No.67, New Series July, 1897.

Published on or near the First Day of every Month,
AND TO BE HAD OF
THE MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS.

H. Osborne, Printer, St. Mary's Square, Gloucester.
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OFFERINGS AND ALMS
(Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him.)

......................................£. s. d.
May 30 -- Church Expenses.............0.16. 8
Jun 06 -- Home Missions...............5. 0. 0
Jun 30 -- Clergy Sustentation Fund....5. 1. 0
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BAPTISMS

(My baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of Heaven.)

June 29 -- Muriel, daughter of C.and E. Hillman, Lydney
June 04 -- Hephzitah Mary, daughter of J.and C.A.Powell, Aylburton
June 04 -- Florence Emily, daughter of W. and E Haddock, Aylburton
June 06 -- Reginald Alfred, son of F. and E. Sandford, Lydney
June 09 -- James George, Son of F.W. and E. Ellis, Lydney
June 13 -- Archie, son of J. and M. Hooper, Lydney
June 13 -- Gilbert William Percy, son of W. and E. Love, Lydney
June 15 -- Alfred George, son of W. and S. M. Hewlett, Lydney
June 16 -- Ivy Hannah, daughter of H.J. and H. Long.

MARRIAGES
(Christ loved his Spouse the Church.)

June 28 -- Earnest Alfred Fellows and Florence Eliza Hathaway
June 29 -- Frank Clothier and Alice Matilda Wellington

BURIALS
(Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.)

June 01 -- Ellen Jane Corney, Aylburton, aged 24 years.
June 10 -- Bella Lewis, Aylburton, aged 4 years.
June 23 -- Alfred George Hewlett, Lydney, 20 mths.
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The Bishop of the Diocese intends (p.v.) holding a Confirmation in the Parish Church early in October. The Names of those who desire to be confirmed should be sent into the Clergy as soon as possible.
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The following subscriptions have been received for the Churchyard, which we acknowledge with thanks:- Mr W.H. Chalk, 2s. 6d.; Mr. Varder, 2S. 6d.; Mrs. Denby,5s.; Mrs Lane, 2s. 6d.
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Received for the Parish Magazine with thanks; Mrs R. Saunders,(Church Street) 1s.; Mrs Powell (Old furnace) 1s.; Mrs. W.Fisher,(Station Road), 1s.; Miss Isherwood, 1s.; Mrs. Beale, 1s.; Mrs. Strike, 1s.
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CHURCH RESTORATION

A Public Meeting was held in the Schools on June 16th, the Vicar in the Chair, and a statement of account of the above fund was made by Mr. A. W. Harrison.

.............................................£. s. d.

The amount already paid for work done is.. 568.16.10
Balance in Bank........................... 102. 0. 1
Amount due to Architect.................... 51. 0. 0
Amount due to Builder..................... 128. 0. 0
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The Vicar proposed that the work of restoration should at once be continued. The two items which at once demand attention are the Bells and the renovation of the Interior of the Church.
The question was whether the two items should be taken together or separately. Mr S.F. Barnard proposed that they should be taken separately, and that the work of restoring the bells should be at once put in hand if the money could be raised. He also suggested that two more bells should be added. This being received with acclamation, Mr. Harrison formally proposed and Mr. Barnard seconded that the bells should be repaired, and two new bells be added to make up the number to eight and complete the octave. This was carried unanimously, and a Committee was formed consisting of the following: Rev/J.C.E.Besant (Vicar), Messrs. S.F.Barnard, F barnard, E.Freeman, A.W.Harrison. T.A.H.Smith, H.P.Turner. The bell-ringers volunteered to work in co-operation with the Committee. The Church bells are such a feature in every English Parish that it was felt that the idea would be popular and would evoke sympathy. Subscriptions may be received by the Committee or bell-ringers, and a list is placed at the Bank and Mr. S.F.Barnard holds another.
We hope before long to hear the sound of the bells again on such occasions as Christmas, Easter, and other great Festivals of the Christian year, and at such times when it seems strange not to hear them.
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" WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YE KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD DOTH COME." - St. Matt.xxiv.v42

We have been forth to meet our gracious Queen, Embodiment of womanhood we've seen;
The tender heart which feels her subjects'woes,
Which cannot let her eyes with comfort close
Where there's a wounded soul or streaming eye
Which can be reached by Royal sympathy;
Captives we then in this procession move,
The only bond, the silken one of love.

Another King shall move along the street,
Another King we shall go forth to meet;
It may be in the morning - the first thing,
Ere yet the earliest bird her course doth wing;
Or in the restless, ever-moving heart;
Or in the depth of midnight's blackest gloom,
We may be summoned forth; - our Lord may come.

Or it may be in fever's slow decay,
Watching and waiting for the coming day;
The hectic flush, the face and form so thin,
Telling too plain the ravages within.
Or it may be that some resistless blow
Or painful accident hath laid us low,
And from this world we have to hurry out;
But shall it be with Jesus or without? --SENEX
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The South Forest Sunday School Teachers Association met at Lydney on June 17th. The Schools represented were Lydney and Aylburton, Bream, Parkend, Coleford, Clearwell, Newland. About 55 attended. There was a Meeting in the Vicarage Classroom, and an excellent address was given by the Rev. A.N. Scott, formerly of Newland. Tea was served on the lawn, and arranged by Mrs. C. Prosser. Evensong was said at 5.15, and Dr. Reynell, Vicar of Tidenham, preached an admirable sermon.
Next year the meeting will be at Gloucester.
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ARTICLE III. -- THE CHURCH SERVICES.
We have shewn in two former Articles that the services of Morning Prayer and the Holy Communion, though they are offered by us without any interval, this is for convenience sake only, for they are two totally distinct offices. Morning Prayer is the Daily office to be said daily throughout the year; Holy Communion is the Sunday service, because it is the Lord's Service, and so meant for the Lord's Day. Further we said that if it so happened that we were able only to have one Service on Sunday, that would be the Holy Communion as the Sunday office. But a person may reply: If this is so, what would happen in the case of those who are not communicants. If there is no Morning or Evening Prayer, at what service could they worship, seeing they are not prepared to communicate? This is a natural question, but it assumes two things, neither of which are really true. It implies that the Morning or Evening office is more suitable for one who is not a communicant that the Lord's Service. And, secondly, it assumes that a person cannot attend the Holy Communion unless he is a communicant.
Now a little consideration of these two services will shew that these ideas are both wrong. For it is plain that the Morning and Evening Services are intended for communicants, and it is plain that a person can worship at the Lord's Service if he be not a communicant if he can do so at the other services.
Consider this first point. The history, construction, and substance of the daily services shew they were intended for communicants.

(1). Their origin.-- In the early ages every Christian was a communicant, and there was no other office but the Lord's Service. In time the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, drew up other services which might serve as expressions of the devotion of Christians. At the Reformation these offices were 7 daily (7 times a day will I praise Thee). They were used by the Clergy only and others engaged in religious work. The ordinary people attended the Lord's Service only, and this on Sundays. These seven services were then compressed into two; and our Morning and Evening Prayer are what remains of the 7 daily services used by the religious. Their origin, then, shews they were services used by those who had devoted themselves to God.

(2). Their construction and substance shews this, viz., that they are suitable for the advanced Christian. For Morning and Evening Prayer are by no means simple. People even now cannot always find their way through them in the Prayer Book. It needs a fairly educated person to read the Psalms, even as fast as they are sung. If this be so now, when so many can read, it is plain that at the time when these services where drawn up, when not 1 in 100 could read, they certainly were intended for what we call educated people. And

(3). Their substance shews they presuppose an advanced Christian will use them. Look how much Scripture there is in them; e.g. the Old Testament is read as much as the New. This implies that those who hear it will understand it; whereas, as a matter of fact, the New Testament lies hid in the Old. Observe how much singing there is in them: this implies the devotion of a heart set free from sin to praise God.

And consider the nature of what we sing,viz., the Psalms. How many of an ordinary congregation can really sing the Psalms with heart and voice. They are the very words of the Spirit. THey are the words which the Son of God habitually used. They have been the book of devotion of the saints of God for all time. They presuppose the closest communion of the soul with God in love, prayer, adoration, faith, and obedience. Take any Psalm, e.g. the 119th. This is its refrain: "Lord, what love have I unto Thy Law, all the day long is my study in it;" "How sweet are thy words unto my throat! yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth!"
These are the words which are sung in the daily office and others like them; and I say that Morning and Evening Prayer need a person to be really religious to be at all able to enter into them. It is a very great mistake to suppose that the daily services are more suitable for worship of people who are not religious than the Lord's Service. This service was instituted, was drawn up for, and has been used till recently, but the mass of the people; for, like the Lord Himself, His Cross and Passion, His Prayer, His Day, and His Service is intended for the babe in Christ, the uneducated as for the most educated and refined and advanced saint of God.
Next time we will shew that the Lord's Service is adapted for everyone. Meanwhile let us take away this certain fact: that if we are really religious men, and able to enter into them, we shall find in the Morning and evening offices of the Church - in Psalms, Canticles, Scripture and prayers, the very best arrangement known to us men, as founded on the use of the saints of old, wherein we can render thanks to God daily for the great benefits we have received at His hands, set forth His most worthy praise, hear His most Holy Word, and ask those things which are requisite and necessary as well for the body as the soul.
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PRIMROSE HILL

SERVICES

Matins at 11
Children's Service at 3
Mission Service at 6.30
ARTHUR J LUMBERT, Missioner.
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SANCTUARY CURTAIN FUND

Additional subscription received: -- Mrs. Turner, 1/-.
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Miss M Jowitt has taken a first class in Holy Scripture at the Examination at Cheltenham College. We are always glad to hear of the success of our Pupil Teachers, especially in Scripture, a subject which anyone who would be a teacher should excel. Miss Jowitt's success, like that of Miss Philips, will encourage the other Pupil Teachers, of which we have a present a large number.
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AYLBURTON

SERVICES AT S. MARY'S CHURCH
Sundays:
Holy Communion at 9 on 2nd and 4th Sundays in the month, and at 12 on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in the
month.
Evening prayer on Sundays at 6.30: Friday at 7
Children's Service every third Sunday in the month at 2 o'clock.
Baptisms on Friday at 7pm and on the 3rd Sunday in the month at 2pm
Afternoon Service and Sermon at the Mission Room,every Sunday at 3.30 pm
Holy Communion at 8, all Holy Days.

It is proposed to hold a Jumble Sale at Kingston House, about the end of this month, to wipe off the debt on the Boy's Club, £4.10s for this half years rent, and 10s. owing from the rent of the last half year. The balance at the Sale to go towards providing a new lectern for the Church, which is badly wanted, the present one being much to large for the size of the Church. Contributions of any description, new of old, will be gladly received. Bills of particulars and date will be out later on.
On Sunday, June 20th, special prayers were said in thankful remembrance of the Queen's long and glorious reign. Hymns appointed for the occasion were well rendered by the Choir, and those of the congregation who had attended the congregational practices. Offerings were collected on behalf of the Queen Victoria Clergy Sustentation Fund, amounting to £1. 16s. 5d. which amount has been handed over to the local secretary, Mr. H. Hockaday.
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Transcribed by: May Brace

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