Bream Parish Magazine. August 1953.
THE VICAR'S LETTER
Once again my letter must be short because there is so. much material
to get into this month's magazine. But I must find room for this. August
is "holiday month." I do hope that most of you who read this
will be able to have a holiday. May you have fine weather, a good place
in which to live, and plenty of well cooked food. May you be free from
all worry: May you benefit by the sunshine, ozone and fresh air. May
it be a holiday that you will remember with a smile in days to come.
And lastly may you come to church to thank God for it, when you return
to Bream.
Yours very sincerely,
WYN DAVIES
MONEY MATTERS AGAIN
I must say a word again about money matters. Whenever the parish has
got into debt in the past, it has always emerged honourably. But would
it not be better, to resolve henceforth to collect the money in advance?
If everyone took a "One Coin Box," I do think that we would
clear our budget by direct giving. Our overhead expenses are the same
whether we miss a service or not, so that the ' One Coin Boxes" should
insure that the church does not suffer. And also the "One Coin
Boxes" do give an opportunity to our chapel friends, who make
use of the church, for baptisms, weddings and funerals, to assist in
the upkeep of the church.
I wonder how many realise that if we cannot pay our way as a parish,
the only solution will be to join the parish on to one of our neighbouring
parishes, and then of course Bream will not have its own vicar.
And talking of money reminds me of a story. George Ade, bequeathed us
this succinct thought: "He who gives-gathers," and the point
of this is aptly illustrated in this Persian tale:
In the year 600B.C. there lived a learned and holy man named Ibdn Mustapha
Muhamd. Once, in a dream, he had been transported to Paradise. There
he saw two doors. One was marked, "The hall of the Condemned of
Allah," and the other,. "The hall of the Anointed of Allah." Entering
the first, he found many men seated at a great feast. But instead of
joy and happiness, there was gloom and sadness. For each man's left arm
was bound to his side. To the right arm of each was strapped a long handled
spoon in such manner that, though he might dip it into the bowls of delicacies
before him, he could not bend his elbow to bring the food to his mouth.
On entering the second hall, Muhamd witnessed an identical scene, yet
there was all joy and happiness as all were feasting merrily. For, though
each man was like those in "The Hall of the Condemned," unable
to bring food to his mouth, Allah had endowed him with wisdom, so that
each man, dipping into the bowls of delicious food, fed his neighbour,
and was in turn fed. From this dream, the wise man drew the parable that
those on earth who starved were those whose only thought is for themselves;
while those who feasted are those who help one another. Or, as some would
say today, "Them ez gives, lives."
VICAR
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I read an interesting column in a Canadian Church Paper the other day
which I thought you would like to read:
WHY DO CHURCHMEN SUPPORT THE CHURCH
1. Because. it is the only organization created to make the Christian
way of life available to all men without question of race, colour or
position.
2. Because it is in plan and purpose (however far it may fall in practice)
the most democratic institution on earth.
3. Because it is the only means by which the Christian way of life can
be protected. against attempts to make the wish of the moment the sole
authoritative test of right and wrong.
4. Because at its best it is the most. powerful and efficient system.
for the creation of poise and self-respect, and for crushing the attacks
of the godless.
5. Because, in spite of savage foes, sentimental friends, and unfaithful
servants, it has succeeded over twenty centuries in bearing witness to
the divine majesty and loving power of God.
6. Because for those who have served God by faithful witness it has been
a source of strength, the real presence of the Lord Jesus with them even
unto the end of the world.
WHY THEY ASK YOU TO HELP THEM
1. Because they want to share with you the delights, content, and satisfaction
they have found in the work and worship of the Church.
2. Because the Christian community needs you to help it be what you have
often said it ought to be.
3. Because the Church must grow if it is to be the strong leader in a
war-scarred world.
4. Because they want to be understood by you,and need your encouragement,
friendship,and advice.
5. Because "The Lord is come and calleth for thee. "
OWEN G. BARROW
Success:
I would like to congratulate most heartily the following members
of the Sunday School who passed the Entrance Scholarship to the Grammar
School:
Diane Saunders, Glenda Williams, Bernard Saturley, and Keith Watkins.
The Fete:
I would like to thank Mr. Crote and Mr. Carpenter, who gave
so much assistance at our sheepdog trials on Whit-Monday, on handing
back to the funds the donation we gave them.
Faculties:
Even if this does not concern you will you please mention
it to your neighbours, for it might concern them.
The other day a person with a faculty for a gravespace (i.e. he had bought
the piece of ground) came to see me about arranging the funeral of a
relative of his. We went to the graveyard together, and you can imagine
the gentleman's disappointment and disgust to find that there was a child's
grave in part of his ground.
To avoid this in future may I make an urgent appeal? Will all people
who have faculties, please show them to the Vicar sometime-as soon as
possible-so that I will know what spaces in the churchyard are reserved,
and that these unpleasant situations may be avoided in future?
Parochial Church Council:
At the Parochial Church Council meeting held
on Wednesday evening, July 1st, the Vicar made one or two suggestions.
He would like to see a Women's Fellowship formed, and run on the lines
of the Mothers' Union. It will be open to everyone, of all ages, and
a general meeting will be held at the School on Monday evening, August
17th, at 7 p.m. Do please make an effort to attend.
It was also suggested that a social be held at the School sometime in
August. Will you please look out for bills announcing this?
The Council suggested that for the three months, August, September and
October, a trial be given to a combined service of Matins and Choral
Communion, at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
I sincerely hope that everyone who comes to the 10 a.m. Choral Communion
at present, will still come to this service. Don't be prejudiced beforehand,
but come, and let me know what you think about it afterwards.
The new service will start at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, August 2nd.
The Graveyard:
At the time of writing these notes the response to the
appeal for volunteers to cut the grass in the Churchyard has been most
disappointing.
On Monday, July 12th, two volunteers turned up, on Tuesday three, on
Wednesday three (one of whom was there on Monday).
Something must be done-so please read carefully the following resolutions
proposed at the Parochial Church Council concerning the Churchyard.
THE CHURCHYARD
The Churchyard Committee recommend to the Parochial Church Council that
the following rules re the Churchyard should be observed:
The Churchyard is under the control of the Vicar and the Parochial Church
Council.
The following rules must be observed:
1. No burials on Sundays.
2. No artificial flowers or wreaths allowed.
3. No trees or shrubs to planted without the authority of the Vicar,
who reserves the right to cut down, or remove shrubs or trees which have
become unsightly.
Grave Maintenance
1. Graves must be kept in order.
2. If the Vicar and Committee think that graves have obviously not been
cared for, relatives will be informed, and asked to tidy them up. If,
two months after being told, nothing has been done, the graves will levelled.
3. No Monuments or gravestones shall be admitted to the Churchyard unless
plans thereof including the inscription, have been previously approved
by the Vicar.
4. No alteration, or addition to an inscription shall be permitted without
the approval of the Vicar.
5. People are not allowed to attend the graves when there is a service
in Church.
Before people see a monumental sculptor re tombstones and curbs, will
they please come and see the Vicar first. They must have his permission
before they can put a curb or stone in the churchyard, and must
submit to him the writing to put on them.
IS THE CHURCH A PUBLIC PLACE?
A Church is certainly a place of public resort. That is an important
fact when considering the legal position which arises if a church is
used for secular purposes. The Lord Chamberlain's Department has expressed
the view that, if admission to performances in a church is restricted
either to members of a congregation or to members of a club or society,
it is unnecessary to have a licence either for the building or for the
performance.
But the freehold of a church is vested in the incumbent; in some cases
the freehold of the chancel is in the rector. Partly because the freehold
of the church is in the incumbent, and partly because all things connected
with the use of the church, such as the ringing of the bells and the
arrangement of services, are under his control, the keys of the church
are the incumbent's.
A recent reply to a correspondent in the Church Times that a parish church
is not a public building, having surprised some of its readers,
the above notes are quoted (in part) from an article by its Legal Correspondent.
EDITOR
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SUNDAY SCHOOL
There will be no Sunday School throughout August, i.e.. on Aug. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23td or 30th. Sunday School will re-start on the first Sunday in September.
PARISH REGISTERS
BAPTISM
June 21-Michael John Walby, The Eaves, Bream.
WEDDING
June 27-Thomas George Baldwin and Ivy Miriam Brice.
BURIALS
William Richard Musgrove, Stowe Farm, St. Briavels, aged 53 years.
Gladys Maud Worgan, Mill Hill, Bream, aged 51years.
Number of Communicants and Collections.
June 21..23....£2 0 0
June 28..53....£3 10 11
July 5.....31....£3 12 0
July 12....9.....£1 7 5
OBITUARY
Our sympathy goes out to all the bereaved families of the parish. There have been three sudden deaths in our midst lately. Mrs. Worgan had enjoyed good health throughout her life, and was summoned away after a very brief illness. Mrs. Meek's daughter was stricken and summoned away in even shorter time; and the death of Mr. Carpenter cast a gloom over the whole village. May God console these families, and comfort them in their affliction.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Aug. 2nd and 9th: Mrs. Hooten. Aug. 16th and 23rd: Mrs. Tye.
THE THINGS PEOPLE SAY!
Two men outside the Public Assistance Office: "You know there is
a lot of money spent by the Government just anyhow these days. Look at
all those people in sick health!"
Two ladies on the bus: "Did you go up to London in June? Or did
you go to White City or see the Drooping of the Colours?"
"No, my dear, it was too wet. But we all went to the spitheroo!"
The chain of wedlock is so heavy that it takes two to carry it-sometimes three.-(Dumas).
LEADERSHIP
(Extracted from a recent article by Arthur Bryant)
Without leadership no nation can long be great or endure. This question
of leadership goes to the root of half, or more than half, our present
problems. Because a man is the best batsman or centre-forward or the
most persuasive orator or the most orderly administrator or the
most successfu1 speculator, it by no means follows that he is the best
man to captain - an eleven, lead a nation or political party or run a
great department of State or a business. Frequently, indeed, he
is the very worst for the purpose; for supreme individual success
in any art, technique or science often involves an excessive concentration
on self; and the greatest captains, if they are not to fail, as Naploeon
did; on the count, require, above all other qualities, selflessness and
disinterestedness. And if I had to make for my country a choice between
wealth in great technicians and wealth in true leadership I should plump
for wealth in leadership every time For a nation which is rich in great
technicians may remain poor in great leaders, while a nation that
is rich in leaders will inevitably before long automatically produce
an abundance of fine technicians, artists and craftsmen. The art of
leadership is the art of selflessly bringing out the best in other men,
in making them want to excel and in inducing them,' not to restrain their
individual gifts, hut to pool them for the good of all. The men who gave
us victory against all initial odds, in the late war-men like Montgomery
and Alexander and Andrew Cunningham and O'Connor and Wingate all
possessed this multiplying capacity:. of inspiring lesser men to rise
to the full height of their statures and energies. It is the greatest
of all the powers with which the gods can imbue men. It can be abused,
like all other- gifts, but rightly used, can bestow the greatest of all,
earthly blessings.
True greatness can only spring from humility and self-forgetfulness in
the sense of mission, and in a profound and abiding sense that, only
by a recognition of personal worthlessness, can man attain to the inspiration
of the spirit that is the sole source of his greatness. .
POEM
The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed, If Thou the spirit give
by which I pray;
My unassisted heart is barren clay"
That of its native self can nothing feed;
Of good and pious works Thou art the seed That quickens only where Thou
say'st it may. Unless Thou show to us Thy own true way, No man can find
it.
Michaelangelo
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