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The Parish Magazine 1907

Cromer Museum has a collection of Parish Magazines from 1897 to 1915. These have been photocopied and are available in full at the Museum.

The monthly publication was issued within the national magazine 'Home and Hearth'. The information in the Magazine is 'a wonderful picture of life in Cromer during the end of the Victorian period and into the First World War.'

We will gradually add extracts from the magazine to the website. The full files at the Museum contain a great deal more information but we begin here with the Vicar's monthly letter. Naturally, he is always concerned with matters spiritual but within his letters are his concerns for local people, for local events and national issues. The local history and family researcher is always likely to stumble upon a vignette of something of interest.

January

My dear People,

With all my heart I wish you a Happy New year. May it be, if God will, a year of good health and of earthly prosperity; may it also be,(and of this we are sure that it is according to God's will) a year of growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 'Happy are the people who have the Lord for their God' Have you all chosen Him for your God? or is Self the object of your worship? or is it the world with its gains or its pleasures? ' Whoso trusteth in the Lord happy is he.'

I hope that you like the Motto Card which I have sent to you. If by accident any house has been omitted, I hope you will let me know so that I may have the pleasure of sending you a copy.

One year less on earth; one year nearer to the end of our life here; a year less to the day when we meet our Saviour face to face ! Let us begin the year with a fresh consecration of ourselves to Him Who gave His life for us. I particularly invite every Communicant to come to the Lord's Table on the first Sunday of the New Year, when the Holy Communion will be administered at 8 a.m., Mid-day and Evening, and to make that Service a time of real and solemn consecration. 'Here we offer and present unto Thee ourselves, our souls and bodies.'

I hope you will join in observing the Week of Prayer, when there will be United Meetings in the Lecture Hall each day of the week, commencing Jan. 7th. It is a happy thing for Christian people of all denominations to kneel together in God's presence, and offer up with one accord their supplications and intercessions to the One Father, through the One Son, and prompted by the One Spirit.

It is a very great pleasure to tell you that the Rev. F. L. Denman, who has given his life to working among the Jews, and who is a preacher of singular ability, will preach on Sunday, Jan. 13th, and address a Meeting on the following evening. God's blessing is upon those who love the Jews. ' They shall prosper that love thee.' Let us never forget that Jesus Christ was, in His human nature, a Jew; surely we should love His nation. And St. Paul tells us that when Israel is restored and converted, they shall become such a blessing to the world that it shall be 'as life from the dead.'

The Church Missionary Society is in a most difficult position. Such success has been granted to its missionaries, that on every side doors are opening and teachers are needed. But this means a constant increase of expenditure, unless the Society is to refuse to send the teachers. They ask us to observe the week beginning Jan. 20th as a Thankoffering Week ; with thanksgiving that we are Englishmen born and brought up in a Christian land. We might have been born in heathen darkness. England was heathen until missionaries brought it the Gospel. There will be envelopes at the door of the Church on the 20th, for any who wish to make a thankoffering, to take and bring back the next Sunday.

Our Men's Service will be on Sunday, Jan. 6th. Will my brother men come and give their Vicar a New Year's shake of the hand? It will do him good and 'cheer him on his way. He hopes to have a message that will help them.

We are very fortunate in having the generous help of the County Council in assisting Cromer to arrange a course of most interesting Lectures. The Council will bear about one third of the cost, so that the charges for those who attend will be small.

The Soup Kitchen was so much appreciated last Winter that we propose to open it early this month, and we trust that it may again prove to be a help to many families, especially where there are a number of children. How I wish that there was abundant employment for all our men. It is so hard to be willing to work and yet not to be able to find work to do. Let us pray to God to' send England increased prosperity this year. And let us pray that England may ' seek first God's Kingdom and righteousness,' and then we have God's word pledged that ' all these things shall be added unto us.'

The past year has been one of much strife in the political world. Alas! that questions affecting the religious welfare of the children of our country should be discussed with party bitterness. God grant that the truly religious men of all parties may now combine, realising the spiritual issues at stake, to secure sound and efficient Christian instruction for the children of the land. The beautiful engraving which is given with this number of the magazine is itself a touching plea that every child may be taught about the loving Saviour Who says 'Suffer the little children to come unto Me'.

Let me thank most heartily those who so generously brought toys to our Toy Service, and so made it possible for the children in a poverty-stricken parish to have a Xmas Treat. Over 300 toys were sent off. The Vicar will write us a letter of thanks for our February Magazine.

Although there will not be a Confirmation in Cromer Church this Spring, one is to be held at Runton, and we shall be glad to receive the names of any who would like to attend our Classes for preparation.

Again I wish you a Happy New Year. And I ask you to make it a Happy New Year for your Clergy by showing a keen interest in the work of the parish, and coming regularly to the Services and Meetings we arrange.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

February

My dear People,

There is a most interesting letter for you to read from the good Vicar of the parish to which we sent the Toys, and I am sure that all those who, with self-denial, brought toys to our Service will feel amply rewarded when they learn of the happiness they brought into the lives of so many poor children.

The first Sunday of the year saw a large number of Communicants kneeling at the Lord's Table and dedicating themselves, we trust, with fresh devotion to the service of our Lord. The Week of Prayer which followed gave daily opportunities for Christian people of different denominations to join together in united prayer and supplication. There were Meetings both afternoon and evening, with an average attendance of from forty to fifty.

We are indeed thankful to God for His mercy in bringing our friend, Mr. George Bounce, through his most dangerous illness. For one or two days after the operation it seemed almost beyond hope that he could recover, but much prayer was made for him in Church, at the Prayer Meetings, and in private, that it would please God, if He saw it to be well, to heal him. We rejoice that God has answered our prayers, and we sympathise in Mrs. Bounce's joy in the recovery of her good son.

How surprising it was to look out of our windows on Boxing Day and see deep snow! It caused considerable inconvenience, and made it necessary to put off our Old Folks' Tea. However, we were able to have it on January 18th, when the evening was beautifully fine, and a very happy time we had. No less than 87 'Old Folks' sat down to tea, and nearly all our District Visitors as well as other friends were present. The pulling of crackers, and adornment of many heads with the paper crowns and caps found inside, caused a great deal of merriment. And then some charming music, a phonograph (kindly provided by Mr. R. H. Randell), a capital gymnastic display by eight of our young men of the Gymnastic Class, and last but not least the comical performances of 'Carrots,' gave a varied and delightful entertainment which all seemed to enjoy to the full.

Thanks and congratulations are due to all those who decorated our Church so beautifully at Christmas, and to Mr. Heath and our Choir for their delightful Carol 'singing, both on several nights at the houses of a number of the congregation, and at the Carol Service in Church on Dec. 23rd, when a large congregation was present. They are due also to Mr. Emms and the Day School Teachers for the capital entertainment they gave on behalf of the Ambulance Brigade, of which Cromer is justly proud.

Let me ask you to note several announcements, which appear under the head of Parish Notes, of forthcoming events of importance - the Temperance 'Science Chat' ; Mrs. Hankinson Cox's Addresses; and the Service of Song.

The Service for Men will be on Sunday, the 3rd, when the subject of the Address will be ' Suicide.' This Service, my brothers, is your own Service ; do try and make it more useful in the Town by persuading a neighbour to come with you, and so increasing our numbers every month.

We think that the Women have a right to a Special Service of their own sometimes ! So we will have a Service for Women only on Sunday the 17th, at 3 p.m., when an Address will be given on 'Home-building.'

The Season of Lent commences this month, and there will be Courses of Sermons on Sundays and Special Preachers on the Wednesday Evenings. Do we not long for more holiness, more freedom from sin, more likeness to Jesus Christ, more power to win others to God ? Let Lent be a time of special waiting upon God, of extra time for prayer, of more frequent coming to God's House, of more earnest Bible reading. God's Word bids us ' Pursue holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' Let Lent be a time of special pursuing after holiness, and also a time of prayerful endeavour to persuade one other person to come to God's House.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

March

My dear Friends,

You will notice that there is no statement of accounts in this month's magazine. It has been thought well to make the financial year of our Parish funds end with the 31st March, so as to bring them into line with our Missionary Societies and as nearly as possible with our Churchwardens' accounts, which run from Easter to Easter.

Splendid work was done by our Lifeboat in the rescue of the crew of the large steamer Atbara on Feb. 12th, and we heartily congratulate our gallant men. They were out for seventeen hours, and the cold during the long night was very great and they came home in a blizzard; and one of the crew was no less than 78 years of age. The rescued sailors, twelve of whom were brought to shore in our Cromer boat, were very grateful, and after being cared for at the Coastguard Station did not forget to go down to the Lifeboat House to shake hands with the Cox, Jimmy Harrison, and thank him and the crew. One of them told me how good our men had been to them, giving them the best places in the boat, rigging up an awning to shelter them, and sharing what they bad with them.

We deeply regret that yet another bereavement has fallen upon Lady Buxton and her family, in the death of her son-in-law, Professor Pelham, President of Trinity College, Oxford. He was greatly distinguished as a scholar and administrator, and was beloved by old and young in his College. It seems but a very short time since he was worshipping with us in Cromer Church, and none of us had the faintest idea that it was his last visit to us. Others in Cromer have also suffered bereavement. Mrs. Ann Davies, who had reached the ripe age of 81, has been taken to the eternal Home, and so has Mrs. Mary Durrant who was only three years younger. And now the death of Mr. Tom Newman plunges yet another family into deep grief. May God comfort all those who are mourning the loss of those so dear to their hearts.

As there is to be no Confirmation in our own Church this year we have only a very few Candidates, but these we hope will be confirmed at Norwich on the 21st, at St. Stephen's Church. They should have a place in our prayers ; and at this season we should pray for all the young lives which are being dedicated week by week at Confirmation Services in all the Dioceses of our land.

There is an announcement which I make with special pleasure. On Tuesday, the 12th, we are to have the great privilege of a visit from Archdeacon Lloyd of North West Canada, who has done so much for British Emigrants.

It was Archdeacon Lloyd who conceived the idea of setting apart a tract of new country in the Far West, where all the colonists should be British. He saw what advantage it would be for them to keep together, instead of dispersing in all directions where they would get lost among emigrants from many countries. He got the Canadian Government to agree to his plan, and then he came to England and conducted a party of 2,000 British to this distant district, which they named Britannia, and one of the centres they called after him - Lloydminster. He acted as Chaplain, putting up shelters here and there and covering long distances on Sundays to hold services among them. (He is the man, by the way, who swore in a large number of the Canadians who volunteered for service with our army in the Boer War). He is a man of great force of character and influence over men, and he is in England to enlist some hardy men as clergy or catechists, to accompany him to these new districts, for 80,000 British emigrants pour into Canada each year ; and he also wants money to put up some little wooden Churches (each Church costs £50). I have the pleasure of knowing him, and I advise everybody, and very especially our men, to come and hear him when he speaks in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, 12th, at 8 p.m.

We had a nice Men's Service last month, with a good attendance, although it was not nice weather. We hope for a still larger gathering on Sunday, 3rd, when the subject will be ' God's Dyke.'

The Women's Service, which was an experiment, was evidently appreciated, for about 140 were present. One of these days we hope to announce another Service of the same kind.

You will find under Parish Notes an announcement of the performance of ' The Way of the Cross.'

Shall not all of us who are Communicants make a point of coming to the Lord's Table on Easter Day? Not as a matter of form, which God forbid ! but after having thought much about our sins and our sinfulness of heart, and having 'beheld the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the World.' On Good Friday we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus ; but have we accepted His Salvation ? Can we say 'I know that He died for me ; I know that my sins are all forgiven for His sake?' There is no safety out of Christ. But how sad if anyone allows Good Friday to pass, with its story of how Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, without taking refuge in Him. We trust that all who have found pardon and cleansing through His blood will come to the Easter Communion to thank and praise Him for His redeeming love, and to dedicate their lives afresh to His happy service.

With the approval of the Committee, we hope to have on each Friday evening this month, in the Working Men's and Fishermen's Reading Room, at 9 p.m., a short Gospel Meeting with Lantern Slides and hearty singing. The meetings which we had in December seemed to be greatly enjoyed by a number of the men, and we hope these will be. The subject of the slides, for the first three Fridays, will be 'the Pilgrim's Progress,' on the other two Fridays scenes from the last days on earth of Jesus.

Let me mention a Meeting that is to take place in Easter Week, although the date will not be till April 4th. Cromer is to have the treat of seeing the Cinematograph pictures of Missionary work in India, which have been obtained by the Church Missionary Society. The Rev. E. Guilford has been speaking in the chief towns of England, explaining these Living Pictures, to audiences of one or two thousand persons at a time, and we are very fortunate in being allowed to see the pictures and hear Mr. Guilford in Cromer.

May God be with us during this month, may He bless all the special Services and Meetings ; and may He grant us a true revival in Cromer in answer to many prayers!

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

April

SUNDAY GOLF.

My dear People,

I have learned with great distress that a proposal is to be made to open the Links for Sunday Golf. As your Vicar I wish to state my deliberate conviction that this would inflict a great injury upon Cromer and especially upon the religious life of the parish.

It is suggested by some that, by way of a compromise, the Links might be open in the afternoon only, and that the players might manage without caddies or refreshments at the Club House.

Such a compromise would sacrifice the whole principle. It would then become only a question of degree whether this or that extra convenience should be allowed to the Golfers.

Such a compromise would be welcomed as an instalment, and then the Sunday Golfers would set to work with fresh hope and determination to secure their full desire.

Moreover, as such a compromise would lead to the resignation of members who disapprove of Sunday Golf, the Sunday Golfers would the sooner have their own way.

I feel certain that it would ruin the Boys' Sunday Schools as regards the elder lads. Even if for a time the Caddies were not supposed to be engaged, lads would hang about the Links in hope of a job. And who would prevent their being employed?

I have gone through the whole thing at Woking. Very soft things were said when it began, but it ended in an immense amount of Sunday labour, and it was disastrous to the Boys' Sunday School.

We have just been planning to start a Company of the Boys' Brigade, to try and influence the bigger lads for good. But to tempt them to work for money on the Lord's Day would, I am certain, start them on a downward career.

In a small place like Cromer the Golf Club occupies a conspicuous position. And the example of Sunday Golf would exert a powerful and far-reaching influence over the life of the town, discouraging the observance of the Lord's Day as a day of Rest and Worship.

Cromer has a wide reputation for its quiet character and its quiet Sunday. This attracts families of the best class. It will be a disaster to the town if we lose a character which is of such value to us.

The Links are a favourite walk for townsmen and their families, and also for Visitors, on Sunday afternoons, when no golf balls are flying about. It will be serious for Cromer if such an attraction is taken away.

I earnestly trust that the parishioners will speak out with no uncertain voice against this proposal.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

My dear Friends,

The early Christians were accustomed to greet one another on Easter morn with the salutation "The Lord is risen " ; so, as this number of the Magazine will be in the hands of most of you by Easter Day, I would offer you that glad salutation, and would give you a very special invitation to God's House on the great Festival when we commemorate our Blessed Lord's triumphant Resurrection, and victory over sin and death. Moreover I trust that on that day every Communicant will, after thoughtful preparation of heart, cone to the Lord's Table to join in our Holy Communion Service of praise and thanksgiving, and to seek to share in all the benefits of our Lord's death and resurrection.

Let me congratulate those who organised the Industrial Exhibition last month upon the success of their endeavours. We all hope that some good may have been done to Cromer by this means.

We have been holding during the past month a short Service on Friday nights in the Reading Room, and we are glad to say there has been an excellent attendance of members of the Club The singing has been of the heartiest, and the Addresses on the Lantern Slides have been listened to with great attention.

Our Men's Service will come on Sunday, April 7th. One of the Choir boys will sing a Solo, the Choir will give us an Anthem; and Mr. Heath will play an Organ piece. The subject of the Address will be "Do you believe in Miracles?"

The Competition in the Gymnastic Club for the Silver Challenge Cup, Prizes and Medals, is fixed to take place oil the 2nd. In the Senior Division there will be six prizes, and in the Junior four medals will be given. We draw special attention to the announcement in " Parish Notes" of a Display to be given on May 2nd, and we trust that our friends will support us heartily on that occasion.

As our Parish Hall only holds 600, we have arranged to have the Exhibition of Living Pictures of India on two nights in Easter Week, the 4th and 5th Very possibly we may have to turn away people from the doors, as has been the case in other places. So we advise everybody to secure a ticket in advance o as to make sure of getting in. We rive details of the splendid Exhibition under " Parish Notes."

The Young Helpers' League, in connection with " Dr. Barnardo's Homes," is arranging to have a Lantern Lecture on the work, so pathetic and so fruitful, of the Homes on April 18th, in the Parish Hall.

And on April 19th will take place the annual Sale of Work, &c., in connexion with the Children's Working Party, in the Lecture Hall, from 6 to 8.

Archdeacon Lloyd's visit will not be forgotten in a hurry. He set before us in the most graphic way the experiences of the emigrants to the Far West of Canada And lie showed how earnestly and how successfully efforts were being made to care for the spiritual welfare of the scattered settlers. He impressed upon us that a new Anglo Saxon nation would soon arise, for emigrants were pouring in at the rate already of quarter of a million a year, and he urged that now is the golden opportunity of seeing to it that it shall be a Christian nation, by planting teachers at intervals to organise services and to look after the emigrants. The Archdeacon sails at the end of this month with several clergy, and a large number of catechists. May God bless him and them, and let him see his grand scheme of starting Christian work at some 400 centres successfully accomplished.

Have any of you Magazines that you no longer want ? good healthy magazines are of great value to the "Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen," to help to supply the "bit o' reading" which they try and send to all the fishing trawlers. We should be glad to receive such magazines at the Vicarage.

Last year we had a Special Service of Supplication on the Wednesday before Rogation (i.e. Supplication) Sunday. Our object was to give people in Cromer, who believe that God hears prayer, an opportunity of united supplication for a blessing on the coming Season.

About 150 assembled at that Service, but why should we not have all God-fearing Cromer there ? All who depend on visitors for their living, all our fishermen who want God's blessing on their endeavours, should come to God's House for this "Harvest Supplication," just as they do for a " Harvest Thanksgiving " when the autumn comes. " Ye have not because ye ask not," is proved true oftener than we are apt to think.

We must not close without mentioning with much thankfulness that Mr. Cobbald, who has gone through another most serious operation at Norwich Hospital, is making excellent progress. We trust that it will prove that the operation has been the success which the doctors hope.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMIL'T'ON.

May

My dear People,

The Parish Accounts take up so much room that I must only write a brief letter. The accounts are mostly for 15 months, as it was thought that it would be better for them to close each year on March 31st. At the Vestry Meeting it was announced that we had a serious deficit in regard to Church Expenses, and I earnestly trust that all who wish the Services of our noble Church to be properly carried out will respond to our Churchwardens' appeal for generous help.

Our Churchwardens for this year are Mr.F. H. Barclay and Mr. Henry Rust, and the Assistant Wardens Mr. J. Bower and Mr. J. Lovelace, and the parish may well be congratulated on having in them and the twelve Sidesmen such j efficient and devoted workers for the Church.

Our Special Service of Supplication is to be on Wednesday, May 1st, and I earnestly beg all who believe in prayer to make a point of I coming.

It is generally known that the C.M.S. "Summer School" will be held in Cromer in June. This should be of very great benefit to our town, not only because it will probably bring us at that time more than 400 Visitors, but even more because it is drawing attention to Cromer as a choice seaside resort all over England.

The Exhibition of "Living Pictures of India," explained by our friend the Rev. E. Guilford in the most interesting and instructive fashion, has, we hope, deepened and widened among us the sense of responsibility to send the Gospel of life and love to the poor masses of idolaters in India. We are glad to say that the profits of the Exhibition, which go to the C.M.S., are over £26.

A well-known resident, Mr. W. Mayes, has been taken from us, and we shall miss him from his little cottage in Church Street. But we rejoice to feel sure that he is "with Christ."

The opinion of the town on the question of opening the Links for golf on Sundays has been expressed with unmistakable decision. Not only was a Petition signed by large numbers, but subsequently, at a crowded meeting of Ratepayers only one person voted against the Resolution which was moved. We may well hope that this Resolution, in which the Ratepayers courteously and respectfully appeal to the members of the Golf Club, will incline them to vote against the proposed innovation.

It is a great pleasure to be able to mention that at the Girls' Friendly Society gathering on the 30th, the Bishop of Thetford will give the Address.

As the season of Ascensiontide and Whitsuntide returns may God give us the spirit of prayer and supplication, for all that we need, and most of all for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and inspire our lives.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

June

My dear People,

Thursday, May 2nd, will be long remembered in Cromer as the day when two gallant young fishermen, Robert Rix and James Harrison, junr., were drowned by the capsising of their boat in a furious squall. For many years no such calamity has occurred, though our fishermen are often in danger. The deepest sympathy has been manifested with the bereaved families in their great sorrow. May God, with his tender love, "heal those that are broken in heart"; and may we all remember that the call for any one of us may be just as sudden. Let us all prepare to meet our God, so that we may be joyfully ready.

We give a hearty welcome to the Students of the C.M.S. Summer School, who are to spend eight days in our midst, from the 14th to 21st. We do not think they could have fixed upon a more charming seaside resort, and we trust their stay will be one of unmixed pleasure and profit. To have several hundred students spending five hours a day in our Parish Hall, studying the wide subject of Missions to the Mohammedans and Heathen in all parts of the world, ought to set every one of us thinking about the evangelisation of the World, and searching our hearts as to whether we are doing our share in the great enterprise committed to us by Christ.

Please remember that June 23rd will be Hospital Sunday. Our Cottage Hospital is a blessing indeed to the sick. It needs help very much, and we ask every parishioner to give generously to the offertory on that day.

You will find on another page a Prayer, which may be a help to you. I have had it printed on a Card, and shall be pleased to give a copy to anyone who asks for it from the District Visitors, or the Clergy. Remember this month Philippians iv. 6, 7.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

July

My dear Friends,

The great event of last month was undoubtedly the "Summer School" of the Church Missionary Society, and you will be glad to hear that Dr. Lankester, of the Home Department of the C.M.S., declared it to have been the best School they have yet had. The number of Students was 520, and of these about 100 belonged to Cromer and the neighbourhood. It was an interesting sight to see between 200 and 300 every morning in our Church at 7-30 a.m. for a Service of Intercession. And our Parish Hall was crowded daily from 10 to 1, and again from 7 to 8-30, with eager listeners to the various addresses given by experts both in Home Work and from the Foreign field. The addresses covered a wide range ; a series of Bible Readings on St. Paul, the great Missionary ; Addresses on Character, Discipline and Prayer ; on the Spiritual Life ; Knowledge and Convictions, Suggestions as to methods of reaching different Classes, and interesting them in the extension of the Kingdom of Christ. Organisation in regard to raising funds, and plans for systematic Missionary Study. Deeply interesting accounts of Educational and Medical Mission work in India, and a thrilling story of the World's Student Missionary Conference in Tokyo, (told by one of the Students who was present), and of the evangelistic meetings held in all the large towns in Japan by the Students after the Conference was over.

It was a deeply interesting thing to look upon the faces of these Students, a large proportion being young people, and to see how dead in earnest they are about the extension of the Kingdom of Christ.

Much hospitality was shown to the members of the School when they were at liberty in the afternoons, and fortunately the weather kept fine all the week. Our Visitors expressed themselves as charmed with Cromer, and I think that before many years have passed there will be another such School in our town. And the fame of Cromer as a select and attractive sea-side resort is being carried to many a distant place. As one object of the School was to introduce people to one another the authorities took up about thirty of the Hotels and larger houses and put all the Students into them.

It was extremely pleasant to have a visit from Mrs. McDonald last month. She very kindly came and gave a model Sunday School Lesson, for the benefit of the Teachers in the Rural Deanery, who assembled to the number of about 80 or 90. Such Lessons are very instructive, and we are sure that our Teachers will have been helped in their difficult work, to which they so unselfishly devote their energies. How full of gratitude the parents ought to be to those who take such pains with their children ! We hope for a fine day on July 4th, and a very happy Sunday School Treat. With her wonted kindness Mrs. Bond Cabbell has invited us to hold it in one of the fields adjoining Cromer Hall.

There is a gigantic Palestine Exhibition going on in the Agricultural Hall in London, and I hear from one or two sources of its extreme interest and of the great success which is attending it. We are hoping to have a small "Palestine Exhibition " in our Parish Hall at the end of next February. We had one at Woking and it was a most successful and delightful affair. Everybody was charmed with it. and the Hall was thronged day after day. I cannot say more about it yet, but I thought that you would like to hear of what is in prospect, and to make a note of the last week in February, 1908.

I had greatly hoped that Mr. Sheldon would have been able to undertake the Children's Mission in August, but although his heart was drawn to the work he found himself unable to accept my invitation this year. It is however a source of satisfaction to know that an experienced and able worker, Mr. R. Nixon, M.A., is coming, and that he will have, some good helpers with him. The Cliff Services are very attractive to some of the best families that visit Cromer, who make a rule of only going where their children can get these bright and happy meetings.

Our friend, the Rev. W. A. Challacombe, has promised to assist again this season, and will commence a series of six Bible Readings on August 1st. We hope also to have Sunday help from the Rev. J. Stather Hunt.

May I draw attention to the fact that the Holy Communion on the second Friday in the month will be at 12, as the later hour has proved inconvenient to some.

After so wet a June, I trust that a fine July and August may be before us, and that we may have a prosperous season. Take all your anxieties and difficulties to the loving Father in Heaven, in earnest and believing prayer, and He will guide and help and bless you.

Your affectionate Pastor,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

August

My dear Friends,

This month will be a period of anxiety and strain to you all. May you experience the truth of God's promise " Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee." Never forget that the best way to meet a day of toil is to begin it with God. The quiet moments, secured with difficulty perhaps, which you spend in communion with God ere the day's work begins, have a wonderful power of keeping the heart calm and trustful, and bring God's strength to the support of our weakness. Prayer is the best way of banishing worry and avoiding mistakes.

I fear that July has not been a good month in Cromer, and that many of you have not been doing well. We must hope that very fine weather may come which will help to prolong the Season.

The Children's Special Services will be under the experienced superintendence of Mr. Richard Nixon, M.A., and will be carried on from the 4th to the 25th. Mr. E. Habershon, son of one of my old Cambridge friends, and Mr. Russell Hoare will be among his workers. Let us pray that many boys and girls may be led to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, and may become true-hearted followers of the Lord.

Last month brought a good deal of sadness. We lost in quick succession three well-known townsmen, Mr. Horace Amis, Mr. Robert Bilham, and Mr. Joseph Harmer, for whose families we feel deep sympathy.

Moreover a terrible accident caused the death of a lady Visitor from Norwich ; and a gentleman from London, who was at Church three times on Sunday, July 21st, and also at our Open-air Service up to 9 o'clock, passed into eternity at 10-30, after only 5 minutes' illness, through sudden heart-failure.

I am glad to say that both the Rev. I). Stather Bunt and the Rev. W. A. Challacombe will again be with us. It is a privilege to listen to such gifted teachers. In the Parish Notes you will see what they have kindly undertaken, and I hope you ill take advantages of the opportunities of hearing them.

The letter which I have just received from Mr. Albert Lloyd, one of our own Missionaries, is so interesting that I am printing it in this Magazine.

Please remember Hospital Saturday, and do all you possibly can to make it a great success.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

September

My dear Friends,

The past month has been to most of you one of incessant toil, and many I am sure are feeling very weary, even though to have Cromer full was the thing we all desired. I trust that the Season may last well into September, to afford some compensation to those who did not let well in July. The unsettled weather must have injured all seaside places this year, and those who in Cromer have suffered loss have our true sympathy.

During August our noble Church has been crowded out, and the Overflow Services have been Well attended; indeed on the 18th the Parish Hall was practically full. We owe sincere thanks to the Church Officials who have spared no trouble in caring for the Visitors and getting the great congregations seated. A Service in Cromer Church is a most impressive sight, and we are indeed thankful for the reverence, attention and heartiness shown by the congregation. Mr. Heath and the Choir merit our warm thanks for all they have done. It is no easy matter for some of our Choirmen to get to the Church on Sunday mornings when the Season is at its height.

The Church Missionary Week was one for which we may well thank God. We had the privilege of having the saintly and heroic Bishop Ridley with us, and he preached impressive sermons, telling of the appalling cruelty of heathenism as he saw it, when lie first went among the North American Indians, and of the grand triumphs of the Gospel among them. We also had with us the Rev. J. Pearse, a West African clergyman, who is Vicar of St. Jude's, Lagos. He himself, on his mother's death, had almost been thrown away as a baby, but a Missionary had pity and saved him, and brought him up and taught him the Christian faith. His object in coming to England for four months was to see how English parishes were worked, so that he might be able to carry on his own work more efficiently in Lagos, and to tell other African clergymen.

On the Tuesday there was a Meeting to hear about Uganda. Mr. John Henry Buxton was in the chair, and the Rev. G. K. Baskerville, who has been for nearly 17 Years a Missionary, was the speaker. He told us of the wonderful things God had done; for instance, when lie went out in 1890 there were about 200 native Christians. now there are 60,000.

God was very good to us in giving a beautiful day for the Sale of Work on the Thursday in the grounds of Colne House. There was a large attendance, and business was very brisk, and when we counted up the gains at the end o the day, in the presence of dear Lady Buxton, we found that we had realised £206.

We are deeply thankful that our week has produced rather more than usual for the Church Missionary Society. In spite of its advancing income, the Society is in sore straits for the doors have been opening in every land, the number of Missionaries has, thank God, increased. and so expenses have outstripped receipts. The cause of the lack of funds is to be found in the sari strange fact that there are numbers of Communicants who would reverently and lovingly carry out the last wishes of a dying parent, but who pay little heed to the last wish of our Redeemer--" Preach the Gospel to every creature."

Hospital Saturday is a day of great importance to our Cottage Hospital. The work was carefully organised, so that there might be a house-to-house collection and only a. few boxes in the streets to catch excursionists and others. We regret o say that Cromer gave us about £7 less that, lest year, £69 instead of £76, and the outside parishes £23 less, £38 only instead of £61. Let us, however, be very thankful for what has been given, for it is indeed a help to receive £108 through this day's collection. A list of contributions will be found on another page. Our warm thanks. are due to those who so very kindly carried out the work of collecting, as well as to all who contributed.

The Ordination of Mr. Harold Fitch is a matter which will interest all in our parish. It is to take place at York Minster on Sept. 29, and we must all join in prayer for him on that day. He is going to work in the large poor parish of St. John's, Park, Sheffield, of which my brother-in-law, tile Rev. H. F. Greenwood, is the able and devoted Vicar. We cannot wish him all better wish than that lie may be as faithful a servant of God, as true a pastor of the flock, and as beloved a friend of the people as was he whose honoured name he bears, and whose memory is so cherished in Cromer parish.

May I draw your special attention to announcements to be found in the Parochial Notes?

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

October

My dear Friends,

The beautiful weather of September has been most enjoyable, and has no doubt brought some visitors to Cromer, but I fear that, it has not atoned for the inclement weeks of July, and that a good many of you have had only a moderately good Season. I think, however, that it is encouraging to notice that the fact of the Summer being a cold one did not seem to deter people from coming to the East Coast, as one might have feared.

The news of the death of one of our Norfolk Missionaries, the Rev. Douglas Thornton, has caused profound sorrow to all who had watched his career in Egypt, He was only 34 years old. When I visited Cairo in 1899 he had just married and was on his honeymoon at Suez. Last year when I saw him he said to me that he felt it was well worth the five years he had given to the laborious study of classical Arabic to be able to converse with the Mohammedan students at the University and tell them the Gospel message. It is indeed a mystery that one so singularly gifted should, after so brief a career, be taken from the work; but God makes no mistakes. He will cause the devoted labours of His servant to bring forth much fruit, and He will provide for the work to be carried on. Mr. Thornton's family are well known in Cromer, and are with us as I write. May God comfort them in their sore bereavement.

We have lately lost two very old inhabitants. Mr. Samuel Amis at the age of 86, and Miss Murrell at the age of 87. The former only occasionally lived in Cromer of late years, but retained his old cottage and came here from time to time.

Very thankful we are that such success has attended the operation which Mrs. Burn underwent, that Mrs. Rounce, who has been so seriously ill, is steadily recovering, and that Jimmy Bishop, one of our Choir boys, who had a dangerous attack of pleurisy, is also making progress.

In October we expect to commence our steady Winter's work, and to be able to devote all our time to our residents, who, in the Summer, have little leisure either to take advantage of Parish meetings, or to receive visits from their clergy. The starting of a Company of the Boys' Brigade will, we hope, be a great help to many of our lads. And we trust that the Reading Room in Chapel Street will be as greatly appreciated as it was last Winter. If this proves to be the case, it seems certain that we must face the question of enlarging our premises.

The Harvest festival should be regarded not as a Service with pretty music and pretty decorations, but as a Service of reverent and hearty Thanksgiving to God for all the mercies of the year. Do not allow any trifling cause to keep you from God's House on such an occasion.

Our first Men's Service will be held on Oct. 6th. Will the men rally round us in this effort ? Every man who attends is doing something for the good of the men of the town ; and every man who persuades a friend to come with him does still more.

And will the Women note that they are to have a Service of their own on Oct. 20th. I do hope there will he a very large attendance.

The Scripture Union Meetings and the Children's Missionary Work Party will commence early this month. Will parents do all they can to encourage their children to come ? We hope that one result of these meetings will be that parents will find their children more obedient and loving and more anxious to fear God and live a true Christian life.

We must begin to prepare for the Palestine Exhibition. We hope to have a visit this month from the Rev. Robinson Lees, who will undertake all the lecture;. We shall need about 40 persons of both sexes to wear Oriental costumes, and they will he'; to learn several Arabic songs, one of which will be sung in the Bridal Processions. The centre of the Parish Hall is to be transformed into " A Street in Jerusalem."

Some of you will remember the name of the Rev. S. Cordon, Vicar of Bradley, Bilston, to whom we sent the toys last Xmas, and who wrote us such an exceedingly touching account of the joy which the toys gave to the poverty stricken children in his parish. I have just had a letter to say that he died suddenly while on his holiday in Wales. In a letter to me, he spoke of the inclination he had for a change from the exhausting, labours of Bradley. How little did he think that his work-day was all but over, and the eternal rest at hand for him.

May God greatly bless us in our Winter's work, and incline you all to rally round us and encourage us.

Your sincere friend,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

November

My dear Friends,

We had been looking forward with much pleasure to having Mr. Sheldon with us for a few days, to preach on the Sunday and to meet many of his former parishioners at a Social Gathering on the following evening, but an unfortunate bicycle accident detained him in Clifton. We are thankful to say that the injury was only slight, and we trust that by this time he is quite himself again. He has kindly promised to come to us (D.V.) early next year instead.

We congratulate our friend Dr. Legat on his marriage to Miss Katherine Edis, to whom we give a hearty welcome to Cromer.

Another friend whom we must congratulate is Mr. Kettle, who attained his 90th birthday last month, and on it was able to walk as far as Northrepps. His 60 years of total abstinence seen to have agreed with his health.

The Boys' Brigade has made an encouraging start, and we confidently expect much benefit to the lads by its means. We publish a list of subscriptions already received, and Major Beale would be glad to receive more, especially annual subscriptions for working expenses.

The Palestine Exhibition will need a great amount of organisation. There will be in Jerusalem Street six shops, and it is proposed that these should be for (1) Medical Missions and Bible Society, (2) Cottage Hospital, (3) Jews' Society and Syrian Mission, (4) Zenana Society, (5) Pastoral Aid Society and Children's Missionary Cot, (6) Dr. Barnardo's Homes. We hope that all our friends will contribute as much needlework or other articles as possible towards the Shops. The ladies in charge will be most grateful for help, for they have to keep shop for five days. Then we must have a large Refreshment Committee to run the Tea during the Exhibition, when we hope some thousands of cups will be drunk and a large profit made to defray some of the expenses of the Exhibition. We shall need 40 people at a time to wear the Oriental Costumes, so that at least 80 volunteers will be needed, and all of them must learn several Arabic songs. A body of stewards must be formed who will take charge of the Exhibits, and explain them to visitors. And we shall need the help of our Musical friends to arrange at least two half-hour Concerts for each day. So we must all throw ourselves into the work.

We had an encouraging Men's Service last month, and we hope for a still better one on Sunday, Nov. 3rd. Every man can help.

The Rev. E. and Mrs. Guilford have made Cromer their head-quarters while on furlough in England. They came home very broken in health, but thank God then feel able to return again to India, greatly strengthened. They have consecrated themselves afresh to the work of preaching the Gospel anon? the fine race of the Sikhs in the Punjab, and among the poor lepers at the Leper Asylum which they founded at Tarn Taran. We hope that the Magazine will reach you in time to remind you that our meeting, to bid them God-speed, will be held on Thursday, October 31st, at 8 p.m., in the Parish Hall. I beg you to be present, to show these devoted missionaries that you do sympathise with them as they part once more from their dear ones in England, and that you do want to encourage them. Let us give them a hearty Send-off, and show that Cromer has a warm heart.

Let me thank all those who assisted in our Harvest Festival. The decorations were greatly admired, and we thank the ladies for their kind trouble. We also thank the Organist and Choir for the pains they took. We would thank too the friends who sent corn, flowers, fruit, vegetables and bread. There were large congregations, both on Thursday and Sunday, and we trust that the Festival inspired our hearts with gratitude to God, and impressed us with a sense of our entire dependence upon His care. And may we all be sowing seeds of holiness and kindness, so that we may reap a harvest that will make our hearts glad.

Your affectionate Vicar,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.

December

My dear Friends,

The last month of the year has, come. How fast time flies ! May its close find us in peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord, and at peace among ourselves, with our hearts full of brotherly kindness.

But December is not only an ending ; it is also a beginning. The Church's year commences with the Season of Advent, which reminds us of the coming of Christ. in great humility at His Incarnation, and bids us think of His coming again in power and great glory.

Let me press upon you the importance of using the Season of Advent for your soul's welfare. " Be ye ready, for at such an hour as ye think not the Son of Alan cometh." Are you ready to, meet the Saviour?

The Rev. R. Middleton, of Norwich, who is well-known to many of you, has kindly promised to give two Advent Addresses in our Church on Wednesday, the 4th, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Will all who possibly can be present at these special services, and pray that God may speak to us through the lips of His servant?

I am glad to mention that our friend, Mr. Macdonald, will pay us a visit, and preach on Wednesday, the 11th. He will also preside at the Gymnastic Display on the following evening, when we hope Cromer friends will fill the Hall and give him a right hearty welcome.

Our Choir, reinforced by Members of the Choral Society, has been hard at work practising some of the Grand Choruses from " The Messiah." These will be sung at a special Service to be held on Thursday, Dec. 19th. Miss Riches and Mr. Melton will sing some of the Solos from that glorious Oratorio. The Rev. J. S. Barford, Vicar of Sheringham, will preach the sermon.

And on Sunday, Dec. 22nd, we shall bold our usual Carol Service, when a number of beautiful carols will be sung by the Choir.

Last. year we had a delightful Toy Service, which I am sure many remember. A very large number of toys were brought, and we were able to give a Christmas treat to the children of a very poverty-stricken parish. The Vicar wrote us a most interesting account of the happy evening the children had. That earnest, devoted man has been called from his earthly labours to his heavenly reward. We want, however, to send a gift of toys to another devoted clergyman for the poor children of his needy parish, and shall hold a Toy Service on December 8th. Do you think we can do as well as last year? It would be splendid ! What joy to several hundred poor little children ! And how warm and happy the hearts of all who help ! Please remember three things-(1) Toys ought not to be too large to send away-, (2) old toys, in good condition, may be brought, (3) a bright Christmas text should be neatly written on an envelope or card and tied on to each toy. It is nice for the givers to add their name and age, as it might interest and please the poor children who receive the gifts.

The Palestine Exhibition is the object we must work for during the Winter. We had a visit from Mr. Robinson Lees last month, and he gave us an idea of what the Exhibition would be like. He tried to teach us all some Arabic songs, and when thro are learnt and sung they will- be a very popular feature of the Exhibition we are sure. He described to us Eastern Wedding Customs, and we are to have Bridal Processions twice a day. And he told us some most instructive things about Palestine, which giro us just a taste of his lectures, and showed us how immensely interesting they are likely to be.

The Curiosities, have to be insured for £800, which gives an idea of the great value of the objects which will be on view.

An Illustrated Handbook will be published, containing a catalogue of these curiosities, &c., as well as a programme for each day of the Exhibition.

Let me beg you all to throw yourselves heart and soul into this effort and make it a splendid success: It, needs the help of all. Do contribute as many articles, large or small, as you possibly can for the Shops in Jerusalem Street.

Great interest was taken in the wedding of our friend and helper Mr. W. Balls and Miss Bishop. Mr. Balls is well known for his work in connexion with Church Choir, the Ambulance Brigade and the Choral Society, and is deservedly esteemed in Cromer. Among his wedding gifts were a handsome clock from the clergy, organist and choir, and two armchairs from the Ambulance Brigade. May God's blessing rest upon the happy pair in the new home.

When Christmas comes, may it be a very bright and happy Festival to us all. The family gatherings are delightful where they can be held. The innocent mirth and feasting and games are good and seasonable. Only see to it that there is nothing of which the Christ Himself would not approve. And oh ! see that you never tempt a friend to any excess. Most of all, on Christ's birthday be sure that you go to God's House to join in thanking Him for sending Christ into the world to save us from our sins.

Your affectionate Friend,

W. F. T. HAMILTON.