'ending that day. I would mention that Publishing, Printing, and Stationery Accounts for 'the past nine months compare very favourably with those for the previous twelve months. 'I am glad to be able to point out that Friendly Leaves shows a decided profit.' The amount and value of the printed matter distributed among the Dioceses in which the organization of the Society exists, will be found in the following Schedule : Schedule of Guides, Cards, Lists, Forms, &c., supplied by Central Office to Dioceses, for the nine months ending 30 September, 1880. The payment to the Central Fund of a percentage on the Diocesan Funds, was abolished early in the year. The sum of 25. 8d. appearing under this head was, however, a late payment of money due before the change was made. The same remark will apply to the 57. paid to a Diocesan Secretary, as the part payment of their salaries out of the Central Fund is now no longer continued. It may be observed in conclusion, that percentages on Branch Funds in organised Dioceses are now no longer payable to the Central Fund, but to the Diocesan Fund, it being left to Diocesan Councils to decide the amount of such percentages. 12 October, 1880. H. D. RYDER, Chairman. F. B. MONEY COUTTS, Hon. Treasurer. I have compared the above Accounts with the Books and Vouchers of the Society, and certify the same to be correct, London, 7 October, 1880. GÉRARD VAN DE LINDE, A.C.A., Chartered Accountant and Auditor BALANCE, being excess of Expenditure over Receipts for the nine months ending 30 September, 1880, carried to Balance Sheet Less Receipts for Board and Lodging Furniture, 20% on £222 13 7 Lease, 12% on £120 o O 28 6 II 181 10 8 44 10 8 15 O 59 10 8 HOMES OF REST-GENERAL FUND. It is desired to collect, by degrees, a Homes of Rest Fund, to secure admission for our Members to Convalescent Homes where payment is required. We think many of our Members may like to help their sister Members by subscribing small sums for this object. The smallest donations, from ONE PENNY upwards, will be received with pleasure, and may be forwarded to HON. LADY (B. C.) GREY, Fairmile House, Cobham, Surrey. They will be acknowledged each month in the Magazine. The following are gratefully acknowledged : Annie Holmes, Collingham R.D. R. May, per Miss H. Ellice G. F. S. Members, Hampton Court Palace Collected by Miss Taylor, Addiscombe Jane Heath, Pelham Mary Aylett, Norham on Tweed O 2 6 039 O II 7 о 0 6 O 4 0 O 20 Louisa Joy, Beckenham Branch. Annie Gosnell, Market Drayton Branch £609 An order for the Sea-side Convalescent Hospital, Seaford, near Newhaven, Sussex, has been kindly placed at Lady Grey's disposal for G. F. S. Members, by Miss Crane, of Westgate Lodge, Beckenham. FRIENDLY LEAVES is the bearer of great news this month,-news that will, I know, send a thrill of joy throughout our whole band of Members and Associates. Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to become the Patron of the Girls' Friendly Society, and has still further testified her interest in its work by making a donation of Fifty Pounds to its Central Fund,-that very same fund to which each one of our many thousand Members makes her annual contribution. Now, dear girls, am I not right in saying that this is great news; and will it not gladden many a home this Christmas-tide ? Yes, indeed! Though I cannot see your faces, yet I can fancy how they will light up with pride and pleasure as you read this page, I can guess how fathers and mothers, and brothers and little sisters, will rejoice together over it, and how the well-spring of loyalty, which lies so deep in every true heart, will be stirred at the thought of our Sovereign Lady thus crowning, were, our beloved Society with the honour of her approval. as it And you will remember too, dear girls-will you not?-that though our Queen may seem so far from us in her Royal Home, yet that she is truly and has ever proved herself to be, by her gracious, thoughtful sympathy, the 'Mother of her people,' and that in the fellowship of prayer she is brought very near to each one of us; for are we not taught, day by day, in the beautiful words of our Prayer-book, to pray for the Queen's Majesty, that she may be endued with all grace, and strength, and comfort, through the love of Him who is 'King of kings and Lord of lords?' And when we join in our glorious National Hymn, which, as I love to see, is so often sung at our Friendly Festivals, then, too, we are really echoing the grand old Bible petition sent up to God so many thousands of years ago: 'God save the king. (1 Sam. X. 24.) It has been well said that A prayer united is like a strong army;' and sure I am that our Queen can have no better guard than a nation's prayers—no brighter jewel in her crown than a nation's love. That she may thus ever 'possess the hearts of her people' will, I know, be the earnest prayer of every Member and Associate of the Girls' Friendly Society. THE EDITOR. |