March 1898

March

OUR first words in this month's Magazine, should be words of humble acknowledgement to Almighty God and hearty thanksgiving for all His mercy. 'We feel at times very despondent and miserable when we think of the numbers in this village who seem quite careless about their souls.

At the same time we are thankful to see one soul brought. nearer to God. This Lent has not been without its fruits, and all the faithful are daily praying that God may grant us more and more manifestations of His Spirit in the conversion of souls, and the deepening of the lives of those who are already serving Him.

WE are now approaching the most sacred season of the Christian year, that in which our dear Lord laid down His life for us. We must try to keep the week in which Good Friday falls, very devotedly, in order that His sufferings may be very real to us. "He loved us and gave Himself for us."

DURING Holy week a short address will be given every evening at 7-30, to remind us of the sad events of that memorable week. On Good Friday we shall in spirit gather around the Cross, and listen to those seven last words spoken during our Lord's three hours' agony on Calvary, and pray that He who died to save us, may find a resting place in our hearts.

Good Friday evening a very beautiful sacred cantata, called the Cross of Christ, will be sung by our Musical Society. The members have been practising it as a work of love during the whole of Lent, and the music is very beautiful. VVe hope many may be there to join in this sacred service of song.

SPECIAL services of commemoration of Christ's death on the Cross, will be held on Good Friday evening, with the assistance of Lantern Pictures, borh at Pymore and S. Owen's.

ON the afternoon of Easter Day the children will have their catechizing Festival in the Church, and "say their pieces." The parents are invited to be present. The Rector hopes they will all join him on the lawn afterwards as usual.

WE are very grieved for several poor suffering families at this time. At Head Fen there has been a sad death and several are stricken down with dangerous disease. These poor people have to live where no provision is made for water. They have been drinking the water out of the drain, and that has been very low, and probably more or less stagnant. At the Parish Meeting, the Rector . impressed upon the New Council the importance of urging the District Council to see to this evil. No one has any right to take rent for houses which are not habitable, and no house is habitable without a proper supply of water. Poor people have no power to enforce consideration of their grievances, and therefore they ought to be protected. Just across the borders of our parish two families are immersed in sorrow through the ravages of diphtheria, probably through bad water. If Head Fen were only nearer to us, we might be more with these sick people to comfort and help them in their distress.

AT the Parish Meeting, the Rector in the chair, the following were elected to serve as Parish Councillors during the coming year :-Messrs. G. Barnes, J. Brittan, O. Brown, M. Cooke, W.Crane, G. Darby, J. Harrison, J. Norman, J. Stevens, J. Thompson, and J. Wilkin. We heartily congratulate them on their election, and gladly entrust the interests of the Parish to their care.

THE Night School was closed for the season on Friday evening March 18th. Its members have been very regular, and we hope have derived much benefit.

ON March 21 and 22, meetings in behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, were addressed at S. Owen's and Downham, by the Rev. H. J. S. Gray Government Chaplain at Lahore in India. These were large and enthusiastic meetings.

0n Sunday, April 3rd, six of our parishioners will be confirmed at Coveney, by the Bishop of Ely. When they have made their public profession of the faith, and have received the" renewing" of the Holy Ghost," by the laying on of hands" of the Bishop, we must diligently ask God to keep them true and faithful to the end.