The Girls' Friendly Society. PATRON: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. MOTTO 'Bear ye one another's Burdens. OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. 1. To bind together in one Society, ladies as Associates, and working girls and young women as Members, for mutual help (religious and secular), for sympathy, and prayer. 2. To encourage purity of life, dutifulness to parents, faithfulness to employers, and thrift. 3. To provide the privileges of the Society for its Members wherever they may be, by giving them an introduction from one Branch to another. CENTRAL RULES. I. Associates to be of the Church of England (no such restriction being made as to Members), and the organization of the Society to follow as much as possible that of the Church, being diocesan, ruridecanal, and parochial. II. Associates (Working and Honorary) and Members, to contribute annually to the funds; the former not less than 2s. 6d. a-year, the latter not less than 6d. a-year. Members' payments to go to the Central Fund. III. No girl who has not borne a virtuous character to be admitted as a Member; such character being lost, the Member to forfeit her Card. In Memoriam. WE gladly insert the following notice of one of our earliest Associates, who has just received the call to 'go up higher' to the presence of that Saviour in whom she trusted, and whom she loved and served on earth. It is sweet to think, day by day, as tidings reach us of the holy and happy deaths of Associates and Members, how grows in Paradise the store' of our 'friendly band.' 'Miss Courthope was a devoted and earnest worker on behalf of the Society and one of the earliest Associates. Besides having a large number of Members of her own, she undertook the care of all the Stonegate girls when their Associate left nearly two years ago, which made her responsible for, I believe, over forty Members in all. She had a large Bible-class for her G. F. S. and other girls. She was a most efficient Secretary, thoroughly methodical and orderly; but one felt the chief value of her work was that she brought the spiritual side of the Society so prominently forward, and as she herself aimed at such a high standard of spirituality, her fellow-workers feel that the withdrawal of her presence from among them is an irreparable loss. 'Perhaps the most abiding impression left on her Friendly girls, and indeed on almost all who came in contact with her in every class of life, was that of one who was ever striving to do each thing simply for her Master's sake. This single-minded devotion, added to her enthusiasm and vigour, unusual mental powers, and natural attractiveness of character and manner, no doubt accounted for her great influence. I am sure that all her G. F. S. Members and the many, many others who are now mourning the loss of her loving presence, feel that she who has been taken from them was one whose most earnest desire was to help them upwards and onwards, nearer to Him who has now in His Love taken her to dwell with Him for ever.' BRANCH FESTIVALS. ST. BARNABAS, PIMLICO.-A new Branch of the G. F. S. has just been established in London for the parishes of St. Paul's and St. Barnabas, Pimlico. On April 20, through the kindness and liberality of the Vicar, the Rev. Alfred Gurney, an excellent tea was provided at the parsonage, to which between forty and fifty girls sat down. There were also present, besides the Rev. A. Gurney and Miss Gurney, the Rev. W. Bellars, Mrs. Townsend, President of Central Council; Lady Helen Stewart, President of the London G. F. S. Diocesan Council; and many of the Associates of the new Branch, including Miss Tyler (Branch Secretary), Miss Arbuth not, Miss Clement, Miss Wilmot, Miss Duberly, Miss Hurst, &c. After tea, Miss Hull, Secretary of St. Matthew's, Kensington Park Branch, gave the girls an admirable address, which was listened to by all with the deepest interest. Miss Hull first explained to them the chief objects of the Society, reminding them of its motto, 'Bear ye one another's burdens,' and urging them not only to keep it in their minds but to act upon it, sympathizing in each other's joys and sorrows, and always ready with a kind word and helping hand in time of need. The Rev. A. Gurney and Mrs. Townsend also addressed the girls in earnest and encouraging words. which evidently went home to their hearts; and after a prayer had been offered, the meeting separated, highly delighted with the pleasant evening they had spent. Since then a Club has been established for this new Branch of the G. F. S., to which girls over the age of fifteen are admitted, Miss Duberly having with the greatest kindness taken rooms and furnished them for this purpose. ST. STEPHEN'S, WESTMINSTER.-The anniversary festival of this Branch was held on Friday, 20th May, beginning with a short service and Guild hymn in Church at six p.m., followed by a tea, to which ninety Members and several Associates sat down. The Vicar, Rev. Wm. Sinclair, spoke a few words encouraging the Members to attend the Sunday Bible Class and weekly work classes more regularly. Miss Day, of the Grey Coat School, next addressed the girls in a very spirited manner, and was much applauded. An amateur concert followed; Mr. George Hassell played and sang to the guitar, the Vicar performed on musical bells, the Revs. G. Barron and R. Thompson read interesting papers, and the party dispersed at 9.15, after singing the National Anthem. HASTINGS BRANCH.-A special meeting of this Branch was held on April 22nd. A tea was given in the St. Clement's and All Saints' Girls' National School-room, to which the Members and their mothers were invited in order that they might have the pleasure of hearing an address from Mrs. Townsend, President of the G. F. S. Central Council. Thirty-seven Members, five Candidates, and nine Associates were present, also seven of the Members' mothers and eight other visitors. The tea tables were tastefully decorated with flowers, and a bouquet placed on each plate. After tea, Mrs. Townsend addressed the girls. She first reminded them that the Queen was the Patron of the Society, and then, after commenting on the name, 'The Girls' Friendly Society,' she alluded to the rapid growth of the Society. It was only six years old, and yet its numbers now reached 62,000; and not only in Great Britain and Ireland had its Branches spread, but also in America and in Australia similar Societies had been started. She spoke strongly on the subject of mutual help, and said that the Society is not to be valued for what we can gain by it, but for the way in which we can help each other, and how every Member should remember the influence she may have over others by her modest manners, her quiet dress and conversation. She addressed girls living at home; told them, how, by their good and dutiful conduct, their parents might see that it was a good thing to have joined the Society. She spoke also of the Home of Rest Fund and its great usefulness. In conclusion, she gave some interesting and touching stories illustrative of the important points she had spoken of. After the address, Mrs. Townsend presented a pretty illuminated card, nicely framed, to Elizabeth Horscroft as a reward for her answers to the G. F. S. Scripture Questions last year, she having stood on the list next below the prize list. Eight Members and five Candidates were then admitted, Mrs. Townsend kindly giving them their cards, &c. Five Members from other Branches were received, and Hastings Branch cards given them. The meeting closed with the G. F. S. hymn, True friends,' &c., and Keble's Evening Hymn. THE ST. JAMES'S NORLANDS BRANCH.-This Branch held its quarterly meeting of Associates and Members on Wednesday, the 4th of May. The party assembled in the mission-room at seven p.m., and after tea had been handed round, a hymn was sung, and all, preceded by the banner, attended the eight o'clock evensong at St. Gabriel's, where the Vicar preached a sermon, with special application to the Members of the G. F. S., on the text, 'Jesus said, I am the Good Shepherd.' ST. MARY'S, HULL, BRANCH.-The second annual festival was held on Tuesday, May 10. Twenty-eight of the Members and several of the Associates met in the parish-room at 6.30, and sat down to a very good tea, the tables being prettily decorated with spring flowers. At 7.30 they all went into the church to evensong, when a very practical and valuable address was given them by the Vicar, Canon Scott, upon the duties and privileges of their Branch. They afterwards returned to the parish room, and spent the rest of the evening in games, &c. Before parting two of the Members received 55. premiums for two years' service, one having been five and a half years in her place. AMERSHAM AND CHESHAM BRANCH.-On Tuesday evening, May 3, a concert was given on behalf of the funds of this Branch. The Town Hall at Amersham was kindly lent by T. Tyrwhitt Drake, Esq., and tastefully decorated by the willing hands of some of the Associates. Many ladies and gentlemen residing in the neighbourhood gladly rendered their services, and also the Amersham Church Choir sang three glees. The whole programme was most efficiently carried out, and so many were unable to obtain admittance the first evening that the concert was repeated on Wednesday the 4th. The concert was originally intended only for the benefit of the Branch funds, but as a much larger sum was collected than was expected, 57, is to be sent to one of the Homes of Rest. STRATFORD-ON-AVON AND ALVESTON BRANCHThe annual festival of this Branch was celebrated on June 8th, at Avonfield, the residence of Mrs. Timins, an Associate, by whose kindness and that of the other Associates, an excellent tea had been provided. There were present 102 Members and a goodly company of Associates and their friends from the surrounding neighbourhood; and though the attendance was not so large as would have been the case had the day been fine, and consequently the outdoor amusements which had been looked forward to could not be indulged in, yet much pleasure and profit also were secured to the Members in listening to the addresses so kindly given to them in the course of the afternoon by the Diocesan President, the Marchioness of Hertford, and by the foundress of the G. F. S. and President of the Central Council, Mrs. Townsend, who had kindly come from Malvern to be present on the occasion. These addresses were the memorable features of the festival. The earlier part of Mrs. Townsend's was in a catechetical form, rivetting the attention of her hearers and eliciting from themselves responses as to the real aim of their Society in which rich and poor are banded together to encourage purity of life, and for mutual help, sympathy and prayer-not for what they could get, but for what good they might do. She reminded them that the Society had now for its Patron Her Most Gracious Majesty, herself best type and patterr of all true womanhood yet that the youngest and humblest among them might, and should, influence for good her companions and her friends. These pointsthe power of influencing and helping others--were illustrated by anecdotes of a very telling kind. Premiums of 10s. each were then presented by Lady Hertford to eight Members whose length of service entitled them to claim them, and bonuses on savings to two other Members. Lady Hertford's words to the Members were 'words of wisdom,' consisting chiefly of sound, practical advice on the duties and temptations of young servants, and falling from the lips of one who had, as she herself said, been for forty years mistress of a household, could not fail strongly to impress the girls and to make them feel that their Stratford and Alveston Branch festival left them something more than passing enjoyment to lock back upon. And if this were true of the addresses, it was all the more true of the hearty and beautiful choral service. which followed in the grand old Parish Church of Stratford-on-Avon, and to which, after the girls had sung their favourite hymn, 'True friends,' it was time to hasten. Special hymns were chosen for this service, and a very impressive and striking sermon was given by the Vicar, the Rev. G. Arbuthnot, the subject being the personal work and influence of God the Holy Spirit on the individual heart, by which alone, he said, all good, and earnest, and loving workers in the Church of Christ are formed, all good corporate work in the Church accomplished,-and all good and great Societies, such as the S. P. G., the S. P. C. K., the C. E. T. S., and last, not least the Girls' Friendly Society, whose Members he was now addressing, were founded and fostered; and in very earnest tones was the blessed invitation given, the solemn duty pressed home, on each and all present, ever to seek that Holy Guidance. So, with the echoes of the great Pentecostal Festival resting on ear and heart, ended the day, but not, we trust, its blessing. The offertory, which amounted to 27. 95. 9hd., was for the Worcester Diocesan Fund of the G. F. S. A G. F. S. Emigrant. DEAR MADAM,-I think it may interest some of our friends to hear of a Member who was married in December, and sailed with her husband on January 6th for America. I wrote to the G. F. S. Secretary at the nearest town, and also to the Rev. who had been for some time in America, and he forwarded my letter to the Rev. A. C. Hall, who wrote to the Rev. A. Lawrence; meanwhile the G. F. S. Secretary for Stockbridge (at Lowell) had also written to him. So when my G. F. S. married Member and her husband arrived at Stockbridge, they were welcomed and called upon, and had books and English papers lent them. Mr. Lawrence speaks thus of them in a letter to me : I am happy to inform you that they reported themselves to me at once, and have been constant in their attendance at church ever since their arrival. It will give me pleasure to take them under my care and do for them what I can. I am thankful to find one new arrival who can look back to the old country and feel that someone still takes an interest in him. If the English clergy but realised the importance of giving to their emigrating parishioners letters of commendation to the clergy of the Episcopal Church here, and of urging upon them the importance of promptly delivering the letter, it would be of the greatest benefit to the emigrants themselves. As it is, they land here perfect strangers,-find themselves as sheep without a shepherd, and are either drawn off into some of the multitudinous sects which abound here and to which very many of the working class belong, or else abandon all faith and godly life, and are lost sight of altogether.' I do think it most important to introduce our G. F. S. Members wherever one can, and especially if they go abroad. I gave E. S an illuminated card with her name and date of birth and marriage. I am, yours truly, AN ASSOCIATE. A Pleasant Surprise. To the Editor of Friendly Leaves.' DEAR MADAM,-Let me tell you a little story. We have a weekly Bible and Prayer-book Class in Sandwich for Members of the Girls' Friendly Society only. Last Easter Day the Class had been in existence about six. months. Well, on that Easter morning, upon returning from early Communion, what should I find lying upon my breakfast-table but a large brown-paper parcel! I was greatly puzzled for a short time, examined the parcel, to try to make out what it was, whom it was from, and whether after all there was not some mistake. But no; it was properly addressed to myself, though had come by railway from the neighbouring town of Deal. On opening the parcel, however, I found two very large, handsome pictures, beautifully framed-one representing St. Clement's Church, in this town, the other St. Mary's, of both which churches I have the happiness of being Curate. Pasted on the back of one of the pictures was. the following address: 'Presented to the Rev. by the Members of the Bible Class of the G. F. S., in grateful acknowledgment of the kind interest he has shown in their spiritual welfare. Sandwich, April 1881.-Anne Maria Hitchcox, Mary Ann Philpott, Louisa Lawrence, Julia Walker, Ellen Agnes. Wood, Clara Anne Cox, Elizabeth Dadds, Mary Ann Harvey, Ada Mary Brett, Emily Rebecca Brett, Susan Pittman, Elizabeth Mary Easter.' I found afterwards it was all their own idea, and that the girls had got up this handsome testimonial quite among themselves, with no pecuniary assistance from any one, only going for advice to Mrs. Charles Harnett, the indefatigable Associate in this town, and the girls' stedfast friend. I remain, Madam, Sandwich, May 19. Yours very faithfully, THE HAPPY RECIPIENT. G. F. S. Meeting at Manchester. AN influential and crowded meeting was held in the Town Hall, Manchester, on the 12th of May last. In the much-regretted absence of the Bishop from illness, the chair was kindly taken by the Rev. Canon Woodhouse, and the Rev. Canon Pitcairn and other clergymen present ably supported the cause of the Society. Mrs. Townsend, President of Central Council, gave an address on the work and objects of the Society, and Miss Hawksley also gave some account of her work in London. It was agreed that the Diocesan Representative, Miss Pitcairn, and the Branch Secretaries should wait upon the Bishop and Mrs. Fraser, and lay before them the earnest desire expressed at the meeting, that the Diocesan Organization of the G. F. S. should be started in Manchester Diocese with the sanction of the Bishop. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. All Communications respecting the Magazine, including those for the G. F. S. REPORTER, should be sent to THE EDITOR, care of the Secretary G. F. S. Central Office, 245 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, S.W. Reports of Branch Festivals will be inserted according to space available, at a charge of one penny for eight words, the amount to be sent with the MS.; they must be written on one side of the paper only, and be received by the 10th of the month if for insertion. in the urrent number. For admission to Sunninghill Home of Rest, apply to the Matron, Home of Rest, Sunninghill, Staines. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS and DONATIONS for the maintenance of the Home of Rest are earnestly solicited, and will be gratefully received by the Hon. Lady (B. C.) Grey, Fairmile House, Cobham, Surrey. 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 : DONATIONS TO HOMES OF REST GRANTS MADE FROM HOMES OF REST GENERAL FUND. Clara Adams Croydon Branch And Ticket for Bournemouth (per Miss Lavinia Scotford, Darlington Branch. To make up the sum required for a Sewing Machine (per Mrs. Hutchinson). Order for Walton Hospital, to M. A. Hinton (per Miss Sillem, Rochester Diocese). Two Orders for London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, have been placed at Lady Grey's disposal for G. F. S. Members, by 'A Working Associate.' CONTRIBUTIONS TO DIOCESAN HOME OF Received by Mrs. Milman: M. A. Hill, Tinwell (Premium on Savings) £o 10 M. Urquhart, Godalming Branch M. M. 6d., B. Wells, 3d., K. Lanquist, 5d., M. Rustill, 15. £0 60 о 099 30 026 1 11 4 07 2 £2 19 9 £200 £190 Alice Rendell, Alice Chenells, Russell Square (per Miss Frost) Mary Burgess and Elizabeth Martin, Her sham Elizabeth Hopper, Eastry Branch (Good Service Premium) Phoebe Olive, Annie Olive, West Wrekham, Beckenham Branch M. A. Greenbrook, Bromley Branch Twelve G. F. S. Members (per Mrs. Denny, St. James's Vicarage, Fulham) Elizabeth Harris Kate Cooper, St. Mary's, Fulham, Branch Phoebe Arms and Elizabeth Moorwood Mrs. Searle, Sunninghill G. F. S. Member, Salisbury G. F. S. Members, Deptford Branch Sarah Hayes (G. S. Premium) Kenilworth Eliza Rainbow Branch G. F. S. Member, Hove, Brighton Lucy Askew, Eliza Askew, Eliza Parker, Rose Baldry, Elizabeth Keel, Harriet Matthews Members of Grantham G. F. S. Library, per Mrs. Bryan Sarah Jane Cottle, Odiham R. D. Branch. Selina Lowe, Trentham R. D. Ellen Barnett (Good Service Premium), Ful ham Branch Carried forward FRIENDLY LEAVES. EDITED BY M. E. TOWNSEND. VOL. VI. AUGUST, 1881. Thoughts on the Marriage Service. BY THE EDITOR. 1. THE HOLY ESTATE. 'Which is an honourable estate, . . . signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and His Church.'-Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. HE first thought that I want to give you about our marriage service, is the thought of the holiness of marriage itself. It is, or should be, a holy state, -'honourable among all men,' and therefore, as our Prayer-book tells us, only to be undertaken reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.' - Dear girls, is this the general idea of marriage? Is it yours? How often too often, alas-do we hear people laughing and joking about 'getting married,' as they call it; how seldom do we hear marriage spoken of reverently and as a thing to be undertaken in the fear of God. Not that we would have you unnaturally grave or dull; do not think it for a moment. You are young, and lighthearted, and gay, and may God preserve you so, as long as may be. He gave you your merry hearts, and we would not see them shadowed by any shade till He sees fit to send the sorrow and the blessing with it, from His own hand. But a Christian maiden may have a merry heart, and a bright, sunshiny face, and many a serious No. 60. thought underneath, for all that; and so I want you to think for a moment with me about this holiness of marriage. First, we are told in our Bible,—and also in the Prayer-book, in that preface to the Marriage Service which I should like you all very carefully to study, that marriage is an emblem or picture of something else, a picture which you can see, and which helps to make you understand something which you cannot see. And what does the Bible tell us marriage is a picture of? Nothing less than the union of Christ with His Church. The Church here spoken of does not mean the outward building, but the 'blessed company of all faithful people,' all those who love Jesus and are united to Him. So the Church is called in Scripture 'the Bride.' Even in the Old Testament, God's love for His chosen people is often spoken of as that of the Bridegroom for the Bride: As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.' (Compare also Jer. iii. 14 and xxxi. 32.)* So our Lord, * Very beautiful are the thoughts suggested by the commands. respecting the marriage of the high-priest, in the twenty-first chapter of Leviticus. The high priest, being a type or pietum: of our great High-priest-Jesus Christ,-is directed to take a wife in her virginity,' ‘a virgin of his own people.' The purity of the virgin bride representing to us the spotlessness of Christ's Bride, the Church; and her being of his own people,' reminding us how we are Christ's own people, of the same flesh (as it were) which He took at His incarnation. (Eph. v. 30.) |