January 1898

January

DURING the last month we have been busy with Entertainments of various kinds, and much has been done to brighten up the dulness of village life First Mr. Vallis' Nigger troupe gave a Concert with a long and varied programme, and certainly succeeded admirably in providing an evening's real enjoyment. These entertainments are not there in order to exhibit great talent, nor do the performers look for flattery, their only object is to give pleasure to others, and in so far as they succeed in this, they may be said to be successful. With such motives the performers ought to be encouraged, and deserve our thanks.

ALL the Sunday Schools have had a Christmas Tea and games. They all enjoyed themselves as only children know how to enjoy themselves when invited to a good Tea and a good play. If we could only bring them up always to seek their enjoyment in innocent amusements, which leave no sting behind them, and really serve as a relaxation from the labours of life.

THE children in the Sunday Schools have also been very busy in providing Entertainment for their parents and friends. At Downham, at Pymoor, at S.Owen's there have been Entertainments in connection with the distribution of Prizes. It would be impossible to single out individual children worthy of praise. All did their very best, and were most successful in doing it. At all three places the parents went away very pleased in feeling they had spent a happy evening. However, it must not be forgotten that our thanks are due to those who gave a great deal of time and patience in preparing the children.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES TO THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN.-It is necessary every year to say a word about these prizes. We give away prizes as rewards, not as bribes. To bribe a child by a gift to come to the Sunday School, or a person to come to Church is quite out of the question. No good could come of such a proceeding. The prizes are given a reward for punctuality, regularity, and good conduct. We want to encourage these things in youth, that they may become the habits of manhood, and womanhood. And for this purpose we give prizes. Now every year it happens that some, chiefly through want of punctuality lose their prizes. Each child can get at least 318 marks in the year. It is allowed to lose forty-five of these without losing its prize; and the children are always excused if ill. Still there are always some who seem quite careless. Thus at Christmas, when they get no prize, either they or their parents are offended, and the children leave the School. All we can say about this is, that we are sorry, but if the parents choose to encourage the children in bad habits, we cannot teach them good ones, and we are much better without such children. vVe trust that no parents may act so foolishly. However, as some 190 prizes were given away as rewards this Christmas, there is not a great deal to complain of.

IT is now above a year since that portion of the Restoration of the Church has been completed which has.been undertaken since Canon Sharp's death. We cannot look at the Nave, and especially the roof of the Nave, without feeling that the Restoration ought to be continued.

But this is an expensive undertaking. From three to four hundred pounds would certainly be required, for an entirely new roof is absolutely necessary. It. would be very delightful, if we might look forward to this next Summer, but alas at present the solution of the difficulty is very far from clear. -Appended is a Balance Sheet of the last 'portion of Restoration.