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.

Opening of the New G. F. S. Lodge in Brixton.

ABOUT four o'clock on Monday afternoon, the 27th of June, a large gathering might have been seen assembling at a new house on Brixton Rise, amongst those present being the Marchioness of Hertford, the Countess of Leven and Melville, the Countess of Darnley, the Countess of Dartmouth, the Countess of Meath, Lord and Lady Brabazon, Lady Maryon Wilson, Lady Sophia Melville, Lady Florence Blunt, Lady Lucy Calvert, Lady Romilly, Lady Mary Egerton, Mr. Grantham, Q.C., M.P., Mrs. Grantham, Mr. and Mrs. Townsend, the Ven. Archdeacon and Miss Burney, Rev. J. and Mrs. Hawksley, Hon. Mrs. A. Legge, Hon. Mrs. Herbert, Rev. M. Garland, Rev. A. and Mrs. Bowyer, Rev. J. R. Cooke, Rev. T. Webber, Rev. W. C. Hawksley, Mrs. Ransford, Mrs. Wilson, &c., &c. The house itself is a conspicuous one, with a nice garden, standing in the main road next to Brixton Church, a very few minutes walk from the Railway Station, straight up the road. On the door was a plate bearing the inscription, 'Rochester Diocesan G. F. S. Lodge,' and on the two garden gates, painted in white, G. F.S. Lodge.'

What did it all mean? Just this,—that the Brixton Lodge had, for the second time, outgrown its house; the rooms were too small for its classes, the beds were too few for its lodgers, and so the Committee had decided to take this grand house (which is more than twice the size of the old one in Railton Road). During the last ten days not only had the furniture been removed and new purchased, but Associates and Members had all been working hard together to get the house in perfect order for the great day when Her Royal Highness Princess Mary Adelaide Duchess of Teck had graciously promised to come to Brixton to open the new Lodge. What a hive of busy bees it had been! cleaning, scrubbing, making, marking-something for everyone to do, and they did it with hearty goodwill! Not only those who chanced

to be staying in the old Lodge, but all who could coming in to help; those in business, after their shops had closed, and some in service being allowed by their mistresses an hour or two in the afternoon. One lady looking in as she passed exclaimed, 'Is that what you call G. F.S.? I only wish all my household belonged to the Society! Why, you do in a day what they take a week about, and you all look so happy!' Yes, and had the lady gone upstairs into the different rooms, she would have seen still more G. F. S. On seven new and most delightful-looking beds are the names of Clapham, Charlton, Stockwell, Putney, Balham, Caterham, Wandsworth, intimating that they were the gifts of these different branches; the 'Room of Rest,' one of the brightest in the house (which is open to any weary or invalid Member), had been fitted up mainly by a grant from the Home of Rest fund, supplemented by a personal gift from the Head of Department; and much of the furniture in the 'Recreation Room' had been purchased by a grant from the Department for Members in Business; and she would have seen at every turn little personal gifts from both Associates and Members, speaking volumes for the love and sympathy which unites the whole Society.

And now the opening day had arrived. It had been much wished that all the Members who proudly call it 'Our Lodge' should be present at the opening, but this was found to be impossible. In the thirty-two Branches already established in the Diocese, there are some two or three thousand Members, and therefore, after much thought, it was decided that only the Members of the classes held at the Lodge (which are of course open to all G. F. S. Members) should be invited.

The opening consisted of a short dedication service, held in the diocesan council room, to which the Princess was conducted on her arrival, by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. At the door her Royal Highness was presented with a beautiful bouquet of white flowers, and much disappointment was felt that the one

ordered for Mrs. Townsend had not arrived. The service consisted of the following hymn, and a few prayers, which were read by the chaplain, after which the blessing was pronounced by the Bishop. The Hon. Sec. then explained the object of a G.F.S. Lodge, and gave a short account of the growth and development of this one, from its commencement six years ago as St. Jude's Servants' Home.

The Princess in a few kindly words of hearty good wishes for the Society, pronounced the Lodge open. The Bishop in thanking her Royal Highness, spoke earnestly of character as the mark of the Society, and urged on all present the need of perseverance even in the face of difficulties.

After this the Princess, with some of the company, went over the Lodge, inspecting every arrangement with the greatest interest; and on entering the class-room a copy of Friendly Leaves for 1880, beautifully bound in white morocco, was presented to her Royal Highness by the matron on behalf of the Members who had contributed towards it, and who then sang 'True friends help each other.'

After refreshments, consisting of tea and ices, the company left the Lodge, which has since been visited by several parties of Members, accompanied by their Associates, all eager to inspect the new Diocesan Lodge and enjoy a holiday, having tea in the garden; and it is hoped before the summer is quite over, that the name of every Branch Secretary in the diocese will be inscribed in the visitors' book.

HYMN.

Jesus Christ, we humbly pray,
On this house look down to-day;
We would hallow it to Thee,
Outwork of Thy faith to be;
Bastion small, but true and strong,
Built the Church's walls among.

In Thy name we lay the floor,
In Thy name we ope the door,
Thou art our foundation Stone,
Thou the Door to heaven alone;
In Thy name we know full well
We must hold our citadel.

Let Thy name our walls maintain,

Or our labour is in vain ;

Let Thy name accept the cost,
Or the builders' toil is lost;

Let Thy name the workman bless,
Or his work is purposeless.
May it stand the tempest's shock,
Hewn from Thee the living Rock,
Stand against the gates of hell,
On the true Rock founded well.
Storm and foe and friend resist,
Grounded upon Jesus Christ.
Let Thy Holy Spirit come

To this shrine and find His Home,
Dwell within each youthful heart,
Dwell, nor evermore depart,
Till each stone in order lies
In the walls of Paradise.

G. F. S. Lodge at Gloucester. THE G. F. S. Lodge at Gloucester is now open, ready for visitors. Communications to be addressed to Mrs. Edgeley (the Matron), G. F. S. Lodge, Nettleton Road, Gloucester. Young servants, not being Members, will be received at a slightly increased rate of payment.

DEAR EDITOR,-Please let me make known through Friendly Leaves, that we have now taken a house for our Gloucester Lodge, and have engaged a Matron, who will enter on her duties the beginning of August. The Lodge is in Nettleton Road, Barton Street, and is near the Station. The charges will be the same as in most other Lodges, i.e. Is. per week lodging for Members, board extra. We hope to be ready for our visitors the second week in August. Many Members have shown their interest in the work by sending subscriptions; and one Member, living at Cheltenham, sent us 65. 6d., the produce of her needlework. I shall be glad if Associates and Members will enter this new Lodge in their guide-books, as otherwise it may remain comparatively unknown, and many Members who might be glad of a night's comfortable lodging be in ignorance of it. Yours faithfully,

A. H. SUMNER,

Hon. Sec. for Gloucester R. D. Branch.

Odd Numbers of Friendly Leaves.' MISS MACLACHLAN, 2 Great Stanhope Street, Bath, will be glad to give addresses abroad. where Friendly Leaves, and other publications, will be thankfully received. Miss Maclachlan is greatly in want of large quantities of the following months' Friendly Leaves :March, May, July, 1878; January, February, May, June, 1879; January, February, April, May, June, November, 1880. The object being to complete years, Miss Maclachlan will gladly send any numbers she has to persons wishing for them free of cost. Anyone requiring large numbers for distribution may obtain them at reduced rates. Offers of odd numbers of all magazines are acceptable.

'Friendly Leaves' in Newfoundland. HERMITAGE COVE.-The Rev. G. H. Bishop, writing Jan. 10, says: 'I have been keeping my reading people on the tiptoe of expectation for a good while, with the prospect of having a lending library in my mission, but I have been able to lend some very nice books which I have received from time to time from kind friends of The Little Papers, so that my "readers" have been kept going so far. By last mail I received a nice parcel of Friendly Leaves from Miss Surtees. . . . I am very thankful for them.'

BRANCH FESTIVALS.

HENLEY-ON-THAMES BRANCH.-The first festival of this Branch was held at Hambleden, on Thursday, July 7th. The Members (about seventy) with their Associates, and several of the neighbouring clergy, having assembled in the school-room, walked in procession to the church, preceded by a portion of the choir singing the hymn, 'Onward, Christian soldiers.' The service was special and effective. An appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. C. F. J. Bourke, of St. Giles, Reading. The offertory was for the Sick Fund of the Society. After the service, tea was provided for the Members under a large tent in an adjacent field. gardens of the Rectory and of Hambleden House were allowed to be open to all. At seven o'clock, after a few appropriate and earnest words from the Rev. W. H. Ridley, the Rector, and an evening hymn, joined in by all, the Members were conveyed home to the different parishes from which they had come.

The

BRIGHTON BRANCH.-The festival of this Branch of the G. F. S. took place on Tuesday, June 14th. By the kind permission of the Rev. J. J. Hannah, who himself officiated, a special service was held in St. Nicholas' Church, at which a large number of Members, with their respective Associates were present. An address was kindly given by the Rev. J. H. A. Gibson, the subject being Col. iii. 23. Immediately afterwards the whole party started on an excursion to Hurstpierpoint, where the afternoon was pleasantly spent in various amusements. An ample tea was provided, the tables being decorated with flowers kindly sent from the Vicarage. There were present 105 Members and eleven Associates. After tea the Secretary distributed premiums for various terms of service to the following Members :-Ellen Knee, Alice Relff, Mary Young, and Sarah Scutt, from the Brighton Branch; Jane Elms and Sarah Muggeridge from Winchester; and Emma Hodges and Harriet Boniface from Lower Beeding, Chichester. A prize, sent by Mrs. Townsend for the best answers to the Questions on Cookery in Friendly Leaves, was presented to H. B. Whapham. We may mention that Sophia Dicker is also entitled to a premium from her own Branch. The party reached the Brighton Station again at 9.30, when they separated, all agreeing that they had spent a very enjoyable day; and we trust that many a one returned home cheered and inspirited by this bright holiday to 'do heartily' her appointed work.

ST. MARK'S, Kennington BRANCH.-The Associates

and Members of this Branch gave their first private concert on Thursday evening, June 30th, at the new mission-room, Bolton Street. The programme opened with a pianoforte duet, En Route' (Sidney Smith), played by the Misses Evitt. The members of Miss Mallett's singing class sang three part-songs: The May bell and the Flowers,' See our oars with feather'd spray, and, 'Since first I saw your face,' which well merited the enthusiastic encores they received. Mr. Fischer then sang two songs, 'Tis I,' and Hybreas the Cretan,' the latter being encored. Miss Bunyard's song, 'Sing again, ye happy children,' Miss Hallet's Haymaking, Miss Edith Herepath's Twickenham Ferry,' and the Rev. J. G. Curry's 'Juanita,' were much enjoyed. A recitation, The Grandmother' (Tennyson), by Mrs. Burgwyn, afforded much pleasure to the hearers. The evening concluded with a few words from the Rev. J. G. Curry, thanking Miss Mallett and other kind friends for their assistance. The whole concert was a great success, and reflected much credit on the promoters.

TRENTHAM R. D. BRANCH. On Saturday, the annual festival of this Branch was held at Yarlet Hall, to which place the Clergy, Associates, and Members from Stone, Barlaston, Blurton, Normacot, Trentham, Swynnerton, Culton, and Yarlet had been most kindly invited by the Rev. Walter and Mrs. Earle. The long procession, numbering in all about 180, assembled at three o'clock outside the Aston schools, and, headed by the choir from Yarlet, proceeded to the church, singing, 'O happy band of pilgrims.' There was a short service with a most interesting address by the Rev. J. Watson, incumbent of St. John's, Hanley, who exhorted all present to try to make more music in their lives by living in harmony with God's laws. At the conclusion of the service the whole party were driven to Yarlet, where they were met by a youthful band with drums and fifes, who headed the procession to the Hall, where a sumptuous tea had been provided by Mr. and Mrs. Earle. The tables were profusely decorated with beautiful hot-house flowers, and on each plate were placed prettily illuminated cards, with rules and counsels for Members and Associates of the Girls' Friendly Society. After tea, the Rev. Walter Earle, in a felicitous speech, sketched the programme of the evening, and proposed 'The health of the Bishop of the Diocese' (it being his lordship's birthday), which was drunk most enthusiastically in the cup which cheers but not inebriates.' The toast of 'The Girls' Friendly Society' was also sung very heartily. The happy party then adjourned to the lawn in front of the house, where Lady Child kindly presented the premiums for good service to fourteen Members. After a vote of thanks to Lady Child had been proposed by Mr. Earle and cordially responded to, all dispersed to view the museum and various objects of interest, among which was a collection of curiosities from Zululand, brought over by Mr. Ransome. A musical entertainment followed, the Yarlet boys and the Members of the Girls' Friendly Society alternately singing songs and glees. Before leaving, all assembled in the large hall, where, after singing Hymn 223 (Hymns Ancient and Modern), the Rev. Prebendary Edwards addressed a few kind words of advice to the girls. The Rector of Stone (the Rev. W. Wykes Bayliss) then in the names of the Clergy, Associates, and Members, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.

and Mrs. Earle for their kind and liberal hospitality, and thus ended a day of complete and thorough enjoy

ment.

BATH BRANCH.-Seldom has there been a happier success than the festival which was kept on Tuesday, July 19th. Eighty-five Members and Associates met in Widcombe Parish Church for a shortened evening service, at 3.30 p.m. This ended, the Rector, the Rev. W. T. H. Wilson, spoke impressively on the text, Lead me unto the rock that is higher than I. After explaining the force of the Eastern illustration, and applying it to the religious life, Mr. Wilson adverted to the English sense of the expression, 'Rocks ahead.' These, he remarked, may fitly stand for the temptations and difficulties of a Christian in the voyage of this troublesome world, among them, especially, the love of dress, and that craving after undue admiration which have wrecked so many youthful souls; in conclusion, it was shown that earnest godliness should be the true motive of every kind of service, and forms the strength and beauty of all valuable character. About four o'clock the congregation adjourned to the 'Cloisters,' the residence of Russell Duckworth, Esq., and from him and Mrs. Duckworth received a genial welcome. The tea-tables were an extremely pretty sight; they were tastefully ornamented with plants, fruit, and flowers, and a little nosegay lay upon each girl's plate. While the young people did ample justice to the plentiful fare provided, the Associates had afternoon tea under a wide-spreading cedar. Grace having been sung, Mr. Duckworth gave an interesting account of the progress of the Branch during the past year, and reminded the Members of the advantages open to them in the Scripture class, free registry, and library. A circle was then formed on the lawn, and the Secretary of the Society, Miss Wright, made a spirited address to the girls, setting forth the strong bond of comfort and interest that now unites those belonging to this Society, spreading as it does not only over the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, and Ireland, but even to the Colonies. In six years the number of Members has reached the astounding figure of fifty thousand, and this without any great pushing, but growing as a large tree from the first simple but loving idea of Mrs. Townsend. Miss Wright affectionately urged upon the girls that each one of this great company is bound to try and carry out the motto of the Society, Bear ye one another's burdens; that this may be done by active sympathy and helpfulness, with prayer for each other, and a patient, honest, and considerate service to employers, who are doubtless often rendered irritable by the pressure of responsibilities and troubles. Thus striving, every Member can join in the true fellowship of this Society, which is, after all, but a humble endeavour to fulfil the law of Christ. Premiums and bonuses due were then declared and given amid much clapping, and the girls dispersed to divert themselves with various amusements on the picturesque meadow land rising from the lawn. At 7.30, a few parting words of hearty thanks were said to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Duckworth, Miss Wright, the Rector, and the officery of the Branch. A hymn followed, and the presiding Associate, Mrs. Blomefield, called for the Nationa Anthem, more especially because, during the past year, Her Majesty the Queen had become the Patron of the