IN THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 241, 19 July 1915, Page 6

IN THE FIELD.

Last month, when at W inchmore, I was deeply interested in the history of the little ehurch. Until ojio or nji i the residents worshipped in the public school, but it occurred to our White Ribbon women that it was about time they had a building of their own. So the subject was ventilated, and the women of the distric t took the matter up heartily. A working party was organised, many women giving a regular monthly contribution, and working as well, while >ome who couid not give worked, and others who could not attend the meetings contributed ea-h, order> being taken for underclothing, etc. ; w hile occasionally the whole party repaired to the home of some busy mother and worked for several hours, cue h rec eiving a shilling for the funds. The men-folks at first poured cold water upon the* scheme as imprac tic able, but as time went on and things began to look rosy, they gave their hearty assistance. The first idea was to put up a mission hall, but this was soon abandoned in favour of tlit* more ambitious one of a church, which, was duly erected, and in three years cleared of debt. 1 had the* pleasure of inspecting it, and a more comfortable, pretty little building could not be desired. It is thoroughly well finished, and in< ludes a commodious vestry fitted with lockers for books, c roc kery, etc. It is quite an ornament to the neighbourhood, and while not built by the Union, it is safe to say that if there had not been a branch of the Union in \\ inc hmore there would have been no church there to-day. Three denominations have the free use of the church, and take* the collections. The aspect which appeals to me most is that it is vested in no particular sect, a clause being inserted in the trust deed providing that any Protestant denomination applying for it upon a date not already engaged shall have the use of it free. How pleased Mrs Cole would have been at this result of the little* branch which she organised. On Tuesday, June 15th, I travelled from Christchurch to Ashburton, once mere enjoying the kind hospitality of Mrs G. Andrews. Next day we held the adjourned meeting in Tinwald, and succeeded in organising a branch, which should do well. There has been some lost time this month owing to the engagement at

Sumner falling through, so 1 had a delightful rest .it the hou>e of Mrs K. Kvans, always my home in Kaiapoi. On Saturday, 19th, l travelled to Rangiora, and spent the next few

d ivs in visiting. On Friday (25th) the* usual monthly meeting was held, at whic h arrangements for work were made. The previous night 1 had addressed the Pajvanui Hand of Hope, the audienc e being good, but much smaller than usual, owing to the* wet and foggy weather. 1 had for some days been fighting off a chest cold, induced by the climatic conditions, and after the Friday meeting a collapse came, and 1 spent three days in bed, feeling very thankful to be in the kindh sympathetic hands of Mrs F. Scott.

It was with much regret that I had to forego my Oxford engagements, tin* only remedy being to wire* Mrs M< Combs to make some arrangement. On tin* Wednesday Kaiapoi was visited. The friends had done their best to get up a good meeting of a social character, but the whole town appeared to be down with epidemics, letters of sympathy being sent to a large number of members. At Lyttelton, on Thursday, 1 found the date I had suggested had clashed with the Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild, hut as a number of women belong to both societies, our friends kindly consented to amalgamate the two, and a pleasant afternoon was spent at the house of Mrs Miller, two new members joining and two lapsed ones returning. Here 1 was the guest of Mrs R. Hatchwell, with whom I recalled many pleasant memories of the days when, as children, we occupied adjoining houses in a little Devonshire village by the sea. On the* following Monday a little visiting was done in Belfast, and on the Tuesday New Brighton was visited. Mrs F. Thompson kindly arranged for President and Secretary to meet me at lunch, so we had our plans laid before* the* meeting, the attendance at which was very good, considering that Tuesday is the Red Cross Day. We started the K.K. pledge* and soft calico campaign, appointed superintendents for several departments, and .gave the “Win One” effort a help along. New Brighton will, do well. .\T. S. P()\\KLL, Dominion Organiser. Miss Powell’s Address: C o Mrs Denton Woolcombe Street, Wellington.