lie v. H. S. R. Thornton, at Holy Trinity Church, in that town. The clyireh was very artistically decorated Ifor the occasion, cotton-pods and such like adornment being conspicuous in the embellishment of the edifice. A crowded congregation voted the -unique service a great success.