G.F.S.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 139, 5 November 1914, Page 8

G.F.S.

mW PLY.UOI'TII BRAXCH. AXXL-AL, MEETING. ' The Jifth annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Girls' Friendly Society was held in the club-room ou

Tuesday night. For tlie benefit of those who were not presint at the last annual meeting oi tiiu noway, the Vicar again explained the nature of a Communicants' Guild, saying mat it was a society binding ohurcn members together for nuiiua. nu.p and encouragement, especially in regard to attendance at the Holy Communion, The Girls' Friendly Society could do much to help the Vicar of the Parian 10 keep in touch with his. par--lsiuoners by undertaking to supply iiim with imorniatiou about new parishioners and oieli people, and others who might wish to be visited, and also to draw nis attention to any becoming slack in their attendance at celebrations of the Holy Communion.

ANNUAL KEPORT. The secretary presented the following report:— "The work of the branch has, on the whole, beLii much more encouraging than last year. Many of the members have shown a keen interest in the welfare of tlie branch, and have expended a great deal of time and labor for the provision of a piano fund for the club-room, r'or ibis object many of the girls sewed during tlie winter, each providing at least two articles for a stall at an afternoon tea in August. This was postponed indefinitely, and it is hoped that it will be replaced by a garden party during the summer. About a dozen girls worked up two piays, and, with the help of other kind friends, gave, an entertainment in the Parisli Hall on (August 20, by which £l3 5s 9d was cleared. Of this sum £5 12s 3d was given to the Patriotic Fund and 10s to the Sunday School, leaving us with £7 3s (Id ' to Btart the piano fund. This activity was all a great help in bringing the girls together, and giving them an opportunity of knowing each other better.

"Hitherto our meetings were held twice a month, but at the urgent request of some of the members they ara now held every week, and are fairly well attended. A forward movement of the branch has been the establishment of a members' committee, which has shown a keen interest in our affairs, and lias been very helpful in many ways.

"We are indebted to several kind friends for their assistance during tiu> winter to make the meetings interesting and instructive. Miss Grant, principal of the Girls' High Kchool, gave a much-en-joyed paper on "Shakespeare's Women." .Miss Percy-Smith spoke on two occasions, once on "What she saw and heard of G.F.S. in England," and again on "What Women' are Doing in the World," both of which tended tr> tal.c us out of our "own little con:. :-,' which is what we so much need. Two very into- - 'ing evenings were contriubted by 'Mr . iwshaw, who told us, first, :'.'■ vi,. ... 0 natives of the iielanevii -. mission, and their surrounding-,,' and ciuitonw, and. secondly, about the lit'.' and work of n missionary in these islands. An evening devojted to Dickens and hiu works was entered into keenly by the girls, nvauy of them reading parts from various works of the au'^ior. ■"Members subscribed IS* for the G.F.S. Mi'lanesian Mission Fund. W-crk among candidates has suffered for lack of helpers, and classes were not held until within the last few weeks, when Miss Percy-Smith re-formed her class for senior eanddates. "There has been ono admission during the year, at which five, members wore admitted. Seven members married during the yea: 1 seven retired, and four were commended to this branch two of the latter coming from England. Our membership now is forty home members and four commended members. . Thero aro fifty-five associates of whom thirtynine are honorary associates. "The number of girls making we of the elubroom during luncheon hours has increased and 1200 cups -of tea have been served since last lvport. All the rooma in the house are now occupied! and! the house w under the supervision o'' Mrs Kelly. Our first picnic was hold in Janmary ab tha Meeting </ th.» Waters j and was attended by thirty-five mcra-1 bers aaid associate!." J